THE RFC MYC: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 HCAC Final Standings (Courtesy of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference)

Overview: After missing out on postseason play in 2016, the Franklin College Grizzlies returned to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2017, thanks to winning their ninth Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) championship in 11 seasons dating back to 2008.

Franklin (8-3 overall) avenged a 2016 defeat to Rose-Hulman (8-2) by knocking off the Engineers 29-22 in the 2017 meeting on October 21 en route to an undefeated 8-0 mark in HCAC action. In the first round of the D-III playoffs, the Grizzlies gave Wartburg all it could handle before bowing in a 35-34 overtime heartbreaker.

The burning questions that HCAC fans are asking going are these: Can Franklin win their 10th league title in 12 years this fall? Or will Rose-Hulman rise to the occasion, and land in the playoffs for the second time in three seasons? One or both questions could be answered over the course of 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.

Anderson

Bluffton

Defiance

Earlham

Franklin

Hanover

Manchester

Mount St. Joseph

Rose-Hulman

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