Southland Conference (SLC)
Website
2013 Final Standings
2014 Media Guide
Looking back: The Southland Conference (SLC) had yet another banner year on the gridiron, with three of its teams advancing to the FCS playoffs in 2013. Postseason play, however, wasn't as kind to the faithful of this powerhouse FCS conference.
After stomping Southern Utah, 51-20, in the first round, the Sam Houston State University Bearkats gave Southeastern Louisiana all it could handle, in second round FCS playoff action, before rallying in the closing seconds for a dramatic 30-29 win.. The Lions season ended at the hands of New Hamphsire in a stunning 20-17 quarterfinal loss the following week. McNeese State also fell in round two, with Jacksonville State crushing the Cowboys, 31-10.
Looking ahead: Southeastern Louisiana will enter the 2014 season as the team to beat in the SLC, but Sam Houston State and McNeese State will almost surely be in the mix as the year progresses. Especially with all three teams beginning the year ranked in The Sports Network Top 25 preseason poll. Meanwhile, Houston Baptist will begin its first full season as a member of the SLC this fall.
Predicted order of finish (2013 overall record in parentheses):
1. Southeastern Louisiana (11-3): With a solid group of quarterbacks in tow, there's no reason why the Lions shouldn't be favored to finish the 2014 season on top of the SLC.
2. McNeese State (10-3): The Cowboys will have a say in the SLC title race, as head coach Matt Viator welcomes back 51 letterwinners, including 16 starters, for this season.
3. Sam Houston State (9-5): The Bearkats hope to reach the FCS title game for the third time in the last four years following their second round playoff exit last season.
4. Central Arkansas (7-5): The Bears will look to build on last year's successful finish with a new head coach in Steve Campbell. He replaces Clint Conque, who resigned to become the head coach at SLC rival Stephen F. Austin.
5. Northwestern State (6-6): The Demons hope to make an impact in the SLC this fall, with head coach Jay Thomas returning 20 starters from last fall.
6. Lamar (5-7): If the Cardinals are to consider themselves serious contenders for the SLC championship in 2014, they must learn how to win on the road, as they finished a dismal 1-5 away from Beaumont, Texas.
7. Nicholls State (4-8): The Colonels will go into 2014 trying to snap a six-game skid that closed out 2013.
8. Stephen F. Austin (3-9): The Lumberjacks will look to rebuild under new head coach Clint Conque.
9. Houston Baptist (3-4): The Huskies will have their work cut out for them in their first full season of football this fall.
Not eligible for SLC title
Abilene Christian (6-5): The Wildcats hope to continue their high-scoring ways in 2014. In 2013, they scored 60 or more points in four games, all wins.
Incarnate Word (6-5): After three straight sub.-500 seasons, the Cardinals finally broke through in 2013, clinching the five-year old program's first-ever winning season. Still, they'll likely have a tough row to hoe in 2014.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
4 years ago
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