RFC Summer Semester--Mid-States Football Association (NAIA)

Looking back: The Mid-States Football Association sent multiple teams to the NAIA playoffs in 2010. In the Mideast League, St. Xavier, St. Francis (Ind.), and Marian, reached postseason play, while McKendree advanced out of the Midwest League.  William Penn was passed over for a playoff berth despite a 10-1 overall record, as well as finishing the season with a Top 10 national ranking.

Looking ahead: Concordia (Mich.), Robert Morris (Ill.) and Siena Heights (Mich.) will debut their programs in the MSFA this season. On the flip side, because of their imminent transition to the NCAA Division II ranks in 2012 and beyond, Malone, McKendree, and Walsh are ineligible to compete for a conference crown in 2011.  As a result, six teams will play for the Mideast League title, while eight squads will vie for top honors in the Midwest League.

Website:  http://www.mid-statesfootball.org/

Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)

Mideast League

1. St. Xavier (13-1):  The Cougars from Chicago reached the NAIA playoff semifinals in 2010, losing to eventual national champion Carroll (Mont.).  It'll be interesting to see if SXU can finally get over the hump, and win it all in 2011.


2. St. Francis (Ind.)--(10-2):  The Cougars from Fort Wayne, Indiana also hope to make a serious run for the Mideast League championship this season.  Last season for them ended in the quarterfinals of the NAIA playoffs, where they lost to none other than, St. Xavier.  In order to return to postseason play once again, the Cougars must get through a tough schedule in which they'll play three teams ranked in the preseason coaches poll.


3. Marian (10-3):  The Knights made the most of their first-ever postseason appearance a year ago, outlasting Ottawa (Kan.) in the first round, before bowing out against you guessed it, eventual national champion, Carroll (Mont.)., in the second round.


4. Taylor (6-5):  The irony in the 2011 schedule for the Trojans? Two trips to Canton, Ohio in the final three weeks of the regular season.


5. Quincy (0-11):  The Hawks make the move from the Midwest League, to the Mideast League, after a winless season.  Their biggest move, however, will come in 2012, as they join the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference.


6. Concordia (Mich.):  After a 2010 "trial season" in which they finished 5-2, the Cardinals hope to fly high in their first full varsity season.


Midwest League

1. William Penn (10-1):  The Statesmen may have lost only one game in 2010.  But that one defeat, to McKendree, cost them a postseason berth.  If there's anything good about the 2011 season for them, it's that McKendree can't compete for the MSFA title.  


2. St. Francis (Ill.)--(7-4):  The Fighting Saints hope to find themselves in the fight for a conference/division title this season.  Their lone game against a non-NAIA opponent is at NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State on November 5.


3. Grand View (6-4):  The Vikings will open the season against NCAA Division II transition team Black Hills State (S.D.) on August 27, followed by a visit to NCAA Division I FCS Drake two weeks later.


4. St. Ambrose (5-5):  The Fighting Bees look ahead to 2011 after a 3-4 finish in Midwest League action in 2010. 


5. Iowa Wesleyan (3-8):  The Tigers last winning season was in 1994, when they finished 8-3.


6. Waldorf (3-8):  The Warriors were 1-6 in MSFA Midwest League play last season.

7. Trinity International (3-8):  The Trojans are one of two teams jumping to the Midwest League after a 1-6 finish in the Mideast League a year ago.


8. Olivet Nazarene (0-11):  The Tigers are the other team that's making the move to the Midwest League after a winless 2010 season.

Teams ineligible for MSFA title

Malone (3-7):  The Pioneers hope to turn the corner after a disappointing 2010 season. 

McKendree (9-3):  After being eliminated by eventual NAIA national runner-up, now fellow NCAA Division II transition team Sioux Falls--in round two of the 2010 playoffs--the Bearcats begin their own transition this season, in D-II.  

Robert Morris (Ill.)--(n/a):  The Eagles inaugural season of football includes a September 24 home game against fellow gridiron newcomer Ave Maria (Fla.).

Siena Heights (n/a):  First-ever football game is against Robert Morris (Ill.) on September 10.


Walsh (7-4):  The Cardinals started the 2010 season 5-0, but struggled down the stretch, losing four of their final six games.  The 2011 campaign includes games against the likes of future D-II member Urbana, as well as NCAA Division II Wesley.