Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC)
2014 Football Standings
Looking back: The Wartburg College Knights cruised through the regular season undefeated, finishing the 2014 campaign undefeated at 10-0 en route to a 12-1 overall record. The Knights swept a pair of opponents from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) foes in St. Thomas and Saint John's, respectively, before their season ended with a heartbreaking loss to eventual national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, 37-33, in the quarterfinals.
Looking ahead: Look for Wartburg to be the team to beat once again in 2015, although the Central College Dutch might have a say as to who might come out on top in the IIAC by season's end.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
1. Wartburg (12-1): With three separate preseason Top 10 national rankings: No. 9 by The Sporting News, as well as No. 6 in the both in the d3football.com and Lindy's Sports polls, expectations once again will be very high for the Knights this fall.
2. Central (8-2): While the Dutch return 45 letterwinners from last year's team, head coach Jeff McMartin must also replace 15 starters if they're to extend their streak of consecutive non-losing seasons to 56.
3. Coe (5-5): The return of d3football.com All-American defensive lineman Matt Schmitz could be the key to the Kohawks conference championship hopes in 2015.
4. Buena Vista (5-5): The Beavers will have one of the toughest schedules in the nation this fall, as they travel to Wisconsin-Platteville, Saint John's, Wartburg, and Central. All four teams finished the 2014 season with winning records.
5. Luther (5-5): The Norse hope to build on last year's 2-5 IIAC mark.
6. Dubuque (4-6): The Spartans will face a tough task if they're to win their first IIAC title since 2011.
7. Loras (3-7): The Duhawks must depend upon the contributions of preseason All-American linebacker Calvin Harridge, as well as another All-American in defensive back Maurice Young if they're to soar in the standings this season. Both were named third-team preseason All-Americans by USA College Football.
8. Simpson (3-7): The Storm stormed right out of the game at 3-0, but lost seven in a row--all IIAC games--to end the 2014 season. Fans hope that the 2015 season will bring about a much happier ending.
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