RFC Throwback Thursday: Youngstown State vs. Eastern Illinois in the NCAA Division II Playoffs-1978

(Video courtesy of NCAA/ABC Sports)

This week's "better late than never" installment of "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to 1978. That was when the then-eventual national champion Eastern Illinois University Panthers played host to the Youngstown State University Penguins in an NCAA Division II semifinal game. Ironically, both EIU and YSU would be among many that would join the fledgling NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) ranks by the early 1980s, with both programs making multiple postseason appearances since then. The Penguins eventually won four I-AA national championships during the 1990s (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997).

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RFC Predictions: Week of December 1, 2018

Last Week: 32-11 (.744)

This Year: 585-312 (.652)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Friday, November 30

Mid-American Conference Championship Game at Detroit

Buffalo (10-2) vs. Northern Illinois (7-5)

Saturday, December 1

American Athletic Conference Championship Game

Memphis (8-4) at UCF (11-0)

Conference USA Championship Game

UAB (9-3) at Middle Tennessee State (8-4)

Mountain West Conference Championship Game

Fresno State (10-2) at Boise State (10-2)

Sun Belt Conference Championship Game

Louisiana (7-5) at Appalachian State (9-2)

FCS Playoffs-Second Round

Saturday, December 1

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

Montana State (7-4) at North Dakota State (11-0)

James Madison (9-3) at Colgate (9-1)

Duquesne (9-3) at South Dakota State (8-2)

Wofford (9-3) at Kennesaw State (10-1)

Nicholls (9-3) at Eastern Washington (9-2)

Northern Iowa (7-5) at UC Davis (9-2)

Jacksonville State (9-3) at Maine (8-3)

Southeast Missouri State (9-3) at Weber State (9-2)

SWAC Championship Game

Southern (7-3) at Alcorn State (8-3)

Regular Season Games (INTERDIVISIONAL)

Norfolk State (FCS)-(4-6) at Liberty (FBS Group Of Five)-(5-6)

NCAA Division II Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

Saturday, December 1

Slippery Rock (11-2) at Notre Dame (Ohio)-(12-0)

Lenoir-Rhyne (11-1) at Valdosta State (11-0)

Ferris State (13-0) at Ouachita Baptist (12-0)

Tarleton State (12-0) at Minnesota State-Mankato (12-0)

Other NCAA Division II Games

Mineral Water Bowl at Excelsior Springs, Mo.

Minnesota State-Moorhead (8-3) vs. Missouri S&T (9-2)

Live United Bowl at Texarkana, Ark.

Missouri Western State (6-5) vs. Southern Arkansas (8-3)

Heart Of Texas Bowl at Copperas Cove, Tex.

Angelo State (6-5) vs. Central Oklahoma (7-4)

NCAA Division III Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Saturday, December 1

Interactive Bracket

Johns Hopkins (11-1) vs. RPI (10-1)

Muhlenberg (11-1) vs. Mount Union (12-0)

Bethel (Minn.)-(11-1) vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-0)

St. John's (12-0) vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-0)

NAIA Playoffs-Semifinals

Saturday, December 1

Benedictine (Kan.)-(12-1) at Kansas Wesleyan (13-0)

St. Francis (Ind.)-(10-2) at Morningside (13-0)

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RFC Throwback Thursday Thanksgiving Day Special: Chicago vs. Michigan-1903

(Video courtesy of Change Before Going Productions)

As hard it was (or is) to believe, the now-NCAA Division III University of Chicago Maroons played host to the University of Michigan Wolverines on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1903, when they belonged to the Big Ten Conference. Click on the link above to watch this rare piece of college football history, in this special holiday installment of "RFC Throwback Thursday."

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Bonus Predictions For Thanksgiving 2018

Editor's Note: This is the third and final installment of predictions for Thanksgiving week. Following are "bonus predictions" for seven games to be played between Thursday, November 22 (Thanksgiving Day) and Saturday, November 24, 2018.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Thursday, November 22 (THANKSGIVING DAY)

FBS Group Of Five

Colorado State (3-8) at Air Force (4-7)

Friday, November 23

Akron (4-6) at Ohio (7-4)

Saturday, November 24

Charlotte (4-7) at Florida Atlantic (5-6)

New Mexico State (3-8) at Liberty (4-6)

Wyoming (5-6) at New Mexico (3-8)

FCS

Saturday, November 24

North Carolina Central (4-6) at South Carolina State (5-5)

Southern (6-3) vs. Grambling State (6-4)

(Bayou Classic at New Orleans, La.)

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Small College Football Playoff Predictions: Thanksgiving Edition

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

NCAA Division II Playoffs-Second Round

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

Saturday, November 24

Super Region #1

Hillsdale (10-2) at Notre Dame (Ohio)-(11-0)

Slippery Rock (10-2) at New Haven (9-2)

Super Region #2

Bowie State (10-2) at Valdosta State (10-0)

Wingate (9-3) at Lenoir-Rhyne (11-1)

Super Region #3

Indianapolis (10-1) at Ouachita Baptist (11-0)

Northwest Missouri State (10-2) at Ferris State (12-0)

Super Region #4

Colorado State-Pueblo (11-1) at Minnesota State-Mankato (11-0)

Texas A&M-Commerce (10-2) at Tarleton State (11-0)

NCAA Division III Playoffs-First Round

Saturday, November 17

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket (Courtesy of d3football.com)

Lower Right Bracket

RPI (9-1) at Brockport (11-0)

Johns Hopkins (10-1) at Frostburg State (10-0)

Upper Right Bracket

Randolph-Macon (9-2) at Muhlenberg (10-1)

Centre (10-1) at Mount Union (11-0)

Lower Left Bracket

St. Norbert (10-1) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (11-0)

North Central (10-1) at Bethel (Minn.)-(10-1)

Upper Left Bracket

Whitworth (10-0) at St. John's (11-0)

Berry (10-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (11-0)

NAIA Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Saturday, November 24

Baker (9-2) at St. Francis (Ind.)-(9-2)

St. Xavier (9-3) at Morningside (11-0)

Concordia (Mich.)-(9-2) at Benedictine (Kan.)-(11-1)

Dickinson State (10-1) at Kansas Wesleyan (12-0)

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RFC Top Games: Week Of November 24, 2018-Thanksgiving Edition

Editor's Note: This is the first of multiple installments of predictions during the Thanksgiving week. First up is the final week of regular season action for the FBS Group Of Five Conferences, followed by the first round of the FCS playoffs. 

Last Week: 34-25 (.576)

This Year: 553-301 (.653)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Tuesday, November 20

Northern Illinois (7-4) at Western Michigan (6-5)

Friday, November 23

Houston (8-3) at Memphis (7-4)

(Cougars travel to Tennessee to take on the Tigers, with the winner clinching the American Athletic Conference West Division title!!! Kickoff is at noon EST on ABC and ESPN3!!!)

UCF (10-0) at South Florida (7-4)

Saturday, November 24

Marshall (7-3) at Florida International (8-3)

(Panthers play host to the Thundering Herd with a chance to clinch the Conference USA East Division championship with a win!!! Kickoff is at noon EST on Stadium on Facebook!!!)

Troy (9-2) at Appalachian State (8-2)

(Mountaineers take on the Trojans with the winner not only winning the East Division crown but also representing the division in the inaugural Sun Belt Conference championship game on December 1!!! Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. EST on ESPN+!!!)

Utah State (10-1) at Boise State (9-2)

(Broncos to do battle with the Aggies for the Mountain West Conference Mountain Division championship!!! Kickoff is at 10:15 p.m. EST on ESPN!!!)

Louisiana-Lafayette (6-5) at Louisiana-Monroe (6-5)

Hawaii (7-5) at San Diego State (7-4)

FCS Playoffs-First Round

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

Top Seeds (In Order Of National Seeding)

NOTE: All national seeds have first-round byes.

1. North Dakota State (11-0)
2. Weber State (9-2)
3. Eastern Washington (9-2)
4. Kennesaw State (10-1)
5. South Dakota State (8-2)
6. UC Davis (9-2)
7. Maine (8-3)
8. Colgate (9-1)

Saturday, November 24 (All games on ESPN3!!!)

Incarnate Word (6-4) at Montana State (7-4)

Delaware (7-4) at James Madison (8-3)

Duquesne (8-3) at Towson (7-4)

Elon (6-4) at Wofford (8-3)

San Diego (9-2) at Nicholls (8-3)

Lamar (7-4) at Northern Iowa (6-5)

East Tennessee State (8-3) at Jacksonville State (8-3)

Stony Brook (7-4) at Southeast Missouri State (8-3)

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RFC Throwback Thursday: The Lehigh-Lafayette Rivalry

(Courtesy of WLVT)

This week's installment of "RFC Throwback Thursday" takes a look back at the most-played rivalry in all of college football in Lehigh vs. Lafayette. The two longtime Patriot League foes will square off for the 154th time at Easton, Pa. this weekend, with Lafayette leading the all-time series 78-70-5. 

Game Previews

Lafayette

Lehigh

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Small College Football Playoff Predictions & Bracketology: NAIA

Editor's Note: This is the third and final installment of a three-part series leading up to the start of the playoffs at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. This time, we break down the first round of the NAIA playoffs. In each installment, there'll be some predictions of each first-round game, followed by a brief analysis of each bracket. Now, on to the second post.

NOTE: For this week's regular "RFC Top Games" column, please click here, or scroll below.

NOTE: For the NCAA Division II first-round preview & predictions column, please click here, or scroll below. For the NCAA Division III preview, please click here, or scroll below.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

(Courtesy of NAIA.org)

2018 NAIA FCS First Round Pairings Announced

NAIA Playoffs-First Round

Saturday, November 17

Rocky Mountain (8-3) at Morningside (11-0)

St. Xavier (8-3) at Marian (10-0)

Baker (8-2) at Bethel (Tenn.)-(10-0)

Concordia (Mich.)-(8-2) at Reinhardt (9-1)

Dickinson State (9-1) at Northwestern (Iowa)-(9-1)

Langston (9-1) at Kansas Wesleyan (11-0)

Cumberlands (Ky.)-(10-1) at Benedictine (Kan.)-(10-1)

Grand View (8-2) at St. Francis (Ind.)-(8-2)

Quickie Analysis: This year's NAIA playoff field has teams that have won at least eight games during the regular season in 2018, including two-time defending national champion St. Francis (Ind.). Four undefeated teams; Bethel (Tenn.), Kansas Wesleyan, Marian, and Morningside, as well as multiple once-beaten teams in Cumberlands (Ky.), Dickinson State, Langston, Northwestern (Iowa), and Reinhardt, also headline the 16-team bracket. Expect a wide-open fight on the road to Daytona Beach, Fla. That's where the NAIA national championship will be played on December 15. 

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Small College Football Playoff Predictions & Bracketology: NCAA Division III

Editor's Note: This is the second installment of a three-part series leading up to the start of the playoffs at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. Next up is NCAA Division III. In each installment, there'll be some predictions of each first-round game, followed by a brief analysis of each bracket. Now, on to the second post.

NOTE: For this week's regular "RFC Top Games" column, please click here, or scroll below.

NOTE: For the NCAA Division II first-round preview & predictions column, please click here, or scroll below.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

NCAA Division III Playoffs-First Round

Saturday, November 17

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket (Courtesy of d3football.com)

Lower Right Bracket

MIT (9-1) at Johns Hopkins (9-1)

Western New England (8-2) at Frostburg State (9-0)

Husson (8-2) at RPI (8-1)

Framingham State (8-2) at Brockport (10-0)

Quickie Analysis: The "East Coast" portion of the D-III bracket features four teams that won eight games, three teams with nine wins, and one undefeated 10-0 team in Brockport. Expect a tough fight to the national semifinals for whichever team emerges from the first three rounds from this side of these playoffs. In other words, this bracket is anyone's for the taking.

Upper Right Bracket

Muhlenberg (9-1) at Delaware Valley (9-1)

Randolph-Macon (8-2) at John Carroll (9-1)

Washington and Jefferson (9-1) at Centre (9-1)

Denison (8-2) at Mount Union (10-0)

Quickie Analysis: Defending national champion Mount Union will look to add to its record of 13 national championships, as they hope to hoist the national championship trophy for the 14th time on December 14 in Shenandoah, Texas. However, the road to the Lone Star State won't exactly be easy, as there are multiple one-loss teams on this side of the bracket. Two games will feature four 9-1 teams in Muhlenberg-Delaware Valley and Washington and Jefferson-Centre.

Lower Left Bracket

Wartburg (8-2) at Bethel (Minn.)-(9-1)

Hanover (7-3) at North Central (9-1)

St. Norbert (9-1) at Trine (10-0)

Eureka (9-1) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (9-1)

Quickie Analysis: Wisconsin-Whitewater hopes to win its first national championship since 2014, as well as their seventh all-time, by working their way through a bracket that includes another undefeated team in Trine, as well as several one-loss teams. Hanover, who downed Franklin to win the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) championship, could be the Cinderella team of this year's playoffs, while American Rivers Conference (ARC) champion Wartburg could make a surprise postseason run as well.

Upper Left Bracket

Hardin-Simmons (9-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (10-0)

Maryville (7-2) at Berry (9-1)

Martin Luther (9-1) at St. John's (10-0)

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (7-3) at Whitworth (9-0)

Quickie Analysis: Mary Hardin-Baylor is the favorite to advance to the national semifinals out of the far-flung "South/Southwest/Upper Midwest/West Coast" bracket, as the Crusaders hope to not only advance to their third-straight Stagg Bowl but also try to win their second national championship in three years. However, UMHB will run into many likely challengers such as St. John's and Whitworth, both of whom cruised through unbeaten regular seasons themselves.

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Small College Football Playoff Predictions & Bracketology: NCAA Division II

Editor's Note: This is the first installment of a three-part series leading up to the start of the playoffs at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. First up is NCAA Division II. In each installment, there'll be some predictions of each first-round game, followed by a brief analysis of each bracket. So, with further ado, on to the first post.

NOTE: For this week's regular "RFC Top Games" column, please click here, or scroll below.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

NCAA Division II Playoffs-First Round

Saturday, November 17

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

Super Region #1

BYE: Notre Dame (Ohio)-(11-0)

Hillsdale (9-2) at Kutztown (9-1)

Slippery Rock (9-2) at LIU Post (10-0)

New Haven (8-2) at West Chester (10-0)

Quickie Analysis: Upstart Notre Dame (Ohio) leads the way in this first bracket, with the Falcons making their first-ever postseason appearance. But two other unbeaten teams join them in LIU Post and West Chester, as both teams look to make deep postseason runs en route to that elusive national championship. Also, don't count out the likes of Kutztown, Hillsdale, Slippery Rock, and New Haven.

Super Region #2

BYE: Valdosta State (10-0)

West Alabama (8-3) at Bowie State (9-2)

Wingate (8-3) at West Georgia (10-1)

Florida Tech (8-3) at Lenoir-Rhyne (10-1)

Quickie Analysis: Valdosta State outlasted fellow in-state rival West Georgia 47-31 to not only clinch the Gulf South Conference crown but also land that all-important #1 seed and a first-round bye. Newly-crowned CIAA champion Bowie State also joins a solid field in Super Region 2, as well as South Atlantic Conference champion Lenoir-Rhyne and three eight-win teams in Florida Tech, West Alabama, and Wingate.

Super Region #3

BYE: Ouachita Baptist (11-0)

Fort Hays State (9-2) at Indianapolis (9-1)

Harding (9-2) at Ferris State (11-0)

Northwest Missouri State (9-2) at Grand Valley State (10-1)

Quickie Analysis: Fans that are looking for a so-called "Bracket of Intrigue" could very well find it in Super Region #3. With two undefeated teams in #1 seed Ouachita Baptist and #2 seed Ferris State, as well as several nine-game winners in Fort Hays State, Harding, and Indianapolis, and even two former national champions in Grand Valley State and Northwest Missouri State and Grand Valley State squaring off in the first round, don't be surprised if anyone of these squads end up representing the region in the national semifinals on December 1.

Super Region #4

BYE: Minnesota State (11-0)

Colorado State-Pueblo (10-1) at Colorado Mines (10-1)

Azusa Pacific (8-3) at Tarleton State (10-0)

Texas A&M-Commerce (9-2) at Minnesota-Duluth (11-0)

Quickie Analysis: The fourth and final bracket of the D-II playoffs features two teams apiece from Colorado, Minnesota, and Texas, as well as well one team from California in Azusa Pacific. Keep in mind that Texas A&M-Commerce managed to win the national championship last year despite being seeded sixth. The most intriguing of the three first-round match-ups will take center stage in Colorado, as Colorado Mines plays host to Colorado State-Pueblo in a battle of 10-1 teams.

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