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Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)-(NCAA Division II)
Overview: The University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs and Minnesota State University Mavericks both won their respective divisions in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in 2018. The Bulldogs won the North Division title, while the Mavericks clinched the South Division crown. Both teams finished unbeaten at 7-0 in division play, as well as undefeated in regular season action at 11-0.
In the NCAA Division II playoffs, one team managed to make a deep run, while the other team was "one and done". Minnesota State defeated and eliminated CSU-Pueblo and Tarleton State, only to fall to eventual national runner-up Ferris State in the national semifinals. The Mavericks finished the 2018 season at 13-1 overall.
On the other hand, Minnesota-Duluth's stay in postseason play didn't last long, as then-defending national champion Texas A&M-Commerce pulled off the upset over the Bulldogs in the first round of the D-II playoffs on November 17. UMD ended its 2018 campaign at 11-1 overall after the tough loss.
With both teams beginning the 2019 season ranked in the Top 10 of the College Football America Yearbook preseason poll-with Minnesota State ranked at No. 5, and Minnesota-Duluth at No. 10, don't be surprised if both squads find themselves back in the playoffs come November.
2018 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Football Final Standings
2019 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2019 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 schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
North Division
Bemidji State
Minnesota-Crookston
Minnesota-Duluth
Minot State
MSU Moorhead
Northern State
St. Cloud State
U Mary
South Division
Augustana (S.D.)
Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)
Minnesota State
Sioux Falls
Southwest Minnesota State
Upper Iowa
Wayne State (Neb.)
Winona State
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Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The St. John's University Johnnies were one of two teams that advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in 2018, finishing unbeaten in conference play at 8-0. The Johnnies cruised to a convincing win over Martin Luther in the first round, followed by a 21-point victory over Whitworth in the second round, before falling to eventual national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor in the quarterfinals. SJU finished the season at 12-1 overall after losing to UMHB.
The only other MIAC team to advance to postseason play was Bethel (Minn.). After finishing the regular season at 7-1 in the MIAC and 9-1 overall, the Royals rolled past Wartburg in the first round, then knocked out North Central in a close second round contest on the road, before being eliminated by Wisconsin-Whitewater in the quarterfinals to finish at 11-2 overall.
Finally, while being left out of postseason play after finishing 6-2 in conference play and 8-2 overall, the biggest story of the offseason came from the University of St. Thomas Tommies. In late May 2019, MIAC officials announced that UST would be "kicked out" of the MIAC for being "too competitive". The Tommies will remain a MIAC member until the spring of 2021. Otherwise, expect UST to seriously challenge SJU and Bethel for the top spot this season.
2018 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Football Final Standings
2019 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2019 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 schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
Augsburg
Bethel (Minn.)
Carleton
Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.)
Gustavus Adolphus
Hamline
St. John's
St. Olaf
St. Thomas (Minn.)
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Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks returned to the top of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) after a one-year absence (7-3 overall in 2017), as they finished unbeaten in conference play at 7-0 en route to winning the WIAC title in 2018.
In the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Warhawks cruised to easy wins over Eureka and St. Norbert, before outlasting Bethel (Minn.) in the quarterfinals. Whitewater's season ended with a 31-14 loss to eventual national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor in the national semifinals to finish the season at 12-1 overall.
As the 2019 season approaches, expect Whitewater to get a serious challenge from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse Eagles, who finished second in the WIAC at 5-2, as well as 7-3 overall, Meanwhile, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titans hope to rebound after a disappointing 2018 campaign where they finished third in the WIAC at 4-3, and 6-4 overall.
Last year's finish for the Titans came after posting three straight double-digit win seasons in which they compiled a combined 36-5 overall record (.878 winning percentage) from 2015-2017. That three-year span also included an appearance in the 2016 Stagg Bowl for Oshkosh, who ironically, also lost to Mary Hardin-Baylor 10-7.
2018 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Football Final Standings
2019 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2019 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 schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Wisconsin-LaCrosse
Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Wisconsin-Platteville
Wisconsin-River Falls
Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Wisconsin-Stout
Wisconsin-Whitewater
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Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The Eureka College Red Devils finished 6-1 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play en route to winning the conference championship while earning the NACC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Eureka's season ended with a loss to eventual national semifinalist Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round to finish the season at 9-2 overall. The Red Devils scored at least 30 points in every regular-season game, with the lone loss coming to Lakeland in a 56-55 thriller on November 3. However, the loss to the Muskies didn't stop them, as they rolled past Rockford 38-7 the following week to advance to postseason play for just the fourth time in program history.
With the 2019 season just around the corner, expect Eureka to be the team to beat in the NACC once again.
2018 NACC Football Final Standings
2019 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2019 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 schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
Aurora
Benedictine (Ill.)
Concordia-Chicago (Ill.)
Concordia (Wis.)
Eureka
Lakeland
Rockford
Wisconsin Lutheran
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Midwest Conference (MWC)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The St. Norbert College Knights returned to postseason play for the first time since 2015, when they outlasted the Monmouth College Scots 10-7 on November 10 to win their 17th overall Midwest Conference championship in 2018.
In the NCAA Division III playoffs, St. Norbert upset and ousted previously undefeated Trine in the first round, but fell to eventual national semifinalist Wisconsin-Whitewater in the second round. The Green Knights finished the 2018 season at 10-2 overall after losing to Warhawks. Ironically, Whitewater also ended St. Norbert's season in the first round of the 2015 playoffs.
Looking ahead to 2019, St. Norbert is expected to be the team to beat in their quest to win another Midwest Conference this fall. Don't be surprised if the Green Knights find themselves back in the playoffs come late November.
2018 Midwest Conference (MWC) Football Final Standings
2019 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2019 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 schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
North Division
Beloit
Lake Forest
Lawrence
Macalester
Ripon
St. Norbert
South Division
Chicago
Cornell (Iowa)
Grinnell
Illinois College
Knox
Monmouth (Ill.)
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College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The North Central College Cardinals cruised past the Illinois Wesleyan University Titans 38-20 on the road November 3 to not only claim a share the 2018 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) crown but also the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Cardinals crushed Hanover 52-0 in the first round, before falling to Bethel (Minn.) in the second round to close their season at 10-2 overall, and 8-1 in CCIW action.
As for the teams that could challenge the Cardinals for the CCIW championship in 2019, there are plenty of challengers that are more than capable of rising to the challenge, with Illinois Wesleyan looking to advance to postseason play for the first time since 2017 after finishing 8-2 overall and 8-1 in the CCIW in 2018. Washington (Mo.) held its own in its inaugural season, with the Bears also finishing 8-2 overall, and 7-2 in league play, while Wheaton finished last fall with similar records. Don't be surprised if any of these four aforementioned teams find themselves in contention for this year's title.
2018 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Football Final Standings2019 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2019 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 schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
Augustana (Ill.)
Carroll (Wis.)
Carthage
Elmhurst
Illinois Wesleyan
Millikin
North Central
North Park
Washington (Mo.)
Wheaton
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Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)-(NCAA Division II)
Overview: The University of Indianapolis Greyhounds were one of just two teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) to advance to postseason play in 2018. The Greyhounds finished unbeaten in GLVC play at 7-0 en route to finishing the season at 10-2 overall, as well as advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs. UIndy defeated and eliminated Fort Hays in the first round before falling to Ouachita Baptist in the second round.
The only other GLVC squad to advance to postseason play last fall was the Missouri S&T University Miners. After being snubbed for a D-II playoff berth, the Miners accepted an invitation to play in the Mineral Water Bowl. S&T then crushed Minnesota State-Moorhead 51-16 on December 1 for their first postseason win in almost seven decades. The Miners also finished the 2018 campaign at 10-2 overall.
The 2019 season brings about multiple changes on and off the field for the GLVC. Longtime assistant coach Chris Keevers replaces the now-retired Bob Bartolomeo as the head coach at UIndy. Also, two Missouri schools will trade places in the conference membership department, as Lindenwood University joins the league as a full-time member after spending the last seven seasons in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), while Lincoln University joins the MIAA after spending the last few seasons in the GLVC. Also, Southwest Baptist joins the GLVC as a full-time member after five seasons as an associate member.
2018 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Football Final Standings
2019 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2019 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 schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
Indianapolis
Lindenwood
McKendree
Missouri S&T
Quincy
Southwest Baptist
Truman State
William Jewell
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Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The race for the 2018 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) championship came down to the final week of the regular season, with Franklin, Hanover, and Mount St. Joseph sharing the title at 7-1 in league play. However, a stunning win over Franklin on November 10 not only gave the Panthers the Victory Bell in knocking off the Grizzlies, it also propelled them into postseason play for the first time since 2003. Hanover fell to North Central (Ill.) in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs to end their season at 7-4 overall.
Meanwhile, both Mount St. Joseph and Franklin both found themselves on the outside looking in despite finishing 8-2 overall last fall. While the Lions handed Hanover their lone HCAC loss of the season in a tight 19-15 contest on October 27, it was a tough loss to Franklin just two weeks earlier (October 13) that turned out to be their undoing, as the Grizzlies outlasted them 42-34 for their lone league defeat. As for Franklin, the upset loss to archrival Hanover forced the Grizzlies to miss out on the playoffs for just the third time since 2006, with the only other time during that 13-year span coming in 2009, when the Grizzlies finished 7-3.
Looking ahead to 2019, the HCAC will have one less team taking the football field this fall, as Earlham has suspended its program for this season pending further review. That means the other eight teams will only play seven conference games this season, with the three remaining regular season contests coming from outside of the conference. As for a game that HCAC fans should mark on their calendars, Hanover plays host to Franklin in the Victory Bell game on November 16, with the Grizzlies looking to avenge last year's loss to the Panthers.
2018 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Football Final Standings
2019 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2019 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 schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
Anderson
Bluffton
Defiance
Franklin
Hanover
Manchester
Mount St. Joseph
Rose-Hulman
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Mid-States Football Association (MSFA)-(NAIA)
Overview: The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) once again proved why it was one of the toughest conferences in the NAIA in 2018, with seven of its 14 teams finishing the season with a winning record. But it was the Mideast League that turned out to be the stronger of the two divisions, with three of those four teams finishing the year with double-digit wins last fall. Marian finished the regular season unbeaten, only to be upset by Saint Xavier in the first round of the NAIA playoffs to finish 10-1 overall. Meanwhile, Concordia (Mich.) and Saint Francis (Ind.) both finished 10-3 overall after first round wins, losing to eventual national runner-up Benedictine (Kan.) and eventual national champion Morningside in the second round, respectively.
Despite being the lone Midwest League team to advance to the NAIA playoffs, Saint Xavier also advanced to the second round after ousting previously unbeaten Marian in the first round. The Cougars lost to Morningside 34-28 in overtime to close their season at 9-4 overall. Indiana Wesleyan had an impressive inaugural season, with the Wildcats finishing 7-3 overall.
With seven squads finishing the 2018 season ranked in the final Top 25 poll, expect the MSFA to be competitive from top to bottom once again going the 2019 season.
2018 Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Final Standings
Mideast League
Midwest League
2019 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2019 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 schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
Mideast League
Concordia (Mich.)
Indiana Wesleyan
Lawrence Tech
Marian
Saint Francis (Ind.)
Siena Heights
Taylor
Midwest League
Missouri Baptist
Olivet Nazarene
Robert Morris (Ill.)
Saint Ambrose
Saint Francis (Ill.)
Saint Xavier
Trinity International
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