THE RFC MYC: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA)-(NCAA Division II)

2017 MIAA Final Standings (Courtesy of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)

Overview: There was a tremendous changing of the guard in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) for 2017, as the then two-time defending NCAA Division II national champion Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats (9-3 overall) stretched their 30-game winning streak into 38 games, only to lose three of their last four contests, which included the season-ending loss at Ashland in the first round of the D-II playoffs. 

Meanwhile, in Kansas, the Fort Hays State University Tigers (11-1 overall) had one of their best seasons in recent memory, as they cruised through MIAA play unbeaten, but were upset by Ferris State in the second round of the playoffs after receiving a first-round bye as the #1 seed out of Super Region 3. 

Aside from Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State, three other MIAA teams not only advanced to postseason play but also won all three of their respective bowl games, with Central Missouri (9-3) defeating Minnesota-Duluth in the Mineral Water Bowl, Central Missouri (8-4) outlasting Tarleton State in a 38-31 thriller to win the Corsicana Bowl in Texas, and Pittsburg State pummeling Arkansas Tech 48-31 to take the Agent Barry Live United Bowl at Texarkana, Arkansas.

With three of its teams-FHSU at #7, NWMSU at #9, and UCM at #23-in the College Football America preseason poll, expect more of the unexpected in the MIAA this fall. Who knows, Fort Hays State could not only return to the playoffs but make an even a deeper postseason run this time around. Or, Northwest Missouri State could bounce back to make it three national titles in four years. Or even the likes of a Central Oklahoma or Pittsburg State could sneak into the playoff conversation, and then some.

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.

Central Missouri

Central Oklahoma

Emporia State

Fort Hays State 

Lindenwood 

Missouri Southern State

Missouri Western State

Nebraska-Kearney

Northeastern State (Okla.)

Northwest Missouri State

Pittsburg State (Kan.)

Washburn

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

Northwest Missouri State University - College Football America Yearbook places Northwest 9th in preseason poll

Northwest Missouri State University - College Football America Yearbook places Northwest 9th in preseason poll: Northwest Missouri State has been placed ninth in the College Football America 2018 Yearbook Division II preseason Top 30.



Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC)-(NAIA)

KCAC Football Media Day Set for August 3

KCAC Introduces Football Game of the Week Series to be Streamed on ESPN3

2017 KCAC Final Standings (Courtesy of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference)

Overview: In a tight race that came down to the final week of the regular season, both the Sterling College Warriors (9-3 overall) and the Tabor College Blue Jays (8-2) shared the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) championship for 2017, with both squads finishing 8-1 in KCAC action. However, thanks to their thrilling 23-21 win over Tabor on October 7, it was the Warriors that won the KCAC's automatic bid to the NAIA playoffs. Sterling's season ended in the first round, as Morningside cruised to an easy 63-7 win on November 18. Just for good measure, the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes (8-3) finished just one game behind both Sterling and Tabor at 7-2 in KCAC play.

Expect the race for the 2018 KCAC crown to be just as close, if not more so, as Sterling, Tabor, and Kansas Wesleyan all finished the 2017 campaign in the NAIA Top 25 poll. Don't be surprised if any of these three teams advance to the NAIA playoffs come November. 

Finally, the KCAC's membership will expand from 10 teams to 11 for 2018, with Avila University of Kansas City, Missouri from the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). The addition of Avila means that all football-playing members of the KCAC will play all 10 of their regular-season games within the conference 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.

Avila

Bethany (Kan.)

Bethel (Kan.)

Friends

Kansas Wesleyan

McPherson

Ottawa (Kan.)

Saint Mary

Sterling

Southwestern (Kan.)

Tabor

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC)-(NAIA)

2017 HAAC Final Standings (Courtesy of www.dakstats.com)

Overview: How competitive was the Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2017? Competitive to the point where the race for both the North and South Division titles ended in a two-way tie for first place at 4-1 in league games. Grand View and Benedictine (Kan.) were crowned co-champions in the North, while Baker and Evangel shared the South.

In the NAIA playoffs, Baker (10-2 in 2017) fell in the first round to Georgetown (Ky.) 36-33, while Benedictine (9-3) lost a heartbreaker to eventual national champion St. Francis (Ind.) 26-21, and Grand View (9-3) dropped its opening-round contest at St. Xavier, 39-23.

A quick look ahead to 2018 shows that the HAAC will have one less team in its membership, as Avila University has left to join the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Aside from Avila's departure, expect another competitive season from the HAAC 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.

North Division

Benedictine (Kan.)

Culver-Stockton

Graceland 

Grand View

Peru State

William Penn

South Division

Baker

Central Methodist

Evangel

MidAmerica Nazarene

Missouri Valley

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Patriot League Preseason Polls, Schedules, and Analysis

Patriot League - Patriot League Football Preseason Major Awards, Poll and All-League Honors Announced (7.26.18): CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Lehigh senior running back Dominick Bragalone has been selected as the Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Colgate junior defensive lineman Nick Wheeler was named the Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, when the League office announced its preseason major awards, poll and all-League team on Thursday.

2017 Patriot League Final Standings (Courtesy of the Patriot League)

Analysis: Despite starting the season at 0-5, it was a 5-1 finish, including a stunning 41-38 upset win over Colgate in the conference opener on October 7, that helped propel the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks to the Patriot League championship, as well as the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. Lehigh lost to Stony Brook, 59-29, in the first round of the playoffs to finish the 2017 season at 5-7 overall. 

As for Colgate, they found themselves on the outside looking in when postseason play, despite finishing last fall with the only winning record in the Patriot League at 7-4 overall. Ironically, during their season-ending five-game winning streak, the Red Raiders outscored their opponents 185-32, including a 27-0 shutout win over Lafayette on November 11.

Going into 2018, expect Lehigh and Colgate to contend for the Patriot League crown again if the preseason coaches poll is any indication. Colgate plays host to Lehigh in a rematch of last year's contest on November 10. 

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.

Bucknell

Colgate

Fordham

Georgetown

Holy Cross

Lafayette

Lehigh

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC)-(NAIA)

2017 GPAC Final Standings (Courtesy of the Great Plains Athletic Conference)

Overview: The top two teams in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) for 2017 both hailed from northwest Iowa, as the Morningside College Mustangs of Sioux City, and the Northwestern College Red Raiders of Orange City, both advanced to the NAIA playoffs. While the two teams may have been separated by more than 40 miles on the map, there turned out to be even more separation as far as the final score of last year's game on September 30, as the Mustangs rolled past the Red Raiders for a convincing 48-20 rout, en route to clinching the GPAC championship.

In the NAIA playoffs, Morningside advanced to the national semifinals, falling to eventual national champion St. Francis (Ind.) in a thrilling 43-36 contest, to finish the 2017 season at 13-1 overall. As for Northwestern (Iowa), the Red Raiders ironically-fell to that same St. Francis squad in the second round to finish at 10-2 overall.

With Morningside finishing the 2017 season at No. 3 in the final NAIA poll, followed by Northwestern at No. 8, expect both teams to be in the mix for the national championship once again going into the 2018 season. Meanwhile, the GPAC will expand by one more school, with the University of Jamestown from North Dakota joining the conference this fall. The addition of Jamestown officially brings the league's membership to 10 teams for football.

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.

Briar Cliff

Concordia (Neb.)

Dakota Wesleyan

Doane

Dordt

Hastings

Jamestown

Midland

Morningside

Northwestern (Iowa)

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: North Star Athletic Association (NSAA)-(NAIA)

2017 NSAA Final Standings (Courtesy of the North Star Athletic Association)

Overview: Three of the seven teams from the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) that took to the football field in 2017 finished with a winning record when all was said and done with that season. Out of that trio, only the Dickinson State University Blue Hawks (9-2 overall) managed to make into postseason play. However, their NAIA playoff run was cut short in the first round, as Southern Oregon rolled to an easy 55-24 win. The other two teams to win at least seven or games last fall-Dakota State at 8-3 and Waldorf at 7-4-both sat at home for the playoffs, with the latter aforementioned sitting out despite a season-ending three-game winning streak.

Having said that, though, it'll be interesting to see how things develop for the NSAA heading into the 2018 season. Still, the Dakotas-based league will have one less team in its fold going into this fall, as Jamestown University joins the much-larger, more competitive Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). 

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.

Dakota State

Dickinson State

Mayville State

Presentation

Valley City State

Waldorf

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 IIAC Final Standings (Courtesy of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)

Overview: The Wartburg College Knights dominated the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) on the gridiron in 2017, finishing unbeaten at 8-0 in conference play en route to a final overall record of 12-1. 

Once the Knights advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs, they had somewhat mixed results in postseason play, edging Franklin 35-34 in a first-round overtime thriller, trouncing Trine 49-7 in the second round, before being eliminated by Wisconsin-Oshkosh 41-27 in the quarterfinals for their lone loss of last season.

With a preseason ranking of No. 13 in the d3football.com poll, as well as at No. 15 in the Street and Smith's poll, expectations for another deep D-III playoff run once again will be high for Wartburg going into 2018.

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.

Buena Vista

Central

Coe

Dubuque

Loras

Luther

Nebraska Wesleyan

Simpson

Wartburg

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

App State Predicted to Win Sun Belt East Division - Appalachian State University

App State Predicted to Win Sun Belt East Division - Appalachian State University

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)-(NCAA Division II)

2017 NSIC Final Standings (Courtesy of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference)

Overview: For those small college football fans who love large, competitive conferences, the NCAA Division II Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) was just that in 2017, as nine of the league's 16 teams finished last fall with winning record. Of those nine teams, five of those squads won at least eight games, while four won at least nine games.

If that wasn't enough, three of the four nine-game winners advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, while the fourth squad advanced to the Mineral Water Bowl. Minnesota State-Mankato (13-1 overall in 2017) advanced to the quarterfinals, only to be ousted by eventual national champion Texas A&M-Commerce. Winona State (10-1) fell to TAMUC two rounds earlier, while Sioux Falls fell to Midwestern State in their own first-round heartbreaker as well. As for the Mineral Water Bowl, Minnesota-Duluth lost to Central Missouri, 38-28.

Looking ahead to 2018, don't be surprised if any of these aforementioned find themselves in the NSIC title, postseason, and national championship conversations throughout this upcoming 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.

North Division

Bemidji State

Minnesota-Crookston

Minnesota-Duluth

Minnesota State-Moorhead

Minot State

Northern State

St. Cloud State

U Mary

South Division

Augustana (S.D.)

Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)

Minnesota State-Mankato

Sioux Falls

Southwest Minnesota State

Upper Iowa

Wayne State (Neb.)

Winona State

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 MIAC Final Standings (Courtesy of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)

Overview: The University of St. Thomas Tommies had yet another good season on the field, finishing unbeaten in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at 8-0 en route to a final regular season record of 9-1 overall, with their lone regular-season loss coming to Wisconsin-Stout on the road on September 9. The Tommies advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, where they fell to then-defending national champion turned eventual national runner-up Mary Hardin-Baylor to finish the 2017 season at 11-2 overall. 

Two other teams finished the 2017 season with at least eight wins, with one of them of advancing to the D-III playoffs in the St. John's University Johnnies. The Johnnies lost to North Central 17-7 in the first round to end their season at 9-2 overall, while the Cobbers of Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) found themselves on the outside looking in when the playoff selections were made, finishing 8-2 overall.

Expect the battle for the 2018 MIAC title to be at least a two-team battle, with St. Thomas and St. John's squaring off at St. John's on October 13. But don't count Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) out of the mix either, as the Cobbers could pull off the upset over either of the "Saints".

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.

Augsburg

Bethel (Minn.)

Carleton

Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.)

Gustavus Adolphus

Hamline

St. John's

St. Olaf

St. Thomas

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Final Standings (Courtesy of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference)

Overview: In their final season as a member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), the Eureka College Red Devils (8-3 overall in 2017) beat out nine other teams in finishing 8-1 in conference play, winning the league title, and landing an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Eureka ended the regular season with eight straight wins after starting the 2017 season at 0-2. The Red Devils season ended in the first round of the playoffs, with St. Thomas cruising to a convincing 47-8 win.

Fast-forwarding to 2018, though, the UMAC will have one less team to contend with within its own conference, as Eureka exits the league to join the more geographically friendly Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC). That move leaves the UMAC with nine teams to do battle for this year's crown, with MacMurray (8-2 in 2017) and St. Scholastica (7-3 in 2017) both expected to contend for the top spot in the league after both teams finished conference play in a tie for second place at 7-2 last year.

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.

Crown

Greenville

Iowa Wesleyan

MacMurray

Martin Luther

Minnesota-Morris

Northwestern (Minn.)

St. Scholastica

Westminster (Mo.)

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Midwest Conference (MWC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 Midwest Conference Final Standings (Courtesy of the Midwest Conference)

Overview: The two division champions-St. Norbert in the North, and Monmouth (Ill.) in the South-advanced to the 2017 Midwest Conference Championship Game on November 11 in Monmouth, Illinois. In a low-scoring game, the Scots outlasted the Green Knights 9-6 to claim the conference championship, as well as the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Monmouth's season ended in the first round of the D-III playoffs, as Trine trounced the Scots 63-24. 

As for 2018, who knows what could happen in the Midwest Conference? Could Monmouth and St. Norbert be headed towards a potential rematch? Or will other teams step up to move one step closer to postseason play this fall? Like the saying goes, "stay tuned".

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.

North Division

Beloit

Chicago

Lawrence

Macalester

Ripon

St. Norbert

South Division

Cornell (Iowa)

Grinnell

Illinois College

Knox

Lake Forest

Monmouth (Ill.)

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 CCIW Final Standings (Courtesy of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin)

Overview: In one of the tightest races in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) history, the 2017 season ended with North Central (10-2 overall) and Illinois Wesleyan (9-2 overall) sharing the conference crown at 7-1 in league play. However, thanks to their 26-13 win over the Titans on September 16, the Cardinals captured the CCIW's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. They advanced to the second round, where they fell to Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

As for Illinois Wesleyan, the Titans enjoyed their best season since 2009, as they won a share of the CCIW crown en route an 8-2 overall record in 2017. Their postseason run was cut short in the first round of the D-III playoffs, falling to Case Western Reserve in a 28-0 shutout. 

A quick look ahead to 2018 shows that the CCIW once again will be a conference to watch at the D-III level, with three of its teams-North Central at No. 7, Wheaton (8-2 overall, 6-2 CCIW in 2017) at No. 18, and Illinois Wesleyan at No. 21-all ranked in the d3football.com preseason poll. Don't be surprised if any of these three teams advance to postseason play when November arrives. Meanwhile, the newest member of the CCIW comes from not from Wisconsin or even Illinois, but from just across the Mississippi River in Missouri, in the form of Washington University in St. Louis. 

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.

Augustana (Ill.)

Carroll (Wis.)

Carthage

Elmhurst

Illinois Wesleyan

Millikin

North Central

North Park

Washington (Mo.) 

Wheaton

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.