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.
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.
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