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

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