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

Our preseason previews continue with our first foray into the NCAA Division III ranks: the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

What it is: The New Jersey Athletic Conference, or NJAC, for short, currently has 10 schools playing football, with five of those members, all associate, coming from either New York State or Connecticut. Rowan has been to the D-III national title game, "aka" the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl five times (1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 1999, losing to Mount Union three times, Wisconsin-LaCrosse once, and Pacific Lutheran once. The NJAC is another one of those strong small college conferences whose football teams have never won a national championship.

Website: http://www.njac.net

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

1. Montclair State (10-2): The Red Hawks are favored to finish on top in the NJAC, barring any serious injuries or slow starts to the season.

2. Kean (9-2): The Cougars hope to take the next step towards an NCAA playoff berth after knocking off Ursinus, 35-14, in the ECAC Southwest Bowl last season.

3. Cortland (7-4): Most programs would be happy with seven-win seasons. The Red Dragons aren't among that group, though.

4. Rowan (7-3): The Profs also look to return to contender status after missing out on the postseason in 2009.

5. College of New Jersey (4-6): The Lions lost five straight games to finish last season.

6. William Paterson (5-5): The Pioneers crushed Western Connecticut State, 34-7, to finish at .500 overall.

7. Brockport (4-6): The Golden Eagles face an uphill battle after finishing 3-6 in the NJAC in '09.

8. Western Connecticut (2-8): Finishing at .500 would be considered a success for the Colonials.

9. Buffalo State (2-8): The Bengals face a long climb to the top after going 2-7 in conference play last season.

10. Morrisville State (1-9): The Mustangs also face an uphill battle in 2010.