Real Football Central: June 2018

Saturday, June 30, 2018

THE RFC MYC: Mid-States Football Association (MSFA)-(NAIA)

2017 Mid-States Football Association Final Standings (Courtesy of the Mid-States Football Association)

Mideast League

Midwest League

Overview: Over the last two seasons, no team in the NAIA has been as dominant as the University of Saint Francis Cougars from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Cougars have compiled a combined overall record of 27-1 during that span, including an undefeated mark of 14-0 overall in winning back-to-back national championships in 2017. On December 16, St. Francis (Ind.) outlasted Reinhardt, 24-13, to repeat as national champions.

Going into the 2018 season, St. Francis (Ind.) should once again be considered as the team to beat, as they try to "three-peat" as national champions. But the Cougars will have multiple teams within their own conference trying to dethrone them, with Concordia (Mich.)-(9-2 overall in 2017), Marian (7-3), and St. Xavier (10-2) trying to thrust themselves in both the MSFA and national championship conversation respectively.

Additionally, two new programs will join the MSFA mix, as the Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats of Marion, Indiana, and the Lawrence Technological University Blue Devils from Southfield, Michigan, will take the field for the first time this fall.

NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2018 season. When the team's schedule is submitted, the link (s) will appear in each blog post. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for preseason previews, schedules, schedule updates, and much more.

Mideast League

Concordia (Mich.)

Lindenwood-Belleville

Marian

Missouri Baptist

Saint Francis (Ind.)

Siena Heights

Taylor

Midwest League

Olivet Nazarene

Robert Morris (Ill.)

Saint Ambrose

Saint Francis (Ill.)

Saint Xavier

Trinity International

First-Year Programs

Indiana Wesleyan

Lawrence Tech

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

THE RFC MYC: Mid-South Conference (NAIA)

2017 Mid-South Conference Final Standings (Courtesy of the Mid-South Conference)
Overview: In what's believed to be a first in college football history, there were three division champions within the same conference to finish the regular season undefeated in conference play. And it was the Mid-South Conference (MSC) that made such history, with Reinhardt (12-1 overall in 2017) finishing 6-0 in MSC action to win the Appalachian Division title, Lindsey Wilson (11-1) also going 6-0 to take the Bluegrass Division crown, and Southeastern (8-2) finished 5-0 to capture the Sun Division championship.

In the NAIA playoffs, Georgetown (Ky.)-(9-2 overall) and Lindsey Wilson both advanced to the quarterfinals before being eliminated, falling to Reinhardt and Southern Oregon, respectively. Reinhardt advanced to the national championship game on December 16, losing to St. Francis (Ind.), 24-13.

The MSC welcomes one new program for 2018 in the Keiser University Seahawks from West Palm Beach, Florida. The addition of Keiser brings the total number of football-playing schools in the league to 21 in all. It also gives the MSC the same number of teams playing in its three divisions: seven apiece.

NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2018 season. When the team's schedule is submitted, the link (s) will appear in each blog post. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for preseason previews, schedules, schedule updates, and much more.

Appalachian Division

Bluegrass Division

Cincinnati Christian

Sun Division

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

THE RFC MYC: Gulf South Conference (GSC)-(NCAA Division II)

2017 Gulf South Conference Final Standings (Courtesy of the Gulf South Conference)

Overview: The 2017 football season was probably was one of the most bizarre seasons of note in the 48-year history of the Gulf South Conference. The eventual champion for last season, the University of West Alabama Tigers (10-3 overall in 2017) finished GSC play at 7-1, while five other teams, including the eventual national runners-up in the University of West Florida Argonauts (11-4 overall), finished in a five-way tie for second place at 5-3 in the GSC, with West Georgia and Delta State joining both UWA and UWF in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Once playoff time arrived, it was West Florida that produced one of the most unlikely runs in college football postseason history, as the Argonauts upset multiple teams, including GSC champion West Alabama, as well as then-undefeated and top-ranked Indiana (Pa.) on the road, to reach their first-ever national championship game in just their second season of action, losing to Texas A&M-Commerce in a tight 37-27 tilt.

The 2018 season brings a couple of changes to the GSC membership, as North Greenville University of Tigerville, South Carolina joins the conference as an associate member. The Crusaders (4-6 in 2017) will replace a longtime league mainstay in the University of North Alabama. UNA (5-5 in 2017) left the GSC and the NCAA Division II ranks to begin a four-year transition to the NCAA Division I level. The Lions will join the Big South Conference to play FCS football in 2019.

But no matter which teams make up the membership of the new-look GSC, expect the upstart West Florida squad to be among the top teams not only in the conference but at the D-II level as a whole, with the Argos being ranked as a preseason No. 1 team by two publications: Lindy's and Street and Smith's. Still, don't be surprised if West Alabama, West Georgia, Delta State, and even Valdosta State have a say as to who ultimately comes out on top in the GSC this season.

NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2018 season. When the team's schedule is submitted, the link (s) will appear in each blog post. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for preseason previews, schedules, schedule updates, and much more.

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Southern Athletic Association (SAA)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 Final Standings (Courtesy of the Southern Athletic Association)

Overview: In just their fifth season of play, the Berry College Vikings out of Rome, Georgia not only won their first-ever Southern Athletic Association (SAA) championship but also advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time ever. In that historic 2017 season, the Vikings downed Huntingdon, 34-20, for their first-ever postseason win in the first round of the D-III playoffs, before falling to St. Thomas, 29-13, in the second round for their lone loss of last season. Berry finished the 2017 campaign at 11-1 overall, while also going unbeaten in SAA action at 8-0.

Will Berry once again be the team to beat in the SAA again this upcoming season? Or will the likes of Centre (9-1 in 2017), Hendrix (8-2), or some other squad step up to steal the SAA crown from the Vikings? The answers to these and other questions are still to come throughout 2018.

Austin

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)-(NCAA Division II)

2017 SIAC Final Standings (Courtesy of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)

Overview: Despite winning yet another Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) title, the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers found themselves staying at home for the postseason, as they finished 9-2 in 2017. While the Golden Tigers were the lone unbeaten team (6-0) in SIAC play, the Benedict Tigers (7-2 overall) were the only other team in the league to win at least seven games overall last fall. Fort Valley State won the East Division crown at 5-1 despite finishing the regular season at 5-5, while archrival Albany State (Ga.) finished the 2017 season at 6-4 under rookie head coach Gabe Giardina. In the SIAC title game, Tuskegee outlasted Fort Valley State, 13-6.

With another new season just around the corner, while Tuskegee should be favored to take yet another SIAC crown, don't be surprised if teams such as Miles, Fort Valley State, Benedict, and even Albany State find themselves in the conference championship conversation.

Eastern Division

Western Division

Central State

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

THE RFC MYC: South Atlantic Conference (SAC)-(NCAA Division II)

2017 South Atlantic Conference Football Standings (Courtesy of the South Atlantic Conference)

Overview: Most conferences would be satisfied with having at least three of its teams win at least eight games in a season. But not the South Atlantic Conference. Despite having three of its teams in Carson-Newman (8-3), Catawba (9-2), and Wingate (9-2) finish the 2017 campaign with a combined overall record of 26-7 (.788), the SAC only sent one team to postseason play in Wingate. Even there, the Bulldogs were one-and-done after being ousted by eventual national runner-up West Florida at home in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. This was after they took a 9-0 record into their regular season finale at Tusculum, where the Pioneers spoiled the Bulldogs perfect season with a 25-17 upset win on Veterans Day (November 11).

The other two aforementioned teams in this post found themselves on the outside looking in when the postseason started despite strong finishes to the regular season, as Catawba ended the 2017 campaign with four straight wins after a 5-2 start, while Carson-Newman finished with three straight wins after a so-so 4-3 start. Both teams will have an early chance to prove themselves playoff-worthy in their season openers against two teams that advanced to the D-II playoffs last year. The Eagles will travel to West Florida on August 30, while Catawba will clash with West Georgia on September 1.

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: USA South Athletic Conference (USAC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 USA South Football Standings (Courtesy of the USA South Athletic Conference)

Overview: The Huntingdon University Hawks (9-2 overall) breezed through the USA South Athletic Conference (USAC) undefeated in 2017, finishing conference play at 7-0. The Hawks fell to Berry in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The USAC will have one less team in their league when the 2018 season rolls around, as Ferrum left to join the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Ferrum's departure from the ODAC leaves the USAC with eight teams for this fall.

Averett

Brevard

Greensboro

Huntingdon

LaGrange

Maryville

Methodist

North Carolina Wesleyan

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

Sunday, June 17, 2018

THE RFC MYC: Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Final Standings (Courtesy of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference)

Overview: Since its inaugural season in 1976, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) has almost always been ranked among the most competitive conferences at the NCAA Division III level, and the 2017 season definitely didn't disappoint for many ODAC fans. The Washington & Lee University Generals (8-3 overall) finished 5-1 in league games to claim their seventh overall conference championship, as well as their fifth conference crown dating back to 2006. The Generals season ended in the first round of the D-III playoffs, as eventual national champion Mount Union pitched a 21-0 shutout win.

The 2018 season brings in a brand new member to the ODAC, as Ferrum College joins the fold this fall. That brings the conference's football-playing membership to eight members entering this year. With an 8-2 overall and a 5-2 record in their final season as a member of the USA South Athletic Conference, don't be surprised if the Panthers find themselves feeling right at home in their new home.

If that wasn't enough, the ODAC will add another member to its football ranks in 2019, as Southern Virginia University announced it will join the league as an associate member by then. But for now, expect the ODAC to be wide-open once again this fall.

2018 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to find the schedules)

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Mountain East Conference (MEC)-(NCAA Division II)

2017 Mountain East Conference Final Standings (Courtesy of the Mountain East Conference)

Overview: The Shepherd University Rams (10-1 overall) once again won the Mountain East Conference championship, finishing conference play unbeaten to clinch their 17th conference title in program history Sadly, though, the Rams run in the NCAA Division II playoffs was stopped cold by upstart Findlay, whose Oilers ousted the team from West Virginia in the first round. In January, veteran head coach Monte Cater announced his retirement, with longtime assistant coach Ernie McCook taking over the reins for 2018.

Speaking of 2018, the upcoming season will not only bring changes for Shepherd with a new head coach in McCook, the MEC will see changes as a whole within the next 12-24 months, as Wheeling Jesuit takes the field for the first time this fall, while Shepherd announced that it's leaving the Mountain East to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) by 2019.

2018 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to find the schedules)

West Virginia Wesleyan