What it is: With a history dating back more than a century, to 1909, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) is the fifth oldest league in the United States. Only four other conferences; the Missouri Valley Conference, the Ohio Athletic Conference, the Big Ten Conference, and the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association have had more longevity than the RMAC. Current BCS Big 12 Confefence, and soon to be Pac-10 Conference member Colorado, as well as current Mountain West members Brigham Young, Colorado State, and Wyoming, competed in the RMAC during its early years.
Today, the RMAC has 10 institutions that currently play football, with the vast majority of members located in the state of Colorado, with others located in Nebraska and New Mexico. As far as postseason play is concerned, the RMAC has had its share of struggles, especially in national championship games, as current league members are 0-4 all-time dating back to 1982, all at the NAIA level.
Website: http://www.rmacsports.org/
Predicted order of finish (2009 record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)
1. Nebraska-Kearney (11-2): The Lopers have high hopes, and high expectations, for the 2010 season, as they begin it ranked in at least the Top 15 in two separate preseason polls. UNK is just 3-7 all-time in postseason games, including a 1-3 mark in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
2. Chadron State (7-4): The Eagles have won or shared seven RMAC titles since 1996. 2009, however, proved to be a down year for the CSC program, as they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
3. Colorado State-Pueblo (7-4): The Thunderwolves hope to be formidable foes in the RMAC in just their third season back after a 24-year absence.
4. Colorado Mines (8-3): The Orediggers have 33 letterwinners, including 13 starters coming back to help them earn their first D-II playoff appearance since 2004.
5. Adams State (5-6): The Grizzlies have played football since 1930, but have had just five trips to postseason play to show for it, with the most recent trip happening in 1989, when they competed in the NAIA ranks. 13 returning starters hope to give the ASC program its sixth all-time postseason, as well as its first-ever trip to the D-II playoffs, in 2010.
6. Mesa State (5-6): The Mavericks were 3-3 in games decided by nine points or less in 2009.
7. Western State (3-8): The Mountaineers last winning season was in 2002, when they finished 6-5 overall.
8. Western New Mexico (2-8): The Mustangs return 20 starters for 2010, with 10 a piece on both sides of the football.
9. Fort Lewis (2-9): The Skyhawks hope to put another disappointing season in the past.
10. New Mexico Highlands (1-10): The Cowboys surrendered an average of 46.8 points per game, 43.6 in RMAC contests in 2009.
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4 years ago
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