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Southern Athletic Association (SAA)
2014 Football Standings
Looking back: The Centre College (Ky.) Colonels cruised through the regular season undefeated, finishing at 10-0 overall, and 7-0 in Southern Athletic Association (SAA) action en route to winning that league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Their run in the postseason, though, was stopped cold by John Carroll, as the Blue Streaks blew past the Colonels for a convincing 63-28 first round victory.
Looking ahead: The SAA will have two associate members playing football in its conference for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, as both the University of Chicago and Washington University of St. Louis recently signed a two-year agreement while both institutions hope to join more geographically-friendly leagues in the Midwest.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Centre (10-1): While the Colonels have tasted success during the regular season, winning 32 games dating back to 2011, they hope to finally get over the postseason hump, and win their first-ever NCAA Division III playoff game in 2015. First things first, though.
2. Rhodes (8-2): Meanwhile, the Lynx have their own hump to get over this fall, as they try to build on back-to-back eight-win seasons over the last years.
3. Hendrix (6-4): After posting their first winning record since restarting their football program in 2013, the Warriors are looking to accomplish even more in 2015.
4. Chicago (8-1): The Maroons will look to build on their second eight-win season in five years.
5. Birmingham Southern (3-7): An 0-4 start doomed the Panthers to a disappointing 2014 season. They enter the 2015 campaign hoping for a happier ending.
6. Millsaps (3-6): The Majors 2015 schedule includes a season-opening clash with D-III transition team Belhaven, as well as a home game against defending SAA champion Centre, followed by the season finale at Rhodes on November 14.
7. Washington (Mo.)--(4-6): The Bears will look to bounce back after finishing below .500 for the first time since 2009, when they also finished 4-6 overall.
8. Berry (2-8): A dramatic overtime win over Washington University-St. Louis, as well as a rout over Hendrix, were the big bright spots for the Vikings in their second season of football. The faithful in Northwest Georgia--where their campus is located--hope that season number three finds their team posting its first-ever winning season.
9. Sewanee (2-8): The Tigers face a long uphill battle after sharing the SAA basement with Berry at 1-5 in conference play last season.
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Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)
2014 SIAC Football Standings
Looking back: The Albany State University (Ga.) Golden Rams and the Tuskegee University (Ala.) Golden Tigers both cruised through Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) play undefeated en route to squaring off against each other in the SIAC championship game in 2014, with both squads finishing 7-0 in league action. The Tigers outlasted the Rams, in a 47-41 shootout, to claim the conference crown.
Tuskegee then made its second straight appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs, only to be knocked off by eventual national semifinalist West Georgia, 20-17, in the first round.
Looking ahead: The SIAC will welcome a new school to its ranks this season, as Central State University from Wilbeforce, Ohio joins the league as a full member after being an associate member for the last two years. That gives the league 12 members for football this fall. Also, the Paine College Lions of Augusta, Georgia have dropped their football program after just one season, which followed a hiatus of more than 50 years. The Lions finished the 2014 season at 2-8 overall, as well as 1-6 in conference play.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
East Division
1. Morehouse (6-4): The Maroon Tigers are looking to build on their best season since 2011, when they finished 8-2 overall.
2. Fort Valley State (6-4): The Wildcats will look to win their first SIAC championship since 1999.
3. Benedict (4-6): The Tigers will make the leap into a new era under former Albany State (Ga.) head coach Mike White.
4. Albany State (Ga.)--(7-3): Meanwhile, former NFL player Dan Land replaces White as the Golden Rams coach on an interim basis for 2015.
5. Clark Atlanta (3-7): The Panthers have won just eight games combined over the last three years.
West Division
1. Tuskegee (9-3): The Golden Tigers begin the 2015 season ranked in two different preseason polls. But head coach Willie Slater must replace 19 starters lost due to graduation.
2. Miles (6-4): The Golden Bears will face a brutal start to the 2015 campaign, as they face four opponents that posted winning records last season in their first five games, including three straight Gulf South Conference teams in West Georgia, North Alabama, and West Alabama respectively.
3. Stillman (5-6): The Tigers must rely on the services of quarterback Josh Straughan and center Tyree Bell if they're improve on last year's 4-3 SIAC record.
4. Central State (4-6): The Marauders will try to improve to their 3-4 conference mark from a year ago, as they enter their first full season of SIAC membership this fall.
5. Kentucky State (3-7): The Thorobreds 2015 slate includes a pair of visits to the state of Virginia during the season's first three weeks: at FCS Hampton on September 5, and to NCAA Division II playoff participant Virginia State on September 19.
6. Lane (1-8): The Dragons have nowhere to go but up after a disappointing 2014 season.
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South Atlantic Conference (SAC)
2014 South Atlantic Conference Football Standings - South Atlantic Conference
Looking back: The 2014 South Atlantic Conference (SAC) football season was dominated by the Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears, who finished the regular season undefeated at 11-0, only to be upset by the upstart Valdosta State Unviersity Blazers in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. While the Bears also finished SAC play unbeaten at 7-0, every other team in the conference finished with at least two losses in league play, and three overall.
Looking ahead: Will Lenoir-Rhyne win yet another SAC title in 2015? Or will a mainstay such as Carson-Newman return to the top of the heap in a conference whose history dates back 40 years? Those are among the many questions that will be answered this fall.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (11-1): The Bears must replace quarterback Miles Freeman, who passed for more than 1, 200 yards last season, as well as linebacker Tanner Botts, and other seniors lost due to graduation, if they're to add fifth straight SAC championship to their trophy case this fall.
2. Carson-Newman (7-3): The Eagles gave up 35 or more points in each of the three games they lost last season. That's an area where they must improve upon if they're to claim a conference title and/or advance to postseason play this season.
3. Tusculum (6-5): A four-game winning streak to end the 2014 season could lead to a promising 2015 season for the Pioneers.
4. Catawba (6-5): The Indians face a tough early-season slate that starts with the season opener at home against D-II playoff semifinalist West Georgia on September 5, followed by a trip to Carson-Newman to open SAC play on September 19.
5. Wingate (6-5): The Bulldogs will leave the state of North Carolina only once in 2015: a trip to Tusculum on October 10.
6. Newberry (5-6): Head Coach Todd Knight hopes that the return of 17 starters--10 on offense and seven on defense--will help turn the Wolves into serious SAC title contenders this fall.
7. Mars Hill (4-6): If the Lions hope to finish above .500 this fall, they must grind their way through a tough early-season stretch that includes visits to FCS foes Western Carolina and Chattanooga.
8. Brevard (1-10): With their pending move to the NCAA Division III ranks within the next several years, the Tornados will be spending 2015 and beyond, preparing for such a transition.
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Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
2014 CIAA Football Standings
Looking back: The 2014 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) was dominated by Virginia State in the North Division, and Winston-Salem State in the South, with both squads finishing unbeaten in conference play at the end of the regular season. The Trojans defeated the Rams, 21-17, to claim the CIAA championship.
But the Trojans remarkable season didn't end there, as they downed LIU-Post, 28-17, for their first-ever NCAA Division II playoff victory. Their run ended in the second round of the D-II playoffs, as they fell to Bloomsburg, 35-14.
Looking ahead: Virginia State will try to make it back-to-back CIAA championships this fall, while Winston-Salem State will try to rebound after missing out on postseason play despite a nine-win season.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
North Division
1. Virginia State (10-3): If the Trojans hope to repeat as CIAA champions in 2015, they must do it under new head coach Byron Thweatt. He replaces Latrell Scott, who left to take a similar position at Norfolk State.
2. Virginia Union (7-3): The Panthers hope to improve on last year's 5-2 conference mark, which included a 3-2 in North Division action.
3. Bowie State (5-5): With 20 starters coming back from a squad that finished 5-2 in league play, and 4-1 in division games, expect the Bulldogs to be serious contenders for the CIAA crown this fall.
4. Elizabeth City State (4-6): The Vikings struggled in close games last season, going 1-4 in games decided by eight points or less.
5. Chowan (2-8): The Hawks hope to put another disappointing season behind them.
6. Lincoln (Pa.)--(1-9): The Lions will look to start over yet again, as Herb Pickens steps in as their interim head coach.
South Division
1. Winston-Salem State (9-2): The Rams not only found themselves a combined nine points away from an undefeated regular season, but also another appearance at the NCAA Division II playoffs. With that said, they hope to use that postseason snub as motivation for this fall.
2. Fayetteville State (5-5): The Broncos look to build on a second place showing that saw them finish 5-2 in CIAA play, and 4-1 in South Division games last season.
3. St. Augustine's (3-7): After spending last season as the interim head coach, Michael Morand got the job permanently once the offseason arrived. He'll have his work cut out for him this season, as he hopes to lift a struggling Falcons program into CIAA championship contention.
4. Johnson C. Smith (3-7): The Golden Bulls begin a new era under new head coach Kermit Blount, who was a former head coach at Winston-Salem State.
5. Livingstone (5-5): The Blue Bears hope to bounce back after a promising 4-0 start fizzled into a 1-5 finish.
6. Shaw (3-7): The Bears will shoot for their second winning season in three years under third-year head coach Robert Massey.
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Mountain East Conference (MEC)
2014 Mountain East Conference Football Standings
Looking back: The 2014 season was one of storybook proportions for the Concord University Mountain Lions, as they advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time ever. Their amazing run with a loss to eventual national runner-up Minnesota State-Mankato on the road.
Looking ahead: Can Concord repeat last year's success, or will Shepherd step up and reclaim its place at the top of the Mountain East Conference throne? It should be interesting to see what happens, as this fledgling league enters its third season of play in 2015.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Concord (13-1): With eight starters coming back from last year's national semifinal squad, the Mountain Lions enter this season as the team to beat in the Mountain East Conference. Not only that, they'll also begin the year ranked No. 5 in The Sporting News poll, and No. 7 in the Lindy's Sports rankings.
2. Shepherd (8-2): But the Rams found themselves just 10 combined points away from an undefeated regular season, as well as a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs last year. With that said, don't be surprised if they're in the conference title/postseason hunt this year.
3. Charleston (W. Va.)--(8-3): The Golden Eagles will shoot for their fourth straight winning season under head coach Pat Kirkland.
4. Notre Dame College (7-4): The Falcons hope to build on their first-ever winning season, as their program enters its sixth season this fall.
5. West Liberty (6-5): The Hilltoppers move into the 2015 season hoping to improve on last year's 6-4 mark in Mountain East play. Program History
6. Glenville State (5-6): The Pioneers will leave the state of West Virginia only twice to play this fall.
7. West Virginia Wesleyan (4-6): The Bobcats will face five teams that compiled winning records in 2014.
8. Fairmont State (3-7): The Fighting Falcons face a huge uphill fight, as they've won just 10 games combined over the past three years.
9. Urbana (3-8): New head coach Tyler Haines inherits a Blue Knights program that's coming off of its first losing season since 2010, when they finished 5-6 overall.
10. UVa.-Wise (2-9): Wins have been hard to come by for the Cavaliers, who have won just seven games combined since 2012.
11. West Virginia State (2-9): Speaking of which, the Yellow Jackets have won only eight games combined dating back to 2009.
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President's Athletic Conference (PAC)
2014 President's Athletic Conference Football Standings
Looking back: The Washington & Jefferson Presidents won or shared their third straight President's Athletic Conference crown, finishing 7-1 in league play en route to a 10-2 overall record last season. After outlasting Wittenberg in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Presidents were crushed by eventual national runner-up Mount Union in the second round.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if W&J winds up returning to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2015.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Washington & Jefferson (10-2): The leader of the "PAC" again this fall, until another team proves otherwise.
2. Waynesburg (8-3): But after a season-ending loss to Buffalo in the ECAC Southwest Bowl, the Yellow Jackets will be out to prove that they're serious contenders for a conference championship this fall.
3. Bethany (W. Va.)--(6-5): The Bison will look to build on its first postseason appearance since 1980. They fell to Stevenson in last year's ECAC Southeast Bowl.
4. Thomas More (8-2): The Saints must continue to build on their winning tradition under a new head coach, as Regis Scafe replaces Jim Hilvert, who resigned after eight seasons at the Kentucky-based institution.
5. Saint Vincent (4-6): The Bearcats look to keep moving forward under second-year head coach Ron Dolciato.
6. Case Western Reserve (3-7): The Spartans will look to bounce back after suffering their first losing season since 2005, when they also finished that season at 3-7.
7. Westminster (Pa.)--(4-6): The Titans will have three tough tests in a row on the road to start the 2015 season, followed by their home opener taking on Thomas More on September 26.
8. Thiel (4-6): Tomcats tough 2015 schedule includes visits to Thomas More, Washington & Jefferson and Waynesburg, among other opponents.
9. Carnegie Mellon (4-6): The Tartans enter their second season in the PAC looking to improve on last year's 3-5 mark in their inaugural conference campaign.
10. Geneva (3-7): The Golden Tornados hope to put last year's disappointing performance behind them.
11. Grove City (0-10): The Wolverines are looking to rebound after posting their first winless season since 1956, when they finished 0-8.
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Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)
2014 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Football Standings
Looking back: It turned out to be a tale of two divisions in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference for 2014. While the East Division was dominated by both Bloomsburg and West Chester, respectively, with the Huskies ultimately taking home the title, the race for the West Division crown came down to the final week of the regular season, as Slippery Rock won the tiebreaker over Gannon to win the latter championship. The Rock then went on to shock the Huskies, 28-26, to win the PSAC championship.
But once the NCAA Division II playoffs rolled around, it was a much different story, as the PSAC sent three teams; Bloomsburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester advanced to postseason play. As the No. 2 seed in Super Region 1, the Huskies advanced to the regional finals, where they fell to Concord, 32-26. Meanwhile, West Chester ousted Slippery Rock, 46-20, in the first round, before falling to Concord, 51-36, in the second round.
Looking ahead: Expect intense races on both sides of the PSAC in 2015. In fact, don't be surprised if both division races aren't settled until the final week of the regular season.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
East Division
1. Bloomsburg (11-2): If the Huskies hope to make another deep postseason run, head coach Paul Darragh must rely on the services of their four captains, including starting quarterback Tim Kelly.
2. West Chester (11-2): The Golden Rams will quickly find out just how good they might be, when they open the 2015 season at home against fellow D-II playoff participant Lenoir-Rhyne on September 3.
3. East Stroudsburg (6-5): Head Coach Denny Douds must replace eight starters, six on defense, from a Warriors squad that ended the 2014 season with four straight losses following a 6-1 start. Program History
4. Kutztown (6-5): The Golden Bears have their work cut for them in 2015, as they must face seven teams that won six or more games in 2014.
5. Shippensburg (6-5): The Red Raiders will have a lot of work ahead of them as well, as they'll shoot for their fifth straight winning season, and their sixth dating back to 2009.
6. Lock Haven (2-9): The Eagles will look to move forward under new head coach Dave Taynor.
7. Millersville (1-10): The Marauders face a huge uphill climb under third-year head coach Greg Breitbach.
8. Cheyney (0-11): The Wolves have turned to the past for their immediate future, as former head coach Chris Roulhac recently returned to the program on an interim basis for the 2015 season.
West Division
1. Gannon (9-2): After ending the 2014 season with five straight wins, the Golden Knights will go into the 2015 season looking to accomplish something they've never achieved since restarting their football program in 1989: playing in their first-ever postseason game.
2. Slippery Rock (9-3): But the Golden Knights must get past a "Rock" squad that begins the 2015 campaign ranked ninth in the nation by The Sporting News, and No. 25 by Lindy's Sports.
3. California (Pa.)-(8-3): Head Coach Mike Kellar hopes that the return of 36 letterwinners, including 15 starters, will help lead the Vulcans back to the NCAA Division II playoffs this fall. But a tough opening stretch awaits them, as they must face 2014 D-II playoff participants Virginia State and Bloomsburg in back-to-back weeks.
4. Mercyhurst (7-4): The Lakers must navigate their way through a tough PSAC West Division if they hope to advance to the D-II playoffs for the first time since 2010. 2014 Media Guide
5. Indiana (Pa.)-(6-5): The Crimson Hawks hope to bounce back after a "down" year in 2014.
6. Edinboro (3-8): The Fighting Scots hope to put a disappointing 2014 campaign behind them as well.
7. Seton Hill (3-8): The Griffins will face a brutal schedule in 2015, as they'll take on eight teams posted winning records in 2014.
8. Clarion (2-9): The Golden Eagles will look to begin a long rebuilding effort under new head coach Chris Weibel.
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Centennial Conference (CC)
2014 Centennial Conference Football Standings - Centennial Conference
Looking back: The Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays took home yet another Centennial Conference crown in 2014, which was their fourth straight conference championship, as well as their fifth title in the last six years. They advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, where they were eliminated by Hobart on the road, 24-21.
The only other Centennial Conference team to advance to postseason play was Muhlenberg, whose Mules gave the Widener Pride all it could handle before falling 36-35, in the first round of the D-III playoffs.
Looking ahead: While Johns Hopkins is once again favored to win the Centennial Conference crown again this fall, don't count out Muhlenberg out of the mix either.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Johns Hopkins (12-1): With a preseason ranking of No. 11 by The Sporting News, expect the Blue Jays to win yet another Centennial Conference crown.
2. Muhlenberg (9-2): But with just two sub-.500 seasons (3-7 overall in 2005 and 2009 respectively) dating back to 2000, don't be surprised if the Mules end up wresting the title away from the Blue Jays this fall.
3. Ursinus (7-3): The Bears have had six straight winning seasons, as well as eight in the last nine years dating back to 2006. If they hope to make it seven it a row this season, they must rely on the services of rising seniors such as Nicholas Pulizzi at fullback, as well as James Roccograndi at linebacker.
4. Gettysburg (5-5): Head Coach Barry Streeter welcomes back 11 starters from last season, as the Bullets look to build on their 5-4 conference mark from 2014.
5. Franklin & Marshall (5-5): The Diplomats were one of three teams in the Centennial Conference to finish in a three-way tie for fifth place (4-5) in league play last season
6. Juniata (5-5): The Eagles enter the 2015 campaign looking to finish the season at .500 or better, as they finished 7-4 overall in 2013.
7. Moravian (5-5): The Greyhounds will look to improve on last year's 4-5 record in CC action last season, after finishing 2-8 overall for each of the previous three seasons (2011-2013).
8. Dickinson (3-7): The Red Devils haven't had a winning season since 2009, when they finished 8-2. Since then, they've won just 17 games combined dating back to 2010.
9. Susquehanna (2-8): The Crusaders begin a new era under rookie head coach Tom Perkovich this fall. He replaces Steve Briggs, who resigned after 27 years at the helm.
10. McDaniel (1-9): The Green Terror face an uphill battle after going winless in conference play for the second time in the last three years.
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Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC)
2014 Middle Atlantic Conference Football Standings
Looking back: Widener and Delaware Valley both headed into the final week of the 2014 regular season unbeaten at 9-0, with the Pride outlasting the Aggies 44-28 to win the Middle Atlantic Conference crown. Both teams advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs, with the Aggies being ousted in the first round by Christopher Newport, while the Pride advanced to the quarterfinals, only to be crushed by Linfield. A third team, Stevenson, capped a historic season with a win over Bethany (W. Va.) in the ECAC Southeast Bowl. Yet another squad, Albright, fell to Salisbury in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl.
Looking ahead: Will Widener make another deep postseason run? Or will Delaware Valley step up and knock the Pride off of its perch? Or could another team rise to the challenge, and take charge? Those are the many questions that are still to be answered within the D-III version of the MAC this fall.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Widener (12-1): With a preseason ranking of No. 21 by The Sporting News, the Pride look poised to stay on top of the MAC pack in 2015.
2. Delaware Valley (9-2): But the Aggies hope to use their late-season meltdown, which included a stunning upset loss to Christopher Newport in the first round, as motivation for the upcoming 2015 campaign.
3. Lycoming (8-2): The Warriors will look to make another run at postseason play this year after missing out last year despite finishing third in the MAC at 7-2.
4. Stevenson (8-3): After the best season in their brief four-year history, the Mustangs will look to build on last year's success.
5. Albright (6-5): The Lions will look to clinch their eighth winning season in nine tries under head coach John Marzka this fall.
6. King's (4-6): The Monarchs hope to bounce back after struggling to a 4-5 mark in MAC action last season.
7. Lebanon Valley (3-7): The Dutchmen will look to rebound after seeing their streak of six straight winning seasons snapped last season.
8. Wilkes (2-8): The Colonels face an uphill battle after suffering seven straight setbacks to end the 2014 season.
9. Misercordia (1-9): As they head into their fourth season of football, the Cougars will look to defeat a team other than FDU-Florham, whose Devils have provided the fledgling program's only two wins over the past two years.
10. FDU-Florham (0-10): Speaking of the Devils, they'll enter the 2015 season looking for their first win since the start of the 2013 season, when they defeated The College of New Jersey, 18-12.
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