What it is: The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) was formed in 1932, tracing its origins to the Northern Teachers Athletic Conference. A merger between the Northern Sun Conference and the Northern Intercollegiate Conference in 1992 led to the formation of the NSIC as its known currently.
Member schools are currently in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota. The University of Minnesota-Duluth won the league's only national championship in football, winning an NCAA Division II title in 2008. The NSIC reached its current membership of 14 institutions when Augustana (S.D.), Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State-Mankato, and St. Cloud State left the now-defunct North Central Conference in 2008.
While the D-II playoffs are currently open to any team that's postseason-eligible, NSIC members who don't get selected for the playoffs can compete in the Mineral Bowl in Missouri against a representative from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Website: http://www.northernsun.org/
Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)
1. Minnesota-Duluth (11-2): The Bulldogs welcome back 12 starters from the team that reached the NCAA D-II quarterfinals in 2009, losing to eventual national runner-up Grand Valley State. UMD hopes to earn not only its third straight trip to postseason play, but also win its second national championship in three years.
2. Minnesota State-Mankato (10-2): The Mavericks, though, might be the team that could dethrone the Bulldogs in the NSIC in 2010, as defensive back Jesse Hamilton returns for his junior season as a Preseason All-American. Like UMD, Mankato hopes to advance to the NCAA playoffs for the third straight year. The Mavs also hope to put the bad taste of how the 2009 season ended out of their mouths, as they lost back-to-back games to close it out after a 10-0 start.
3. St. Cloud State (7-4): The Huskies were one of four teams to finish in a four-way tie for third place overall in the NSIC at 7-3 last season. They also finished second in the NSIC South at 5-1 in divisional play. Their 2010 schedule includes visits to Minnesota State and Minnesota-Duluth.
4. Bemidji State (8-3): The Beavers play three of their first four games of 2010 on the road, as well as three of their last four games at home.
5. Wayne State (Neb.)--(8-3): The Wildcats hope to reach the D-II playoffs for the second time in three years, as well as to postseason play for the third time in four years, counting their 2007 appearance in the Mineral Water Bowl.
6. Augustana (S.D.)--(8-3): After a 34-21 loss to Missouri Western State in the Mineral Water Bowl last year, the Vikings hope to make run at the NSIC title in 2010.
7. Winona State (7-4): The Warriors will get a stiff early season test on the road to start 2010, as they travel to Carson-Newman on August 28. Winona, though, pulled off the upset over C-N, 17-12, to open 2009.
8. Mary (5-6): The Marauders finished 5-5 in NSIC play, and 3-3 in North Division action last year.
9. Southwest Minnesota State (5-6): The Mustangs have had just two winning seasons since 1993, going 6-5 in 1999 and 2008.
10. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)--(3-8): The Golden Bears turn their focus to 2010 after a disappointing 2009 season which included a heartbreaking double overtime loss to Upper Iowa.
11. Upper Iowa (3-8): The Peacocks are looking forward to a new season as well after a dismal campaign of their own a year ago. A fierce 2010 schedule includes games against the likes of Bemidji State, Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State, Texas A&M Commerce, and Winona State.
12. MSU Moorhead (2-9): The Dragons won both games in 2009 by a combined 21 points.
13. Northern State (2-9): The Wolves didn't have much to howl about on the gridiron in 2009.
14. Minnesota-Crookston (1-10): The Golden Eagles program has been anything but golden over the last six seasons, winning just eight games since 2004.
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4 years ago
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