RFC Summer Semester--Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preview (NCAA Division II)

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2011 Final Standings (Overall)


2011 Final Standings (Divisional)


Looking back: Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State, and St. Cloud State all shared the overall championship of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) for 2011.  All three teams finished in 8-2 in conference games last season.  In the divisional races, Minnesota State won the South Division title with an undefeated mark of 6-0, while UMD and St. Cloud finished as co-champions of the North Division after finishing 5-1. 


In the NCAA Division II playoffs, UMD advanced the farthest of any NSIC team, reaching the quarterfinals before being eliminated by eventual national runner-up Wayne State (Mich.), 31-25.  SCSU also advanced to the D-II playoffs, only to be ousted in the first round by that same Wayne State squad, 48-38.  Minnesota State also earned a trip to postseason play, defeating Northeastern State (Okla.), 28-14, in the Mineral Water Bowl, at Excelsior Springs, Mo., on December 3, 2011.


Looking ahead: The NSIC expands from 14 to 16 teams in 2012, with the additions of Minot State University from North Dakota, and former NAIA powerhouse, the University of Sioux Falls, out of South Dakota.  Neither team will be eligible for postseason play this year.

2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

1. Minnesota-Duluth (11-3):  The Bulldogs are beginning their 80th season of football in 2012.  Hopefully, it will end with their third national championship in five years.

2. Minnesota State (9-3):  After winning the 2011 Mineral Water Bowl, the Mavericks hope to make a move toward the 2012 NCAA Division II playoffs.


3. St. Cloud State (9-3):  The Huskies must replace 22 letterwinners lost due to graduation if they want make another playoff run in 2012.


4. Wayne State (Neb.)--(7-4):  The Wildcats will look to improve on last year's 7-3 finish in NSIC play.


5. Winona State (7-4):  The Warriors will travel to Duluth to face UMD in their second game of 2012 on September 8.


6. Bemidji State (8-3):  The Beavers will play six home games in 2012.


7. Augustana (S.D.)--(6-5):  The Vikings overcame an 0-3 start to finish the 2011 season above .500.  Hopefully, that flourishing finish will carry over into the 2012 season.


8. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)--(6-5):  The Golden Bears also overcame some early struggles to finish 2011 with a winning record, winning their four of their final five games, and three straight games to end the season.


9. U Mary (5-6):  The Marauders must learn how to win the close games in 2012.  If they want to finish with a winning record this fall, that is.  In 2011, they lost five games by 13 points or less.


10. Southwest Minnesota State (3-8):  The Mustangs will be tested right away to start 2012, as they play host to Minnesota-Duluth on August 30.


11. Minot State (2-8):  The Beavers will play host to Minnesota State in their first-ever NSIC contest, also on August 30.


12. Sioux Falls (5-4):  Just two years ago (2010), the Cougars were playing for, and winning, NAIA national championships.  Now, they're facing the challenge of competing in the toughest conferences in all of NCAA Division II.


13. Upper Iowa (3-8):  The Peacocks struggled to a 2-8 mark in NSIC play last season.


14. Minnesota State-Moorhead (2-9):  Steve Laqua hopes to get the Dragons going in his second season as head coach.


15. Northern State (5-6):  The Wolves hope that a season-ending three-game winning streak that ended 2011 will carry over into 2012.


16. Minnesota-Crookston (0-10):  The Golden Eagles have lost 20 of their last 22 games dating back to the 2010 season.