Looking back: They may have lost their shot of adding another NAIA national championship to their trophy case, but at least the University of Sioux Falls Cougars left the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) on a high note, as they won their ninth conference title in ten years in 2010. The Cougars finished undefeated in GPAC play at 10-0 last season.
Looking ahead: With Sioux Falls now beginning the transition to the NCAA Division II ranks, the opportunity is there for other teams to step up to the top in the GPAC entering the 2011 season, with Morningside being among the favorites to finish in first place.
Website: http://www.gpacsports.com/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Morningside (10-2): The Mustangs reached the quarterfinals of the NAIA playoffs last season, losing to MidAmerica Nazarene. They'll be shooting for an eighth straight trip to postseason play in 2011.
2. Northwestern (Iowa)--(8-2): Despite a season-ending five-game winning streak, the Raiders found themselves on the outside looking in at playoff selection time. They hope their name will be among the 16 teams called when it comes in November.
3. Midland (7-3): The Warriors have had three straight winning seasons, while producing close to 30 all-conference athletes. They hope to take that next step, and advance to the playoffs.
4. Hastings (5-5): Back-to-back wins to close out 2010 have Broncos backers hoping for bigger and better things in 2011.
5. Dakota Wesleyan (5-5): The Tigers haven't had a double-digit win season since 1992, when they finished 10-1. They've won at least seven games only twice since then (1993, 2008).
6. Concordia (Neb.)--(4-7): The Bulldogs struggled to a 3-7 mark in GPAC action last season.
7. Nebraska Wesleyan (4-6): The Prairie Wolves have won 22 conference championships all-time, while advancing to postseason play five times, but are looking for their first winning season since 2008.
8. Doane (3-7): The Tigers look to return to the glory days of the 1990's, when they advanced to the NAIA playoffs three times under then head coach Fran Schwenk.
9. Briar Cliff (2-9): The Chargers found themselves on the wrong end of multiple blowout losses last season, losing seven games by 21 or more points.
10. Dordt (0-10): The Defenders have lost 19 straight games dating back to the third game of the 2009 season. Their last win came over Waldorf, 32-17, on September 12, 2009.
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4 years ago
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