RFC Summer Semester--Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (NCAA Division III)

What it is: In operation since 1972, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) began as the Twin Rivers Conference, assuming its current name in 1983. The UMAC currently has nine schools playing football, with full and associate members playing in Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Four of the UMAC's associate members, Eureka, Greenville, MacMurray, and Westminster (Mo.), found their way into the conference after the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference dropped its sponsorship of football prior to the start of the 2008 season. Also, Presentation College (S.D.) is set to take the field for the first time starting in 2011.

Website: http://www.umacathletics.com/

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

North Division

1. Martin Luther (7-3): The Knights went finish unbeaten in their division at 4-0 last season. Do they have what it takes to do it again in 2010?

2. Northwestern (Minn.)--(5-5): The Eagles will be tested early to start the 2010 season, as they face perennial D-III power St. John's (Minn.) on September 4.

3. St. Scholastica (4-6): The Saints hope that their third season of football will be a winning one, as they have a combined record of 5-13 in the first two seasons.

4. Crown (4-6): The Storm struggled a to a 1-3 record in the UMAC in 2009.

5. Minnesota-Morris (4-6): The Cougars have had just one winning season since 1990, when the 2006 squad won seven games, all in UMAC play, en route to winning the conference championship that season.

South Division

1. Greenville (7-3): The defending UMAC South Division champion Panthers start the 2010 season against three opponents whose names start with the letter "A": Augustana (Ill), Anderson (Ind.), and Albion.

2. Westminster (Mo.)--(5-5): The Blue Jays return nine starters on offense, as well as eight on defense, for the upcoming season.

3. Eureka (4-6): The Red Devils were in 2-3 in games decided by seven points or less in 2009.

4. MacMurray (1-9): The Highlanders hope to put their misery of 2009 behind them in 2010.

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