RFC Summer Semester--Midwest Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

What it is: In operation since 1994, the Midwest Conference was formed as a result of a merger between the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference, and the Midwest Athletic Conference for Women. The original MCAC traces its roots to the early 1920's.

With members currently in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, the MWC crowned its first football champions in 1922, as Coe, Lawrence, and Millikin shared the inaugural title that season. In 1981, Lawrence earned the league's first postseason berth, although over the last decade plus, Monmouth (Ill.) and St. Norbert have combined to win at least a share of the last 11 MWC titles.

Additionally, Lake Forest (2002) is the only program other than Monmouth or St. Norbert to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs over the last 11 years.

Website: http://www.midwestconference.org/

Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected conference champion in BOLD type).

1. Monmouth (10-1): The Scots hope to notch their third straight MWC crown, and automatic postseason berth, in 2010.

2. St. Norbert (9-1): The Green Knights might have something to say about that, though. Their only loss of 2009, a 52-24 thumping by the Scots, cost them a shot at postseason play.

3. Ripon (7-3): The Red Hawks look to be a factor in the MWC title hunt as well. They host both Monmouth and St. Norbert for key conference games this season.

4. Illinois College (5-5): The Blueboys hope to win their first MWC title in program history. They finished in a three-way tie for fourth place last season.

5. Beloit (6-4): The Bucs play three of their first four games at home. But one of those games will come against St. Norbert.

6. Carroll (Wis.)--(5-5): A three-game winning streak to close out the 2009 season gives the Pioneer faithful renewed hope for the 2010 season. The Pioneers last won a league title in 1997.

7. Grinnell (2-8): The Pioneers have had just one winning season in the last 10 years. They finished the 2004 campaign at 6-4.

8. Lake Forest (2-8): The Foresters have won only four conference championships in their history, the most recent in 2002.

9. Lawrence (2-8): The Vikings both games by exactly four points, while scoring less than 20 points in their eight losses.

10. Knox (1-9): The Prairie Fire have nowhere to go but up in 2010, after notching just one win in 2009.

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RFC Summer Semester--Mid States Football Association Preview (NAIA)

What it is: The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) is a football-only conference whose membership stretches from Ohio to Iowa, with schools in Indiana and Illinois sandwiched in between. The league has been in operation since 1993. In its 17 years of play, though, the MSFA has become of the toughest conferences in the NAIA, as programs such as Malone, McKendree, St. Ambrose, St. Francis (Ind.), St. Xavier (Ill.), and Walsh have established themselves as perennial national powers over the years. The conference is split into two "leagues", as opposed to "divisions": the Mideast and the Midwest.



Website: http://www.mid-statesfootball.org/



Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)



Mideast League



1. St. Xavier (13-1): The Cougars from Chicagoland hope that 2010 will finally be the year they win it all. They reached the 2009 national semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Sioux Falls (S.D.)



2. St. Francis (Ind.)--(7-3): The Cougars from Fort Wayne look to return to their national championship contention form after settling for a second place tie in Mideast Division play at 5-2. But accomplishing that task won't be easy, as they'll face three teams that finished the 2009 season in the NAIA Top 25.



3. Walsh (8-3): The Cavaliers were 2-1 in games decided by eight points or less.



4. Taylor (7-3): The Trojans won their final four games of 2009 to finish in a three-way tie for tie for second place in the MSFA Mideast League.



5. Marian (6-5): The Knights fared slightly better on the road (4-3) than they did at home (2-2) last season.



6. Malone (4-6): The Pioneers slumped to a 2-5 mark in MSFA Mideast play last year.



7. Olivet Nazarene (2-9): The Tigers have a tough row to hoe if hope to make their first trip to postseason appearance since 2005. They last made the NAIA playoffs in 2000.



8. Trinity International (0-11): The Trojans face four teams that made the final Top 25 poll in the NAIA a year ago.



Midwest League



1. McKendree (9-2): The Bearcats will open the 2010 season in Tennessee against the University of the Cumberlands in the "Big River Bowl".



2. Grand View (8-3): The Vikings begin the 2010 campaign ranked No. 20 in the NAIA spring poll.



3. St. Ambrose (6-4): The Bees lost three of their four contests from 2009 by five points or less.



4. William Penn (7-5): The Statesmen hope to take another step towards postseason play after finishing third in the MSFA Midwest League at 5-2 last season.



5. Quincy (4-7): A tough early season schedule for the Hawks includes games against NCAA FCS foes Southern Illinois and Indiana State, as well as a contest versus Walsh from the MSFA Mideast League.



6. St. Francis (Ill.)--(3-8): The Fighting Saints hope to put up a much stronger fight for respect after struggling to a dismal 2-5 mark in conference play a year ago.



7. Iowa Wesleyan (2-9): The Tigers not only gave up at least 40 or more points in eight of their nine losses, they were also shutout in five of those contests.

8. Waldorf (1-9): The Warriors enter the 2010 campaign trying to snap an eight-game skid.

RFC Summer Semester--Ohio Valley Conference Preview (FCS)

What it is: The Ohio Valley Conference is a conference that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). It has competed in the former Division I-AA since its inception in 1978. In 1979, Eastern Kentucky won the first of its two national championships, with the second title coming in 1982. Additionally, EKU has made more FCS postseason appearances than any current OVC member (19).

The OVC crowned Murray State as its first league champion in 1948. In 2009, Jacksonville State was ineligible for the FCS playoffs despite having the best record in OVC play (6-1) because of the failure of its student-athletes to make adequate progress academically.

Website: http://www.ovcsports.com/

Projected order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)

1. Eastern Illinois (8-4): The Panthers and Head Coach Bob Spoo welcome back 17 starters in all from their OVC championship team of 2009.

2. Jacksonville State (8-3): The Gamecocks hope to put their academic problems behind them in 2010. Hopefully, a preseason ranking of No. 17 in AnyGivenSaturday.com poll, as well as a better showing in the classroom, will help them do just that.

3. Eastern Kentucky (5-6): The Colonels stumbled down the stretch, losing three games in a row after starting the season with five wins in their first eight games.

4. Tennessee Tech (6-5): The Golden Eagles play two FBS teams in 2010: Arkansas on September 4, followed a visit to TCU a week later.

5. UT-Martin (5-6): The Skyhawks look to fly higher after a 4-4 finish in OVC play last season.

6. Tennessee State (5-6): The Tigers will play five true home games in 2010.

7. Murray State (3-8): Former Georgia Southern head coach Chris Hatcher gets a fresh start leading the Racers.

8. Austin Peay (4-7): The Governors haven't won more than seven games since 1977 (8-3).

9. Southeast Missouri State (2-9): The Redhawks face a tough task as far as turning the corner after finishing last in the OVC at 1-7.

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RFC Summer Semester--Missouri Valley Football Conference Preview (FCS)

What it is: Starting as the Gateway Football Conference in 1985, the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) has established itself as one of the toughest conferences in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA). In 2008, the name was changed to the MVFC.



Southern Illinois won its lone national championship in 1983, two years prior to joining what is now the MVFC. Youngstown State took home four FCS titles in 1991, 1993, 1994, and 1997. Northern Iowa reached the national championship game in 2005, losing to Appalachian State, while North Dakota State won four NCAA Division II national championships in 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1990.

In terms of conference titles, Northern Iowa has the most trophies in the MVFC with 14 all-time. Southern Illinois and Western Illinois are tied for a distant second with five.



Website: http://www.mvc-sports.com/



Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)



1. Southern Illinois (11-2): SIU hopes another strong non-conference schedule will lead them to first national title in 27 years. That early season slate includes a September 11 contest at Illinois.


2. Northern Iowa (7-4): The Panthers hope to bounce back after a "down" season where they missed out on postseason play. Their early season schedule includes a non-conference test against Stephen F. Austin on September 18, followed by visit to Big 12 Iowa State a week later.

3. South Dakota State (8-4): After making their first-ever FCS playoff appearance a year ago, the Jackrabbits hope to prove that 2009 was no fluke.

4. Illinois State (6-5): Key games for the Redbirds in 2010 include a home contest against Southern Illinois, as well as visits to South Dakota State and Northern Iowa.

5. Youngstown State (6-5): The Penguins scored at least 30 or more points in their six wins last season.

6. Missouri State (6-5): The Bears hope to make a move up in the MVFC after posting a 4-4 in conference games a year ago.

7. North Dakota State (3-8): The Bison found out just how tough the MVFC is after a disappointing 2-6 showing in league action last year. They open the season with back-to-back road visits to Kansas (September 4), and Northern Iowa (September 11).

8. Indiana State (1-10): The Sycamores face a tough climb up the league ladder after another miserable season.

9. Western Illinois (1-10): The Leathernecks hope to leave the misery of 2009 behind them, as they enter 2010. They finished last season with 10 straight losses, after defeating Sam Houston State, 35-28, in the opener.

RFC Summer Semester--University Athletic Association Preview (NCAA Division III)

What it is: The University Athletic Association (UAA) is an NCAA Division III conference that consists of highly selective private universities located mostly in major metropolitan areas of the Northeast and Midwest. Of the eight current members that make up the UAA, however, only four of them: Carnegie Mellon (Pittsburgh), Case Western Reserve (Cleveland), the University of Chicago, and Washington University (St. Louis) currently play football. Its history dates back to 1990.

Website: http://www.uaa.rochester.edu/

Predicted order of finish (2009 order of finish, projected champion in BOLD type)

1. Case Western Reserve (10-1): The Spartans have made three straight trips to the D-III playoffs. They hope to make it four in a row in 2010. Case enters that campaign having won 30 straight regular season games, with just one postseason win to show for it: a close, 21-20 win over Widener in the first round of the 2007 dance.

2. Chicago (5-4): The Maroons hope to win their first UAA title since 2005. A tough non-conference schedule includes a trip to perennial North Coast Athletic Conference power Wabash.

3. Carnegie-Mellon (5-5): The Tartans have had 35 straight non-losing seasons, dating back to 1975. They hope to make 36 in a row in 2010.

4. Washington (Mo.)--(4-6): The Bears face three teams (Wittenberg, Wabash, and Case Western Reserve) that made the D-III playoffs last year.

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RFC Summer Semester--Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

What it is: The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) started as the Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1987. The original members of the ICAC then were Anderson, DePauw, Franklin, Hanover, Manchester, and Wabash. Of those original six institutions, only DePauw and Wabash have moved on to other conferences.

In 1998, the ICAC changed its name to the HCAC, as Ohio institutions such as Bluffton and Mount St. Joseph moved into the fold. In 2010, the HCAC will have nine schools playing football, as Earlham College from Indiana will join the conference in time for the upcoming season on the gridiron.

Website: http://www.heartlandconf.org

Predicted order of finish (2009 order of finish, projected champion in BOLD type)

1. Franklin (7-3): The Grizzlies hope to get back on top in the HCAC after a "down" season where they finished the 2009 season tied for second in conference play at 5-2.

2. Mount St. Joseph (9-2): The Lions scored an average of just over 32 points a game en route to an undefeated 7-0 mark in HCAC action, as well as a trip to the Division III playoffs in 2009.

3. Rose-Hulman (6-4): The Engineers will pay a visit to defending Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) champion DePauw to open the 2010 season on September 11. They welcome back eight starters on defense, as well as seven on offense.

4. Manchester (5-5): The Spartans won five of their final seven games after starting 0-3. That was good for a 5-2 mark, as well as a tie for second place in the HCAC with Franklin. Still, a tough schedule awaits the 2010 edition of the Spartans, as they face five teams that finished the 2009 campaign with a .500 or better overall record. That includes games against D-III playoff teams Trine and Mount St. Joseph. Oh, and they'll play six games on the road this season too.

5. Earlham (5-5): The Quakers will make their HCAC debut at Manchester on September 18.

6. Hanover (3-7): The Panthers are a combined 5-7 in HCAC action over the last two years.

7. Defiance (4-6): The Yellow Jackets will play their first three games of 2010 on the road. Their home opener is against Franklin on September 18, followed by another home against Mount St. Joseph two weeks later.

8. Anderson (1-9): The Ravens hope to put a miserable 2009 season behind them, and soar high for the 2010 season.

9. Bluffton (0-10): The Beavers last win came on September 27, 2008, when they defeated Kalamazoo, 23-15. They've lost 17 straight games since then.

rst three games

RFC Summer Semester--Ohio Athletic Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

What it is: As the third oldest athletic conference in the nation, the Ohio Athletic Conference has a history that dates back well over a century, as it was founded in 1902. Only the FBS/BCS Big Ten Conference (1895), and the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1888) are older than the OAC. Believe it or not, the most storied former member of the OAC is Ohio State. In fact, the Buckeyes competed as charter members of the conference from 1902 to 1912.

Perhaps the strongest program of the last 20 years, at all levels of college football, is Mount Union. Since Larry Kehres became the head coach in 1986, the Purple Raiders have compiled a record of 289-22-3. That translates to a winning percentage of .925 over the last 24 years. Since 1990, Mount Union is 259-12-1. That brings the winning percentage up to .956.

But that's not all. Over the last decade (2000-2009), the Purple Raiders were an astounding 139-5, for a. 965 winning percentage. Since 2005, Mount Union is 72-3, which makes for a winning percentage of .960.

Still, it's all about the national championships for Mount Union. The Purple Raiders have won 10 of them over the last 17 years (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008). Three of their losses in title games came in 2003 (St. John's), 2007, and 2009 (Wisconsin-Whitewater).

Lost in the shadows of Mount Union's impressive track record over the last 20 years is the fact that Baldwin-Wallace is the only other current OAC member to win a national championship. The Yellow Jackets defeated former OAC member Wittenberg, 24-10, to win it all in 1978. Ironically, the Tigers won two of the first three D-III crowns (1973, 1975) as a member of the OAC.

Website: http://www.oac.org

Projected order of finish (2009 order of finish, projected champion in BOLD type)

1. Mount Union (14-1): Despite losing their second national championship in the last three years, the Purple Raiders are still one of the teams to beat in D-III going into 2010, including USA Today, which picked them No. 1 in their preseason rankings.

2. Ohio Northern (8-2): The Polar Bears will shoot for their 15th straight upper division finish in the OAC this season.

3. Otterbein (8-2): The Cardinals were 4-1 in games decided by eight points or less. That one loss, though, cost them an at-large bid to the playoffs last season.

4. Capital (7-3): The Crusaders play host to perennial Mid-Atlantic power Wesley in a key non-conference game on September 25.

5. Heidelberg (4-6): "The Berg" won three of its last four games of 2009 after a 1-5 start.

6. Baldwin-Wallace (3-7): The Yellow Jackets finished below .500 for the second time in the last five years.

7. Muskingum (4-6): The Muskies have won at least five games just once over the last 11 years. They finished the 2003 season at 5-5.

8. John Carroll (3-7): The Blue Streaks struggled to their first sub-.500 season since 1986 (2-7).

9. Marietta (3-7): All three of the Pioneers wins came by six points or less.

10. Wilmington (1-9): The Quakers will play four teams that finished the 2009 campaign ranked in the Top 25.

RFC Summer Semester--North Coast Athletic Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

What it is: Founded in 1983, the North Coast Athletic Conference consists of nine schools in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Of those members, Wabash is the only all-male school in the league. U.S. News & World Report recognized all but one of those institutions in its most recent ranking of liberal arts colleges.

The NCAC will undergo some changes during the upcoming season, as Earlham College has left that league for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, while another Indiana institution, DePauw University, will take the Quakers place starting in July 2011.

Wittenberg not only has the distinction of winning two of the first three NCAA Division III national championships (1973, 1975), but also the most wins all-time in D-III. Those titles, however, came while the Tigers played in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Meanwhile, Allegheny is the lone current NCAC member to win a national championship (1990).

Website: http://www.northcoast.org

Predicted order of finish (2009 order of finish, overall record in parentheses)

1. Wittenberg (12-1): The Tigers hope the return of 14 starters from last year's national quarterfinal playoff team will propel them past the third round, and their first national championship in over 35 years.

2. Allegheny (8-2): The Gators open NCAC play against defending league champion Wittenberg at home on September 25.

3. Wabash (9-2): The Little Giants have gone 88-23 over the past decade. But they were an average 6-5 in playoff games during that span.

4. Wooster (5-5): The Scots struggled to a modest 4-3 mark in NCAC play last season.

5. Kenyon (3-7): The Lords will play three of their first four games at home.

6. Ohio Wesleyan (3-7): The bright side for the Battling Bishops is that they finally get to play at home, under the lights! They'll make history by playing host to Wooster on September 25.

7. Oberlin (2-8): The Yeomen were outscored 195-92 in NCAC games last season.

8. Denison (3-7): The Big Red have had just three winning seasons over the last two decades. It won six games in each of those seasons (1990, 2004, 2008).

9. Hiram (0-10): The Terriers welcome a lot of newcomers in 2010.

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RFC Summer Semester--Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Preview (NCAA Division III)

What it is: Not to be confused with the MIAA of the Great Plains--the NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association--the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association is considered the nation's oldest intercollegiate athletics conference, with a history dating back to 1888. As far as football goes, the D-III MIAA currently consists of seven schools, with Trine University of Indiana being the only non-Michigan institution.



The MIAA has had limited success in the playoffs since the league lifted its ban on postseason play in 1977. Albion, which leads the MIAA with 33 conference titles all-time, won the league's lone national championship in 1994, crushing Washington & Jefferson, 38-15, in the title game that year. Its only postseason win in the last 15 years came in 2009, when Trine outlasted Case Western Reserve, 51-38, in first round D-III playoff action.



Website: http://www.miaa.org/



Predicted order of finiah (2009 order of finish, projected champion in BOLD type)

1. Trine (10-2): The Thunder have compiled a combined record of 20-3 over the past two seasons in winning back-to-back MIAA championships. It welcomes back eight starters apiece on both offense and defense.

2. Albion (4-6): The Britons hope to steal some "Thunder" in the conference race, and claim their first league title since 2005.

3. Adrian (6-4): The Bulldogs will find out quickly just how good they are when they open the 2010 season on the road against defending D-III champ Wisconsin-Whitewater on September 4.

4. Hope (3-7): The Flying Dutchmen last won an outright MIAA title in 2006. They shared a league title with Olivet the following year. In all, the program has 20 conference championships, second only to the 33 league crowns won by Albion.

5. Alma (5-5): The Scots non-conference schedule includes visits to Illinois Wesleyan (September 11), as well as to NCAA Division II Kentucky Wesleyan (September 25).

6. Kalamazoo (4-6): The Hornets ended the 2009 season on a four-game slide after a 4-2 start. They gave up an average of 38.25 points a game during that skid, while being outscored 153-90.

7. Olivet (0-10): Rich Hulkow enters his rookie season as the Comets head coach. He takes over a program that has won just one game over the past two years, and enters the 2010 campaign on a 17-game losing streak.

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RFC Summer Semester--Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic (GLIAC) Preview (NCAA Division II)

What it is: The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, or the GLIAC (pronounced "glee-AC"), is an NCAA Division II league that consists of 14 football-playing schools, located primarily in Michigan and Ohio. Founded in 1972, the GLIAC initially sponsored until the end of the 1989. That's when the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC) was formed prior to the 1990 season. The MIFC was disbanded in 1999, as the GLIAC chose to renew its sponsorship of football.



Of the current GLIAC members, only Indianapolis is an associate member. Two new schools, Lake Erie (Ohio) and Ohio Dominican, will officially join the GLIAC in time for the 2010 season.



Despite a history that dates back almost four decades, to 1971, Grand Valley State has established itself as one of the premier small college football programs in the nation. In the last decade, the Lakers have won four NCAA Division II national championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006), while finishing as the national runner-up on two other ocassions (2001, 2009).



Website: http://www.gliac.org/



Predicted order of finish (2009 order of finish, projected champion in BOLD type)



1. Grand Valley State (13-2): The Lakers to add a fifth national championship to their trophy case in 2010 after losing to Northwest Missouri State in the 2009 title game.



2. Hillsdale (10-3): The Chargers handed GVSU its first regular season loss since 2004, only to fall to the Lakers in round two of the D-II playoffs.



3. Saginaw Valley (9-3): The Cardinals hope to soar higher after being eliminated by Nebraska-Kearney in the first round of the D-II playoffs.



4. Northwood (Mich.)--(7-4): The Timberwolves won four straight games to end the 2009 season after a 3-4 start.



5. Findlay (7-4): A season-ending two-game skid ended any slim playoffs the Oilers had.



6. Northern Michigan (6-4): The Wildcats lost all four games by 12 points or less last year.



7. Ashland (6-5): The Eagles look to make their second NCAA playoff appearance in three years after a mediocre 6-4 finish in the GLIAC in '09.



8. Wayne State (Mich.)--(6-5): A season-ending three-game skid put the Warriors out of GLIAC championship contention in 2009. They hope to be in the hunt in 2010.



9. Indianapolis (4-7): The Greyhounds hope to put a disappointing 2009 season behind them.



10. Michigan Tech (2-8): The Huskies hope to do the same as well.



11. Ferris State (1-10): The Bulldogs lone win of 2009 came against Tiffin in the season opener.

12. Tiffin (0-11): The Dragons last win came in the third game of the 2008 season, in a 34-28 quadruple overtime victory over Northern Michigan. They enter the 2010 campaign on a 19-game losing streak.

13. Ohio Dominican (7-3): The Panthers face a tough task, as they enter their first season in the GLIAC.

14. Lake Erie (7-4): The Storm will have their hands full in their inaugural GLIAC season as well.

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RFC Summer Semester--Southern Conference Preview (FCS)

What it is: With a history and tradition that both pre-date the current Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conferences of BCS fame, the Southern Conference was founded in 1921 as the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, or the SIAA, for short. Many of the current ACC and SEC members, such as Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Georgia Tech--just to name a few--got started in what's now the SoCon. Additionally, current non-BCS and Conference USA member East Carolina spent 13 seasons (1964-76) in the league.



Since the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) was formed in 1978, the Southern Conference has become one of the strongest leagues in the nation. In fact, since 1982, current members Appalachian State, Furman, and Georgia Southern have combined to win 10 FCS national championships all-time. Georgia Southern leads the way with six titles (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000), followed by ASU with three (2005, 2006, 2007), and Furman with one (1988). Additionally, another former SoCon turned C-USA member Marshall took home two I-AA titles in 1992 and 1996.



Among current members, Furman and Appalachian State have the most Southern Conference titles between them at 22, with the Purple Paladins winning 12 league championships between 1978 and 2004, while the Mountaineers have captured 10 crowns between 1986 and 2009. Georgia Southern is third with eight titles, the most recent coming in 2004.



Finally, when it comes to pulling off the big upset over big-time college football programs, the SoCon ranks among the best as far as current FCS conferences go. Perhaps the biggest of those shocking victories came on September 1, 2007. That's when Appalachian State upset then No. 5 (Associated Press) Michigan, 34-32, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. That win helped put the FCS on the map.



Website: http://www.soconsports.com/



Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record, projected champion in BOLD type)



1. Appalachian State (11-3): With Armanti Edwards no longer taking the snaps at quarterback, ASU must start over in 2010. While they'll play six home games this season, including key SoCon showdowns against Elon (October 9), and Furman (October 30), ASU must pay a visit to the swamp to close out the season against the Florida Gators on November 20.



2. Furman (6-5): The Purple Paladins football program received recognition from the Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association for the having the highest academic progress rate in the Southern Conference in late May. As for doing something similar on the football field, the Paladins hope to make a triumphant return to the SoCon elite after struggling to a 5-3 finish in conference play last season.



3. Elon (9-3): After finishing second in the SoCon at 7-1, and earning their first-ever FCS playoff berth in 2009, the Phoenix face a huge challenge in making it back-to-back postseason appearances, as they must play Richmond and Appalachian State on the road in 2010.



4. Chattanooga (6-5): The Mocs return nine starters on offense, as well as seven on defense.



5. Georgia Southern (5-6): New head coach Jeff Monken hopes to restore a winning tradition to an Eagles program that hasn't reached postseason play since 2005.



6. Samford (5-6): Ironically, the Bulldogs begin the post-Bobby Bowden era on September 4, against Florida State, on September 4. Bowden once coached the Samford program from 1959-1962. His replacement, Jimbo Fisher, was a former Bulldog quarterback and assistant coach.



7. Citadel (5-6): The Bulldogs from Charleston, South Carolina haven't won a SoCon title since 1992. That was also their last trip to the playoffs.

8. Wofford (3-8): After making back-to-back trips to postseason play in 2007 and 2008, the Terriers hope to re-group after a disappointing 2009 campaign.

9. Western Carolina (2-9): The Catamounts haven't made the playoffs since losing to Southern Illinois in the 1983 I-AA title game. Their last winning season came in 2005, at 5-4.

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RFC Summer Semester--South Atlantic Conference Preview (NCAA Division II)

What it is: Although its current version dates back to 1975, the history of the South Atlantic Conference actually traces its roots back to the North State Intercollegiate Athletic Conference of the 1930's. That league included current FCS members Appalachian State and Western Carolina. Members of the current SAC are located in upstate South Carolina, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. It currently has eight schools playing football, although D-II independent North Greenville (S.C.) will have a scheduling alliance with the SAC starting in 2011. Also, the membership of the SAC consists primarily of private, church-affiliated institutions.


Carson-Newman has the most storied history of all current SAC members, posting 555 wins overall dating back to 1913. Ken Sparks will enter his 31st season as the Eagles head coach, compiling a career record of 287-70-2 since 1980. C-N has won five national championships, all within the NAIA ranks (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1989), while finishing as national runners-up at the NCAA Division II level three times in four years (1996, 1998, and 1999). The Eagles most recent postseason appearance came in 2009, where they fell to eventual D-II national runner-up Grand Valley State, 41-27, in the national semifinals.


Website: http://www.thesac.com/


Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)


1. Carson-Newman (11-3): The Eagles finished unbeaten in SAC play at 7-0 last season. But they must overcome of at least 16 starters in order to entertain any thoughts of another postseason run this season.


2. Wingate (7-3): The Bulldogs open the 2010 season with back-to-back non-conference road games against West Georgia and Valdosta State. They'll face 2009 D-II playoff participant UNC Pembroke in their home opener on September 25.


3. Catawba (4-6): The Indians have signed up to 39 new players in hopes of rebounding from a disappointing 2009 campaign in which they finished last in the SAC at 1-6.



4. Tusculum (3-7): The Pioneers struggled to a 2-5 finish in SAC play in '09. That followed a nine-win season in 2008, where they advanced to round two of the D-II playoffs.


5. Newberry (6-4): The 2010 schedule has six home games, one of which includes a clash against Carson-Newman on October 30.


6. Mars Hill (6-4): The Lions bring back 30 letterwiners from a squad that notched a 4-3 finish in SAC action last season.


7. Brevard (7-4): The Tornados hope to take that next step, and contend for a SAC title after finishing 3-4 in conference play last season. But they'll have to play six games on the road to get there.


8. Lenoir-Rhyne (5-6): The Bears hope to improve on a 2-5 finish in SAC play in 2009. For 2010, LR will face six teams that had winning seasons from last year.

RFC Summer Semester--Big South Conference Preview (FCS)

What it is: Founded in 1983, the Big South Conference began its sponsorship of football nearly two decades later, in 2002. The BSC will finally get its chance on the national stage this season, as it will send its first-ever automatic qualifier to the FCS playoffs.

A conference that consists mostly of private, church-affilliated institutions, full membership in the BSC is located primarily in North and South Carolina, as well as Virginia. Stony Brook, located on New York's Long Island, is an associate member for football only.

In its nine-year history, the Big South Conference has had one of its current members advance to postseason play. Coastal Carolina became the first BSC member to reach the then NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 2006, losing to eventual national champion, Appalachian State, 45-28, in the first round. Despite a 10-2 overall, and unbeaten 5-0, record in conference play, Liberty was left out of the 2008 FCS playoff field.

The Big South did take a big hit as far as its membership was concerned, as Elon left the conference in 2003 to join the Southern Conference, where the Phoenix remain to this day. But Campbell, which started its football program in 2008, will re-join the BSC for all sports in 2011.

Website: http://www.bigsouthsports.com

Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)

1. Liberty (8-3): An upset loss to Stony Brook cost the Flames an outright conference title . Could this be the year they finally reach the postseason? That question could be answered by in three straight road games against FBS (Mid-American Conference) Ball State, Robert Morris, and James Madison.

2. Stony Brook (6-5): The Seawolves stunned Liberty to win a share of the Big South title. Their non-conference schedule includes trips to Big East Conference upstart South Florida, and Ivy League foe Brown.

3. Charleston Southern (6-5): A season-ending four-game winning streak gives the Buccaneeers a reason to believe in 2010.

4. Gardner-Webb (6-5): The Runnin' Bulldogs hope to make a serious run for their first-ever FCS postseason bid.

5. Coastal Carolina (5-6): The Chanticleers hope to bounce back after finishing under .500 for the second time in the program's seven-year history.

6. VMI (2-9): The Keydets struggled to a 1-5 mark in Big South play. Their last winning season was in 1981, when they finished 6-3-1.

7. Presbyterian (0-11): The Blue Hose enter the 2010 season on a 14-game losing streak that dates back to the latter portion of the 2008 season.

RFC Summer Semester--USA South Athletic Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

What it is: One of the youngest conferences at the NCAA Division III level, the USA South Athletic Conference has a history that dates back to at least the 1960's. However, most of its member schools have only started playing football within least the last 10 years. Even so, some of those teams have made history, as Christopher Newport became the first, and so far, only team to advance to the NCAA playoffs in its inaugural season (2001). Also, North Carolina Wesleyan became the first No. 8 seed to win a playoff game when the Battling Bishops upset then top seeded and previously undefeated Washington & Jefferson in the first round of 2007 D-III playoffs.

Website: http://www.usasouth.net

Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type.

1. Christopher Newport (5-5): Last year's 4-3 finish in USA South action (a tie for third place) was the worst in the nine-year history of the Captains program. They missed postseason play for just the third-time ever as a result. They'll face Atlantic Central Football Conference foes Wesley, Frostburg State, and Salisbury in non-conference action.

2. North Carolina Wesleyan (8-3): The Battling Bishops finished USA South play unbeaten at 7-0 en route to their second-ever NCAA playoff appearance. They face an early season test against defending ODAC champion Hampden-Sydney on September 11.

3. Averett (7-3): The Cougars hope to win at least a share of their first conference title since 2006. They shared the crown with CNU that season.

4. Greensboro (4-6): The Pride hope to improve on last season's 4-3 mark in conference play.

5. Ferrum (5-5): The Panthers struggled to a disappointing 3-4 record in the USA South in 2009. They've shared the league title three times (with CNU in 2001-02, and Methodist in 2005).

6. Maryville (4-6): The Scots also finished 3-4 in league play last season. Their last winning season was in 2007, when they finished 7-3.

7. Methodist (3-7): The Monarchs look to move forward after a 2-5 finish in the USA South last year.

8. Shenandoah (1-9): The Hornets finished last in the league at 0-7 in '09.

RFC Summer Semester--President's Athletic Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

What it is: The President's Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division III circuit which currently has nine schools playing football. Member schools are located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

Website: http://www.pacathletics.org

Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)

1. Thomas More (11-1): The Saints begin the 2010 campaign ranked in the Top 20 in two separate polls: 12th in The Sporting News, and 18th in Lindy's. They hope it ends in an a "three-peat": a third straight PAC title.

2. Washington & Jefferson (9-2): The Presidents will shoot for their 27th straight winning season this fall. It's currently the 10th best streak in all of D-III. But W&J faces a tough early season schedule that includes visits to NCAA playoff participants Delaware Valley and Thomas More.

3. Grove City (5-5): The Wolverines don't play their first home game of the season until September 25. That's when they'll take on Waynesburg.

4. Westminster (4-6): The Titans have had just seven losing seasons, to go with six national championships, over the last 59 years. 2009, unfortunately, was one of those down years.

5. Waynesburg (5-5): The Yellow Jackets have combined for break-even record of 10-10 the last two years. But they've also finished 2-4 in the PAC during that same span.

6. Geneva (8-3): The highlight of the 2009 season for the Golden Tornadoes was a thrilling, 29-28 win over Greenville (Ill.) in the NCCAA Victory Bowl.

7. Thiel (3-7): The Tomcats stunned Westminster, 24-21, on October 3, for their lone conference victory of 2009.

8. Bethany (W. Va.)--(3-7): The Bison haven't finished above .500 since finishing 6-3 in 2001.

9. St. Vincent's (0-10): The Bearcats enter the 2010 season having lost 18 straight games. In fact, they've won just one game overall since restarting their football program in 2007 after a 35-year absence.

RFC Summer Semester--West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Preview--NCAA Division II

What it is: The West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) is a multi-sport conference that consists of 15 schools, with all but one of them located in the state of West Virginia. Of those institutions, nine of them currently play football. The WVIAC crowned Marshall, now a member of FBS Conference USA, as its first football champion in 1925.



The WVIAC hasn't fared well in postseason play over the last 45 years, as its teams are a combined 12-30 dating back to 1965. Fairmont State won the lone national championship among current members, defeating Eastern Washington, 28-21, for the 1967 NAIA title. Glenville State is the only other current league member to play for a national championship, losing 10-3 to Northwestern (Iowa) in the 1973 NAIA Division II title game.



At the NCAA Division II level, Shepherd and West Liberty are the only current members to reach quarterfinal round of the playoffs, with the Rams losing 1998, 2006, and 2007, while West Liberty fell to California (Pa.), 57-35, in its first-ever NCAA postseason appearance.



Website: http://www.wviac.org/



Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)



1. West Liberty (11-2): The Hilltoppers begin the 2010 season ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation by Sporting News and Lindy's magazines. The real key is if they can live up to those lofty expectations. They'll find out quickly on August 29, when they travel to Edinboro in a re-match of last year's second round playoff game. West Liberty won that high-scoring affair, 84-63.



2. Charleston (9-2): Back-to-back late-season losses to West Liberty and Glenville State derailed the Golden Eagles postseason hopes after an 8-0 start.



3. Shepherd (6-4): The Rams hope to get back on top after a mediocre 2009 season.



4. Glenville State (7-4): A season-ending win over archrival Shepherd gives the Pioneer faithful hope for the 2010 season.



5. Fairmont State (3-8): The Falcons hope to soar their way to the top of the WVIAC standings after posting a 3-5 conference mark in '09.



6. Concord (6-5): The Mountain Lions have their work cut out for them if they want post back-to-back winning seasons, as they face two D-II playoff teams from a year ago in UNC Pembroke and West Liberty, as well as a nine-win team in Charleston.



7. Seton Hill (1-10): The Griffins face a long climb back to the top after going from a 10-win NCAA playoff team in 2008, to a squad that went winless (0-8) in the WVIAC in 2009.



8. West Virginia State (3-7): The Yellow Jackets struggled to a 2-6 mark in the WVIAC last season.



9. West Virginia Wesleyan (2-8): The Bobcats last WVIAC title came in 2003. They finished that season with a 9-2 overall record.

RFC Summer Semester: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preview (NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision)

What it is: The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2010. Founded in 1970, the MEAC consists of 12 historically black colleges & universities (HBCU's), with 10 currently playing football. Membership stretches from Delaware to Florida, with Georgia being excluded, although Savannah State could eventually join the MEAC full-time provided the current FCS independent meets requirements such as staffing and scholarships. North Carolina Central rejoins the conference after a 31-year absence. NCCU withdrew from the MEAC in 1979 when the league re-classified to NCAA Division I status by the following year.

One more about trivia about the MEAC: Florida A&M won the first-ever NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship in 1978.

Website: http://www.meacsports.com/

Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)

1. South Carolina State (10-2): The Bulldogs (8-0 MEAC) took Appalachian State to the limit before bowing in round one of the FCS playoffs last season. They open this season on the road against defending ACC champion Georgia Tech on Sept. 4.

2. Florida A&M (8-3): After a second place finish in the MEAC at 6-2, the Rattlers hope to take the next step, and challenge for a postseason berth.

3. Norfolk State (7-4): The Spartans won four straight games to end the conference season at 5-3. The strong finish in 2009 alone gives fans in the Hampton Roads region hope for 2010.

4. Morgan State (6-5): Streaky Bears sandwiched a five-game winning streak with a four-game losing streak en route to a season-opening win, and season-ending loss, respectively.

5. Bethune-Cookman (5-6): The Wildcats won five of their final seven games after starting the 2009 season at 0-4.

6. North Carolina A&T (5-6): The Aggies hope to put 2009 behind them after a season-ending three-game skid.

7. Hampton (5-6): The Pirates lost four of their six games by seven points or less last season.

8. Delaware State (4-7): The Hornets hope to get their "sting" back after struggling to a 3-5 conference record a year ago.

9. Howard (2-9): The Bison face an uphill battle after not only ending the 2009 season on a seven-game, but also going winless in the MEAC at 0-8.

RFC Summer Semester--Old Dominion Athletic Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

What it is: Founded in 1976, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) will enter its 35th season of play in 2010. Seven of the ODAC's current 13 full members field a football program, with a 14th, Catholic University of Washington, D.C., competing as an associate member, although the Cardinals were a full member up until the mid-1980's. All but two of the conference's football-playing members, Catholic and Guilford (N.C), come from the state of Virginia.

The ODAC has had its struggles in postseason play over the years, as the league is just 12-20 (.375) all-time in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Bridgewater (Va.) has the highest winning percentage in the D-III dance among current ODAC members, going 9-6 overall (.600) while making six straight trips to the postseason (2000-2005). Hampden-Sydney reached postseason play after going unbeaten during the regular season last year, only to be upset by Johns Hopkins, 23-7, in the first round of the D-III playoffs.

Among current members, Emory & Henry has won the most ODAC championships with 10. However, the Wasps last title came in 2000. Randolph-Macon has the second highest number of titles with nine, the most recent crown coming in 2008.

Finally, the ODAC is home to the "Oldest Small College Rivalry in the South", better known as "The Game", as Hampden-Sydney and Randolph-Macon have met 115 times since 1893, with the Tigers holding a 59-45-11 all-tme lead over the Yellow Jackets. H-SC won last year's meeting, 34-27.

Website: http://www.odaconline.com/

Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion marked in BOLD type)

1. Hampden-Sydney (10-1): The Tigers enter the 2010 season hoping to put the sting of last year's first round playoff loss behind them.

2. Bridgewater (Va.)--(7-3): The Eagles play host to Hampden-Sydney for homecoming on Oct. 9.

3. Randolph-Macon (6-4): The Yellow Jackets face NCAA playoff team Johns Hopkins in Week 2 (September 11).

4. Emory & Henry (7-3): The Wasps started 4-0, lost three in a row, then won three games in a row, to end the 2009 season.

5. Guilford (4-6): The Quakers hope to move forward after a disappointing 2009 campaign, where they finished 2-5 in ODAC action.

6. Washington & Lee (4-6): All of the Generals six losses in '09 came by eight points or less.

7. Catholic (1-9): The Cardinals hope to bounce back after going winless (0-6) in ODAC play a year ago.

RFC Contacts

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