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New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
2015 Football Standings - NESCAC
2016 NESCAC Schedule
Looking back: 2015 was a "tale of two divisions" for the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC): a top division, and a bottom division. Let's quickly explain. The five teams that finished the season at the top of the standings all finished with winning records, while the five teams that finished at the bottom of the standings all finished with losing records. Four of the bottom five squads all finished with 2-6 marks, while the fifth squad finished at 1-7. Weird, huh?
In the end, however, it was Amherst that finished the 2015 campaign undefeated at 8-0, outlasting Trinity (Conn.), 16-7, to claim their fifth title in the last seven years. Last fall, the Purple & White won all of their games by at least nine points or more.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if it comes down to Amherst and Trinity for the NESCAC title again in 2016.
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. Amherst (8-0): The Purple & White will not only look to make it six titles in eight years this fall, but also try for their eighth undefeated season in program history.
2. Trinity (Conn.)--(7-1): The Bantams, though, are likely to have other ideas, as they'll try to win their first NESCAC title since 2012.
3. Tufts (6-2): The Jumbos had their best season since 2001, when they also finished 6-2 overall. Now they head into the 2016 hoping to win that elusive NESCAC championship.
4. Middlebury (5-3): The Panthers have won 25 games over the past four years under veteran head coach Bob Ritter. It's a trend that they hope to build on this fall.
5. Wesleyan (5-3): After back-to-back seven-win seasons, the Cardinals will look to rebound in 2016 under second-year head coach Dan DiCenzo.
6. Bates (2-6): The Bobcats were one of four teams to finish in a four-way tie for sixth place in the NESCAC, with just two wins in 2015. However, they did sweep their respective archrivals in Bowdoin and Colby to win the "mythical" CBB title last fall.
7. Bowdoin (2-6): The Polar Bears enter their second season under head coach J.B. Wells looking for their first winning season since 2005, when they finished 6-2 overall.
8. Hamilton (2-6): The Continentals will look to put a disappointing 2015 season behind them in 2016.
9. Williams (2-6): The same situation applies for the Ephs, who are looking to rebuild under new head coach Mark Raymond.
10. Colby (1-7): The Mules face a long, tough climb out of the NESCAC cellar after yet another rough season.
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New England Football Conference (NEFC)
2015 Football Standings - NEFC
2016 NEFC Schedule
Looking back: The Western New England University Golden Bears cruised through the regular season undefeated en route to the New England Football Conference (NEFC) championship in 2015. Their run through the NCAA Division III playoffs, however, was cut short by Johns Hopkins, as the Blue Jays cruised to a convincing 52-20 win in the first round.
Looking ahead: The 2016 season will be the last for the NEFC, as the league will split into two separate conferences in time for the 2017 season, with three of its teams moving to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), while the rest will make the move to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). In the meantime, expect Western New England to be the favorite to win the final NEFC title in 2016.
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. Western New England (10-1): The Golden Bears will take aim at back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances this fall.
2. Salve Regina (8-2): If the Seahawks hope to advance to the D-III dance in 2016, they must replace a 1,000-yard receiver in Alex Hulme, as well as multiple other seniors on last year's roster.
3. Endicott (5-5): The Gulls face a tough road ahead if they hope to have a winning record in 2016, as they'll face six teams that finished 2015 with a .500 or better record. That includes three teams advanced to the D-III dance last year (Framingham State, St. Lawrence, and Western New England).
4. Coast Guard (5-5): Head Coach Bill George enters his 18th season at the Bears helm hoping they can walk away with the last-ever NEFC championship this fall.
5. Curry (4-6): The Colonels enter the 2016 campaign hoping to snap a streak of three straight losing seasons (2013-2015).
6. Maine Maritime (3-6): Speaking of snapping similar streaks, the Mariners are seeking their first winning season since 2010, when they finished 8-3 overall.
7. MIT (2-8): After a storybook 2014 season that included an unbeaten regular season, as well as the program's first-ever NCAA playoff appearance, the Engineers fell back to earth in 2015, struggling to a 2-5 mark in NEFC play. They hope that 2016 will be the "Year Of The Bounce-Back"!!!
8. Nichols (1-9): Head Coach Dale Olmsted begins his third season at the Bison helm. His main task will be to turn around a program that has won just four games combined over the past four years (2012-2015).
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Editor's Note: Welcome to the debut of the "RFC Small College Preview", now beginning its seventh season on Real Football Central! Hopefully, from now until the start of the 2016 season on September 1, Real Football Central will preview the seasons for the 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)
2015 Football Standings (MASCAC)
Looking back: Once again, the Framingham State University Rams carried the banner for the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) in 2015, finishing unbeaten in league play en route to yet conference crown. Their season ended in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, losing to Wesley, 42-22.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if Framingham State finishes on top of the MASCAC heap again this fall.
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. Framingham State (9-2): As mentioned above, the Rams will once again be to team to beat. That is, of course, until another team proves otherwise.
2. Fitchburg State (8-3): The Falcons will find out right away where they stand in the MASCAC standings when they face Framingham State for their conference opener on September 16.
3. Bridgewater State (7-4): The Bears hope to take the next step towards a conference crown after finishing 6-2 in MASCAC action last season, losing to Carnegie-Mellon in the ECAC Legacy Bowl.
4. Western Connecticut State (5-5): The Colonials must learn how to win the close games if they're to contend for a conference championship in 2016. They lost four of their five games by seven points or less in 2015.
5. Worcester State (4-6): The Lancers and their faithful hope that playing three of their four home games in October will help propel them to a winning record in 2016.
6. Massachusetts Maritime (4-6): The Buccaneers face an uphill battle after finishing 3-5 in MASCAC play last season.
7. UMass-Dartmouth (4-6): The Corsairs hope to clinch their first winning season since 2008, when they finished 6-4 overall.
8. Plymouth State (2-8): The Panthers have won just seven games combined overall dating back to 2012. That's a trend they hope to change in 2016.
9. Westfield State (2-8): Can anyone say "nowhere to go but up" for the Owls?
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Hey, it's a little late, but better late than never...
Anyway, here are the final numbers for the game predictions of the 2015 season.
11-7 in postseason games (.611 percentage)
Final Overall Totals: 728-304 (.705 percentage)
And now...a brief moment to recognize the 2015-2016 national champions of non-FBS college football...
FCS: North Dakota State (5th straight national championship-2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015)
NCAA Division II: Northwest Missouri State (5th national championship overall)
NCAA Division III: Mount Union (12th national championship overall)
NAIA: Marian (2nd national championship in 4 years, with the other coming in 2012)
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