THE RFC MYC: Northwest Conference (NWC)-(NCAA Division III)

Northwest Conference (NWC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: 2018 proved to be the "Year of the Pirate" in the Northwest Conference (NWC). As in the Whitworth University Pirates. They finished NWC action unbeaten at 7-0, as well as at 10-0 for the regular season, good enough to claim the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. However, the Pirates postseason run was cut short in the second round, falling to St. John's 45-24. The loss to the Johnnies ended Whitworth's season at 10-1 overall.

While Whitworth will try to win another NWC crown this fall, another longtime conference will look to extend one of the longest streaks in sports, as the Linfield College Wildcats from McMinnville, Oregon will look to make it 64 straight winning seasons in 2019. Linfield overcame a slow start of 1-2 to win their final six games, and finish 7-2 overall in 2018. 

2018 Northwest Conference (NWC) 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.

George Fox

Lewis & Clark

Linfield

Pacific

Pacific Lutheran

Puget Sound 

Whitworth

Willamette

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THE RFC MYC: Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: The battle for the 2018 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship came down to the final week of the regular season, as the Azusa Pacific University Cougars (8-4 overall) avenged an earlier loss to the Central Washington University Wildcats (8-3) on October 6 with a thrilling win to claim the conference crown on November 10. Azusa Pacific's season ended with a loss to Tarleton State on the road in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs the following week.

The GNAC goes into the 2019 season with just four teams, as Humboldt State (2-8 overall) dropped its program at the end of the 2018 season. Still, expect Azusa Pacific to be the team to beat, with Central Washington posing a strong challenge to the Cougars. 

2018 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) 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.

Azusa Pacific

Central Washington

Simon Fraser 

Western Oregon

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THE RFC MYC: Frontier Conference (FC)-(NAIA)

Frontier Conference (FC)-(NAIA)

Overview: For any fan that's looking for parity in any particular conference from top to bottom, the Frontier Conference (FC) provided just that in 2018. The Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears battled their way to a 7-3 record in FC play en route to advancing to the NAIA playoffs. 

After losing their regular-season finale to Montana Tech 31-27 on November 10, Rocky Mountain fell to eventual national champion Morningside in the first round the following week. The Battlin' Bears finished their season at 8-4 overall after losing to the Mustangs. Every other FC team finished the 2018 season with six or fewer wins overall.

With four of its eight teams ranked in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll-College of Idaho at No. 15, Southern Oregon at No. 20, Rocky Mountain at No. 23, and Montana Western at No. 25-expect another competitive race for the Frontier Conference championship this fall.

2018 Frontier Conference (FC) 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.

Carroll (Mont.)

College of Idaho

Eastern Oregon

Montana Tech

Montana Western

Montana State-Northern

Rocky Mountain

Southern Oregon

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RFC Top Games: THE 2019 DEBUT

Editor's Note: This is the first installment of "RFC Top Games", on Real Football Central. Each week during the 2019 season, we'll take a brief look at the top games in FBS (Group Of Five), FCS, and small college football (NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA), with predictions!

If you're wondering what the "Group Of Five" is, it consists of the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Sun Belt Conferences.  Oh, and there no games involving any teams from the Power 5 Conferences. 
 
So, without further ado, let's get started!

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

Thursday, August 29

FBS Group Of Five

Florida International at Tulane

(Green Wave plays host to the Panthers in a battle of bowl

winning teams from the 2018 season!!! Airtime is at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT on ESPN3!!!)

Saturday, August 31

Eastern Michigan at Coastal Carolina

SMU at Arkansas State

FCS

Thursday, August 29

North Carolina Central at Austin Peay

Western Illinois at North Alabama

Saturday, August 31

Elon at North Carolina A&T

(Phoenix pay a visit to Greensboro to face the Aggies in the season opener for both teams!!! Kickoff is at 6 p.m. EDT on ESPN3!!!)

Montana at South Dakota

Sunday, September 1

Bethune-Cookman vs. Jackson State

(MEAC/SWAC Challenge at Atlanta. Airtime is at 3 p.m. EDT/2 p.m. CDT)

NAIA

Thursday, August 29

Rocky Mountain at Dickinson State

(Blue Hawks to do battle with the Battlin' Bears in a battle of preseason Top 25 teams!!! Dickinson State begins the season ranked No. 9 in the nation, while Rocky Mountain starts at No. 23!!!)

Keiser at Dordt

Campbellsville at Lindsey Wilson

Saturday, August 31

Evangel at William Penn

Eastern Oregon at College of Idaho

INTERDIVISIONAL GAME

Saturday, August 31

East Tennessee State (FCS) at Appalachian State (FBS Group Of Five)

(Defending Sun Belt Conference Champion Mountaineers play host to 2018 FCS playoff participant Buccaneers in the season opener for both squads!!! Kickoff is at 6 p.m. EDT on ESPN+!!!) 

Sunday, September 1

Morehouse (D-II) vs. Alabama A&M (FCS)

(Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic at Canton, Ohio.)

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THE RFC MYC: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: The race for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) championship in 2018 was basically a battle between two teams in the Colorado State University-Pueblo Thunderwolves and the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers. Both teams finished RMAC action at 9-1, with the Orediggers outlasting Thunderwolves 35-21 in the regular season contest on September 15. 

But CSU-Pueblo avenged that setback to Colorado Mines in a stunning upset on the road in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs on November 17. The Orediggers season ended at 10-2 overall after the loss to the Thunderwolves. Meanwhile, Pueblo's season came to a close at 11-2 overall after losing to then No. 1 Minnesota State-Mankato in a second-round contest the following weekend. 

The RMAC will lose one of its members to the NCAA Division I ranks after this season, as Dixie State University from Utah announced its intentions to upgrade from the Division II level starting in 2020. That move will leave the league with only four non-Colorado schools with football programs in Chadron State of Nebraska, New Mexico Highlands from New Mexico, and Black Hills State and South Dakota School Mines in South Dakota. 

2018 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) 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.

Adams State

Black Hills State

Chadron State

Colorado Mesa

Colorado Mines

Colorado State-Pueblo

Dixie State

Fort Lewis

New Mexico Highlands

South Dakota Mines

Western Colorado

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THE RFC MYC: American Southwest Conference (ASC)-(NCAA Division III)

American Southwest Conference (ASC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders won their second NCAA Division III national championship in three years in the first Stagg Bowl ever to be held in their home state of Texas, knocking off then-defending national champion Mount Union 24-16 on December 14. The win over the Purple Raiders avenged a 12-0 shutout loss to the Ohio-based squad in the 2017 Stagg Bowl. 

Now the big question going into 2019, at least within the American Southwest Conference (ASC), is this: Can any team stop UMHB? For now, the answer appears to be no one, according to the ASC preseason poll, with the "Cru" being picked to cruise to yet another conference championship this season.

Should the Crusaders falter at any point this fall, the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys could be the best bet to take the title. H-SU finished 9-2 overall in 2018, with both losses coming to UMHB, including a first-round loss to the Crusaders in the NCAA D-III playoffs. The Cowboys will get their chance against the "Cru" on October 26 in a game that could decide the ASC crown. Mary Hardin-Baylor shut out Hardin-Simmons 26-0 in last year's regular-season meeting on October 6, then ended the Cowboys season in the playoff contest 27-6 on November 17.  

2018 American Southwest Conference (ASC) 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.

Belhaven

East Texas Baptist

Hardin-Simmons

Howard Payne

Louisiana College

Mary Hardin-Baylor

McMurry

Southwestern (Tex.)

Sul Ross State

Texas Lutheran

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THE RFC MYC: Lone Star Conference (LSC)-(NCAA Division II)

Lone Star Conference (LSC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: 2018 proved to be "The Year of the Texans," the Tarleton State University Texans, that is, at least as far as the Lone Star Conference (LSC) was concerned. After finishing the regular season undefeated at 10-0, the Texans crushed Azusa Pacific in the first round, dethroned fellow LSC foe and then-defending NCAA Division II national champion Texas A&M-Commerce in a second round thriller, before losing a heartbreaker to then top-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato in the quarterfinals to finish the season at 12-1 overall.

As the 2019 season quickly approaches, the big questions in the LSC are these? Can Tarleton repeat last year's success? Will Texas A&M-Commerce (10-3 overall in 2018) win their second national championship in three years? Or can Midwestern State (8-2) can work their way into postseason play after missing out on the D-II playoffs last year? Those questions, and many more, will be answered when the regular season starts on Thursday, September 5, when Angelo State (6-6) plays host to Western Oregon. 

2018 Lone Star Conference (LSC) 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.

Angelo State

Eastern New Mexico

Midwestern State

Tarleton State

Texas A&M-Commerce

Texas A&M-Kingsville

UT-Permian Basin

West Texas A&M

Western New Mexico

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THE RFC MYC: Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC)-(NAIA)

Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC)-(NAIA)

Overview: The Langston University Lions clinched the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) title after finishing unbeaten in league action at 8-0 last season. The Lions fell to eventual national semifinalist Kansas Wesleyan in the first round of the NAIA playoffs on November 17 to finish their 2018 campaign at 9-2 overall. 

With a ranking of No. 14 in the NAIA preseason coaches poll, look for Langston to contend for yet another postseason berth in 2019. However, don't be surprised if either Oklahoma Panhandle State (6-5 overall, 6-2 in the SAC in 2018) and/or Arizona Christian (8-3, 5-3) manage to mount a strong challenge against the Lions this fall. 

2018 Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) 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.

Arizona Christian

Langston

Lyon

Oklahoma Panhandle State

Ottawa (Ariz.)

SAGU

Texas College

Texas Wesleyan

Wayland Baptist

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THE RFC MYC: Great American Conference (GAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Great American Conference (GAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: The eighth season of gridiron competition for the Great American Conference (GAC) was perhaps the most competitive ever, with five of the league's 12 teams finishing the 2018 campaign with a .500 or better record, and four of those five squads advancing to postseason play in some form. Even the four teams that finished in a four-way tie for last place in league play last year managed to finish 3-8 overall. 

Ouachita Baptist was the best team by far in the GAC last fall, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs before falling to Ferris State to finish 12-1 overall, after finishing the regular season undefeated at 11-0. Harding finished second in the GAC at 9-2, losing to that same Ferris State squad in a hard-fought first round clash to finish 9-3 overall.

Two other GAC teams advanced to bowl games, only to lose both contests. Southern Arkansas (8-4 overall in 2018) ended the season with three straight losses after losing to Missouri Western State in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl, while Arkansas-Monticello (6-6) fell to Emporia State in the Corsicana Bowl.

Going into 2019, expect Ouachita Baptist to be the team to beat, with Harding and Southern Arkansas looking to dethrone the Tigers while challenging for another postseason berth. Don't count Arkansas-Monticello or Southeastern Oklahoma State (6-5 in 2018) either.

2018 Great American Conference (GAC) 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.

Arkansas Tech

Arkansas-Monticello

East Central

Harding

Henderson State

Northwestern Oklahoma State

Oklahoma Baptist

Ouachita Baptist

Southeastern Oklahoma State

Southern Arkansas

Southern Nazarene

Southwestern Oklahoma State

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