Tuesday, July 14, 2015

RFC Small College Preview: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC)--(NCAA Division III)

Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC)

2014 Football Standings


Looking back: Three teams shared the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) football championship in 2014, with Benedictine (Ill.), Lakeland, and Wisconsin Lutheran all finishing at 5-1 in conference play.  Ultimately, Benedictine shut out Lakeland, 16-0, in the final game of the regular season on November 15 to advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Eagles season ended in the first round, as Wheaton cruised to a convincing 43-14 win.

Looking ahead: With no apparent  favorite coming into this fall, the race for the 2015 NACC championship could come down to the final weekend of the regular season again.

Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):

1. Wisconsin Lutheran (7-3): The Warriors won six straight games after starting 1-3 to win a share of their first-ever league title. They hope to carry over that success into 2015.

2. Lakeland (6-4): The Muskies overcame a sluggish start (0-3) to win six straight games before being blanked by Benedictine in the season finale.  But in order to contend for another conference championship this season, they must do under new head coach Colin Bruton

3. Benedictine (Ill.)--(6-5): The Eagles enter the 2015 season trying to earn their fourth NCAA playoff appearance dating back to the 2010 season.

4. Concordia (Wis.)--(5-5): The Falcons hope to bounce back from a "Jekyll and Hyde" season which they four straight games at mid-season, only to lose three straight games late in the 2014 season. 

5. Rockford (2-8): The Regents have turned to new head coach Jim Schroeder to try and turn around their struggling program. They've compiled a 5-25 overall record since 2012.

6. Concordia (Chicago)--(1-8): The Cougars have struggled mightily since their D-III playoff appearance in 2012, finishing a combined 3-16 over the last two years.

7. Aurora (1-9): Can anyone say nowhere to go but up for the Spartans?

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.



 

No comments:

 
Site Meter