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Liberty League (LL)
2014 Liberty League Standings
Looking back: The Hobart Statesmen cruised to a third straight undefeated season, as well as a third straight season of winning at least 10 or more games overall. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs, where they fell to Wesley, 41-13.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if the Statesmen end up making yet another deep postseason run in November.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Hobart (12-1): Head Coach Mike Cragg enters his 21st season at the Statesmen with 112 wins to his credit. If they're to advance to the NCAA playoffs again this fall, they must replace a senior class that won 41 games over the past four years. That group includes Ali Marpet, who was the highest D-III player selected in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was selected 61st overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
2. St. Lawrence (8-2): The Saints just might be the best bet to dethrone Hobart in 2015, as both of their losses in 2014 came by a combined five points: a 10-7 loss to Norwich on September 13, as well as a 29-27 setback to the Statesmen on November 8. They'll look to build on a combined 15-5 overall record that they've compiled over the last two years, after going winless in 2012. Ironically, the Saints also hope to advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time since 2010, despite finishing 5-6 overall that season.
3. RPI (6-5): The Engineers hope to bounce back after an up-and-down 2014 season saw them lose three straight games in October, ending with a heartbreaking overtime loss to Framingham State in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl on November 22. The 2015 slate includes a visit to defending New England Football Conference champion MIT on September 19, as well as a clash at Hobart on October 24.
4. Rochester (5-4): The Yellowjackets found themselves in a lot of close games last season, finishing 2-2 in contests that were decided by five points or less. All of those games were played late in the year. Who knows, having all of those close calls could prove to be helpful going into this season.
5. Springfield (5-5): The Pride saw a fast 5-2 start disintegrated into an 0-3 finish to end the 2014 season, being outscored 86-34 in their final three contests. If that wasn't enough, the start to the 2015 season will be anything but easy, with three of their first four games being on the road.
6. WPI (4-6): A historic season-ending win over Springfield could serve as a sign of things to come for the Engineers in 2015.
7. Union (N.Y.)--(2-8): The Dutch will try to put a dismal 2014 season behind them.
8. Merchant Marine (2-8): As will the Mariners after a season-ending seven-game skid.
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Empire 8 Conference (E8)
2014 Empire 8 Conference Standings
Looking back: After an intensively competitive eight-game schedule, the Ithaca Bombers emerged as the automatic qualifiers of the NCAA Division III playoffs out of the Empire 8 Conference for 2014. They knocked off the St. John Fisher Cardinals, 19-8, on November 8, to advance to the D-III dance. But the Bombers lost back-to-back games to close out the 2014 season, losing to archrival Cortland State, 23-20, as well as to Hobart, 22-15, in the first round of the playoffs.
Ithaca was one of five teams from the E8 to advance to postseason play in 2014, with four other teams: St. John Fisher, Utica, Buffalo State, and Salisbury all advancing to ECAC bowl games. That quartet split four of those contests, with Salisbury and SJFC both coming out on top.
Looking ahead: The "new-look" Empire 8 Conference takes the field this fall, as Cortland State and Morrisville State, respectively, move into the league from the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), while Frostburg State and Salisbury have left the E8 to join the NJAC. Those moves make the Empire 8 an entirely all-Upstate New York group for 2015 and beyond, with nine teams in it. While Cortland brings a solid winning tradition to the E8, Morrisville is a relative newcomer to the D-III ranks, having clinched their first-ever winning season just last year.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. St. John Fisher (9-2): Coming off of their 12th straight postseason appearance, which ended with a 28-14 win over Western Connecticut State in the ECAC Northwest Bowl, the Cardinals will look to earn their second trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs in three years, and third in five years. In order to do that, however, they must replace two players that made the d3football.com All-East Region Team in quarterback Tyler Fenti, and center Zach Shipley on offense, as well as safety Bryant Moore on the defensive side, as three players have graduated. The Cardinals will quickly find out how good they are on September 5. That's when they'll hit the road to open the 2015 season against Thomas More.
2. Ithaca (7-4): Thanks to their late-season win over SJFC, the Bombers advanced to the D-III dance with the automatic bid from the E8. They'll face Hobart in a re-match of last year's playoff clash on September 19.
3. Buffalo State (8-3): The Bengals ended the 2014 season with three straight wins, including a season-ending win over Waynesburg in the ECAC Southwest Bowl. They hope to carry that momentum from that victory into the 2015 season.
4. Utica (7-4): The Pioneers hope to take another step towards respectability after finishing 5-3 in E8 play last season.
5. Morrisville State (9-2): Something that the Mustangs hope to achieve in their inaugural season in the Empire 8 after winning a three-way share of the NJAC crown 6-1 in league play last fall. If that wasn't enough, they also downed soon-to-be E8 foe Utica, 52-41, to win the ECAC North Central Bowl crown, which just happened to be their first-ever postseason win.
6. Cortland State (5-5): Despite a so-so showing in their NJAC swan song, the Red Dragons did manage to knock off arch rival--and future E8 member--Ithaca, 23-20, in their annual battle for the "Cortaca Jug". Still, their rookie season in their new league could be prove to a challenge at best.
7. Brockport (5-5): The Golden Eagles will look to bounce back after a season-ending three-game skid.
8. Alfred (5-5): While the Saxons ended the 2014 campaign with back-to-back losses.
9. Hartwick (2-8): The Hawks face an uphill battle after their third losing season in the last five years.
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Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC)
2014 ECFC Standings
Looking back: The Husson University Eagles overcame a season-opening loss to Alfred on the road to reel off eight straight wins en route to their first-ever NCAA Division III playoff appearance in 2014. However, their postseason run was cut short in the first round by another playoff newcomer in MIT, with the Engineers eliminating the Eagles, 27-20.
Looking ahead: The days of the ECFC could be numbered in the years to come, as Norwich recently announced that it was leaving that league to join the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in 2017. As for on-the-field outlook going into 2015, it'll be interesting to see if Husson can repeat as ECFC champions.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Husson (8-2): The Eagles finished unbeaten in ECFC play at 7-0 last season. They open this season looking to avenger their lone regular season loss from a year ago, when they host Alfred on September 5.
2. Castleton State (7-3): The Spartans finished in a three-way tie for second place in ECFC action a year ago, losing two of their contests by 20 or more points. They open the 2015 slate with back-to-back road games at Plymouth State and Salve Regina, respectively.
3. Norwich (7-4): The Cadets took a 7-2 overall record into their regular season finale against Castleton State, only to fall to the Spartans 48-28. They gave up that exact amount of points versus Salve Regina in the ECAC Northeast Bowl the following weekend. They hope to use that painful ending to 2014 as motivation for 2015.
4. Mount Ida (5-5): Despite back-to-back five-win seasons the last two years, the Mustangs did manage to go 5-2 in ECFC play last season, the third time in the last five years that they've won at least five conference games. They'll go into this fall looking to clinch their first NCAA Division III playoff appearance since 2012.
5. Maritime (N.Y.)--(4-6): After struggling to a combined overall record of 13-17 over the past three years, the Privateers hope to go back to the "glory days" of 2010-11, when they compiled a combined overall record of 18-3 over that two-year span.
6. Gallaudet (2-7): Just one full season removed from a postseason appearance, the Bison hope to bounce back after a dismal 2014 campaign.
7. Becker (1-9): A season-ending overtime win over Anna Maria has Hawks fans hoping for better things to come in 2015.
8. Anna Maria (0-10): Speaking of the AmCats, they're looking to get back on the winning track after three straight two-win seasons, as they suffered their third winless season in their short six-year history.
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New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
2014 NESCAC Football Standings
Looking back: The Amherst College Lord Jeffs have had three undefeated seasons dating back to 2009, with their latest coming in 2014, where they five of their eight games by eight points or less.
Looking ahead: Amherst will be hard pressed to make back-to-back 8-0 seasons in 2015.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Amherst (8-0): With no NCAA Division III playoff berth to play for, all the Lord Jeffs have to play for is yet another undefeated season in 2015.
2. Wesleyan (7-1): But the Cardinals will look to wrest the crown from the Lord Jeffs, who are looking to win at least seven games for the third straight season this fall. Their lone loss last year came against Amherst, by the way.
3. Middlebury (6-2): After back-to-back 7-1 seasons, the Panthers took a slight step back in 2014, but hope to bounce back in 2015.
4. Trinity (Conn.)--(5-3): Since their most recent unbeaten season of 2012 (8-0), the Bantams have compiled a modest combined record of 11-5 over the last two seasons. They hope that 2015 will mark a return to the top of the NESCAC mountain.
5. Tufts (4-4): After three straight winless seasons, the Jumbos had their season in many years, finishing at .500 for the first time since 2008. The goal for this fall, of course, will be for them to post winning record since 2007, when they finished 5-3 overall.
6. Bates (4-4): The Bobcats will look to build on three straight finishes of .500 or better, as well as winning their third outright "CBB" title in four years this fall.
7. Bowdoin (2-6): New head coach J.B. Wells was brought in during the offseason to help turn around a struggling Polar Bears program that's had just one winning season since 2000. Their last campaign that ended with a winning record came in 2005, when they finished 6-2 overall.
8. Colby (2-6): The Mules will also be looking to clinch their first winning season in a decade, when they finished 7-1 at the end of 2005.
9. Williams (2-6): Since their last outright NESCAC title in 2010, when they finished 8-0, the Ephs have fallen on hard times. That has included back-to-back two-win seasons within the last two years. They'll face a long, uphill battle on the road back to respectability in 2015.
10. Hamilton (0-8): The Continentals will go into 2015 looking to snap a 20-game losing streak. Their last win came on October 13, 2012, when they edged Bowdoin, 14-13.
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New England Football Conference (NEFC)
2014 New England Football Conference Standings - NEFC
Looking back: The 2014 season was one of many "firsts" for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Engineers. After finishing the regular season undefeated for the first-time ever, they earned their first-ever NCAA Division III playoff berth. If that wasn't enough, the Engineers won their first-ever postseason game, as they defeated Husson, 27-20, in the first round of the D-III playoffs. MIT's record-setting season ended in the second round, as the Engineers fell to Wesley, 59-0.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if MIT makes it back-to-back NCAA playoff appearances in 2015.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. MIT (10-1): With three straight winning seasons, as well as a combined 21-8 overall record during that span, the Engineers have established themselves as one of the premier small college football programs in New England, if not the entire nation. They hope to continue that success in 2015. But they must replace multiple seniors on that 2014 squad, including all-time leading rusher Justin Wallace, in order to have another shot at postseason play this fall.
2. Western New England (8-2): Despite finishing in a two-way tie for second place, the Golden Bears found themselves on the outside looking in when postseason play rolled around, not even receiving an invitation to an ECAC bowl game, much less the NCAA Division III playoffs. It's something they hope to change this year, as the 2015 campaign marks their 35th season as a varsity program.
3. Salve Regina (7-4): The Seahawks overcame a sluggish start to win their final five games of 2014. That included a season-ending 48-21 rout of Norwich in the ECAC Northeast Bowl on November 22. It'll be interesting to see if that momentum can over into 2015.
4. Endicott (5-5): On the other hand, the ending turned out to be the exact opposite for the Gulls, who ended the 2014 campaign with three straight losses after starting 5-2, with two of those three losses coming by a combined 10 points--or five points a piece. The 2015 season won't be any easier, as the Gulls must face five teams that won at least seven or more games last year.
5. Curry (3-7): After an 0-7 start, the Colonels concluded the 2014 campaign with three straight wins, including a stunning 7-0 overtime win over Western New England on November 1. Now entering the 2015 season, Head Coach Skip Bandini and his charges hope to build on last year's season-ending run, and advance to the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 2008.
6. Maine Maritime (3-6): Continuing with the "streaks" theme, the Mariners ended last season with three straight losses after splitting their first six contests.
7. Coast Guard (3-7): While the Bears will try to bounce back after ending the 2014 campaign with four straight losses.
8. Nichols (1-9): And the Bison ended yet another miserable autumn with seven straight setbacks, including a winless 0-7 mark in NEFC action. Oh, and they've won just five games combined over the last five years, including a winless 2011 campaign.
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Editor's Note: Welcome to
the debut of the "RFC Small College Preview", which will replace the "RFC Summer Semester" installments that ran on the Real Football Central blog for the past five years. Hopefully, from now until the start of the 2015 season in
late August/early September, Real Football Central will preview the
seasons for conferences competing at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels.
So, what are we waiting for? Let's go!
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC)
2014 Football Standings - MASCAC
Looking back: For the second straight season, the Framingham State University Rams finished MASCAC play unbeaten at 8-0. But because it's a relatively new conference playing football at the NCAA Division III level, the Rams were unable to advance to the playoffs. However, they did end the 2014 campaign on a winning note, as they won a 42-36 thriller in overtime to capture the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl title.
Looking ahead: Expect Framingham State to be the favorite to win the MASCAC crown again in 2015.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Framingham State (10-1): Had it not been for an early season loss to Rowan, the Rams not only could have the finished the 2014 regular season undefeated, but also an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. But with the MASCAC grabbing an automatic bid to the D-III dance in 2015, don't be surprised if their name is called on Selection Sunday this November.
2. Western Connecticut State (7-4): Here's an example of a program that has experienced a tremendous turnaround over the last two years. The Colonials won just five games combined--including back-to-back 0-10 seasons--from 2008-2012, only to win 15 contests combined the last two years-including winning the 2013 ECAC Northeast Bowl championship. Now, as they enter their fourth season under head coach Joe Loth, the Western Connecticut State program hopes to reach even greater heights in 2015.
3. Worcester State (7-3): Coming off of a third place finish in 2014, the Lancers will look to thrust themselves into serious contention for the MASCAC title in 2015.
4. Fitchburg State (6-4): A four-game stretch in October where they'll play three of them on the road could make or break the 2015 season for the Falcons. Oh, and they must pay an early season visit to Framingham State.
5. Bridgewater State (4-6): The Bears will try to bounce back after giving up at least 30 points in five of the six games they lost last season.
6. UMass-Dartmouth (4-6): The Corsairs found themselves on the short end of multiple close games in 2014, finishing 2-3 in contests decided by seven points or less. Winning a few more of those "barnburners" could propel them in contention in 2015.
7. Westfield State (5-5): The Owls finished the 2014 campaign with their fourth season with exactly five wins in--you guessed it--the last years. It'll be interesting to see if they can finally get over that hump in 2015.
8. Massachusetts Maritime (4-6): The Buccaneers will look to improve on last year's 3-5 mark in MASCAC games.
9. Plymouth State (1-9): Talk about a huge fall from grace. The Panthers went from having a 10-win season in 2008, to only one win--none in MASCAC action--in 2014. Looks like a long rebuilding effort in store for 2015.
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