THE RFC MYC: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)-(NCAA Division II)

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: The Minnesota State University Mavericks from Mankato, Minnesota were one of four teams from the eight-team South Division to represent the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in postseason play for the 2019 season. The Mavericks advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship game for only the second time in program history. But just like in 2014, Minnesota State saw its quest to win it all fall agonizingly short, as the University of West Florida Argonauts pulled off the upset 48-40 on December 21. The Mavs' season came to a close at 14-1 overall after losing to the Argos. The run to the title game also included a South Division, as well as an overall NSIC championship for MSU Mankato.

Three other NSIC South Division teams also advanced to postseason play, with all three teams losing their games. The Augustana University Vikings (9-3 overall in 2019) saw their season end in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs, with Colorado State University-Pueblo pitching a 17-0 shutout on November 23. The University of Sioux Falls Cougars (8-4) were also eliminated in the opening round of the D-II playoffs after losing a heartbreaker to the Colorado School of Mines 24-21, while the Winona State University Warriors (8-4) fell to Nebraska-Kearney, 50-33, in the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Missouri on December 7.

On the other hand, none of the eight teams that played in the NSIC North Division advanced to postseason play, as Minnesota-Duluth (8-3 overall in 2019) crushed Bemidji State (8-3) 42-7 on September 28 en route to a perfect 7-0 record in conference play, as well as a division title. While the Bulldogs finished undefeated in the NSIC, the Beavers settled for a final mark of 6-1 in league action, as well as second place in the North.

With the 2020 season being canceled due to COVID-19, the NSIC, like most D-II conferences, has turned its focus to the 2021 season. The conference's football-playing membership was reduced from 16 to 14 teams for this fall, with Minnesota-Crookston (0-11 overall in 2019) and St. Cloud State (4-7) disbanding their football programs at the end of the 2019 season. As a result, Concordia-St. Paul (6-5 in 2019) was moved from the South Division to the North Division. That move gives both divisions seven teams apiece for this fall.

2019 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Football Final Standings

2021 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 2021 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

Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)

Minnesota-Duluth

Minot State

MSU Moorhead

Northern State

U Mary

South Division

Augustana (S.D.)

Minnesota State

Sioux Falls

Southwest Minnesota State

Upper Iowa

Wayne State (Neb.)

Winona State

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: Change is the name of the game for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) for 2021, as this longtime mainstay at the NCAA Division III level said goodbye to the University of St. Thomas Tommies, as just two years ago (2019), the MIAC voted to kick the Tommies out of the league for being "too competitive". Meanwhile, Macalester rejoined the conference for football after an absence of almost two decades, and the College of St. Scholastica joined the MIAC after spending 12 seasons (2008-2019) in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). Those moves give the MIAC 10 teams that will play football this fall.

A quick look back at the spring of 2021 had only one team playing only one game in Augsburg. The Auggies outlasted Martin Luther 24-21 in the only contest of the season on April 18 to go to 1-0 overall. As for 2019, St. John's downed St. Thomas 38-20 on October 19, in what proved to be the last-ever meeting between those two teams. The Johnnies went to win the MIAC title, as well as advance to the national semifinal round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. That's where their season ended, as eventual national runner-up Wisconsin-Whitewater outlasted SJU, 35-32, on December 14, to finish the Johnnies season at 12-2 overall, as well as 7-1 in MIAC action. SJU also ended its season tied with UST (8-2 overall in 2019) for first place in the MIAC.

Looking forward to the fall of 2021, the MIAC will split into two five-team divisions with the addition of Macalester and St. Scholastica, with Carleton, Gustavus Adolphus, St. John's, St. Olaf, and St. Scholastica making up the new Northwoods Division, while the new Skyline Division will consist of Augsburg, Bethel, Concordia-Moorhead, Hamline, and Macalester.

2019 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Football Final Standings

2021 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 2021 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

Macalester

St. John's

St. Olaf

St. Scholastica

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: In the last full season with nine teams, the Martin Luther College Knights finished undefeated at 8-0 in winning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championship in 2019. Their season ended in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs with Wheaton winning easily over the Knights, 51-7, on November 23. MLC's season ended at 9-2 overall with the loss to the Thunder.

In the pandemic-shortened season of 2020-21, MLC compiled the best overall record in the UMAC after finishing at 3-1 overall, with the Knights' lone loss coming to Augsburg in a close 24-21 contest on April 18. The only other UMAC team to win at least two games during the abbreviated season was the Westminster College Blue Jays from Fulton, Missouri. The Blue Jays finished their season at 2-1 overall, with their only loss coming to now-former UMAC member Iowa Wesleyan in a 35-14 setback on May 1.

Speaking of Iowa Wesleyan, they were one of three teams to leave the UMAC at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year, with the Tigers not only rejoining the NAIA but also joining the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) for football purposes. MacMurray College from Jacksonville, Illinois permanently closed its doors in 2020, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the College of St. Scholastica made the move to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) during the offseason. Finally, Finlandia University from Hancock, Michigan joins the UMAC from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). All of those moves left the UMAC with seven football-playing schools going into the fall season of 2021.

2019 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Football Final Standings

2021 (Spring) Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Football Final Standings

2021 (Fall) 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 2021 (fall) 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.

Crown

Finlandia

Greenville

Martin Luther

Minnesota-Morris

Northwestern (Minn.)

Westminster (Mo.)

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: Despite settling for a co-championship with longtime rival Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks still found a way to advance to another NCAA Division III national championship game (Stagg Bowl) in 2019. But the Warhawks' quest to add another national championship fell way short, as North Central College cruised to a convincing 41-14 on December 20. UWW finished the 2019 season with a 13-2 overall record.

On the other hand, the other WIAC co-champion saw its postseason run end early, as the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titans lost an overtime heartbreaker at Central in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs on November 23. The 38-37 loss ended Oshkosh's season at 8-3 overall, as well as at 6-1 in the WIAC. Oshkosh handed Whitewater its only regular-season loss in a 27-20 upset win the previous week, while also losing at Wisconsin-La Crosse (7-3, 5-2 in 2019) for its lone loss in conference play.

With the COVID-19 pandemic causing the cancellation of its 2020 season, the WIAC has turned its focus to the 2021 season, with Whitewater and Oshkosh both looking to return to the championship form they had for the 2019 season. However, don't be surprised if LaCrosse has its say in the conversation, as well as Wisconsin-Platteville (7-3, 4-3).

2019 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Football Final Standings

2021 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 2021 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

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC)-(NCAA Division III)

Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: 2019 proved to be a banner year for the Aurora University Spartans, as they finished Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) action unbeaten at 7-0, en route to a final overall record of 9-2. The Spartans gave eventual national semifinalist St. John's (Minn.) all it could handle before losing 51-47 in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs on November 23.

In the shortened spring season of 2021, Aurora won another NACC crown, only this time the Spartans shared the honors with the Lakeland University Muskies, with both squads finishing the season at 3-0. Unfortunately, however, neither team got to play against each other for the overall conference championship, as the conference playoffs were canceled due to continuing COVID-19 protocols.

The upcoming fall season of 2021 will bring about a change, as the St. Norbert College Green Knights from De Pere, Wisconsin join the NACC after spending many years in the Midwest Conference. The addition of St. Norbert brings the number of football-playing schools in the NACC to nine. 

2019 NACC Football Final Standings

2021 (Spring) NACC Football Final Standings

2021 (Fall) 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 2021 (fall) 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

St. Norbert

Wisconsin Lutheran

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Midwest Conference (MWC)-(NCAA Division III)

Midwest Conference (MWC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: A competitive race in the Midwest Conference (MWC) for 2019 resulted in the two division winners, St. Norbert in the North, and Monmouth (Ill.) in the South, advancing to what turned out to be the last-ever conference championship game on November 16, with the Scots rallying late to outlast the Green Knights 10-7. Monmouth's season ended in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, with the Scots succumbing to eventual national runner-up Wisconsin-Whitewater 35-10 on November 23, to end their season at 7-3 overall.

After yet another pandemic-shortened spring season that saw only four teams take the field, the Lake Forest College Foresters followed up a 7-3 season in 2019 with an unbeaten record of 3-0 in 2020-21. Elsewhere in the MWC, Illinois College finished winless at 0-1, Ripon also finished winless at 0-3, with Knox "opting out" of its season due to COVID-19 concerns. 

Looking ahead to the fall 2021 season, the MWC's membership was reduced from 12 to 10 teams, as Macalester College from St. Paul, Minnesota left the MWC to re-join the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), while longtime member St. Norbert left to join the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Also, the Grinnell College Pioneers from Iowa hope to bounce back after canceling their 2019 season at 0-3 due to multiple injuries to their players.

2019 Midwest Conference (MWC) Football Final Standings

2021 (Spring) Midwest Conference (MWC) Football Final Standings

2021 (Fall) 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 2021 (fall) 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.


Beloit

Chicago

Cornell (Iowa)

Grinnell

Illinois College

Knox

Lake Forest

Lawrence

Monmouth (Ill.)

Ripon

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)-(NCAA Division III)

College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The Wheaton College Thunder and North Central College Cardinals both dominated the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) in 2019, with the Thunder handing the Cardinals their lone loss in a 35-22 win on October 5 to help propel them to the CCIW title. Wheaton finished the regular season undefeated at 10-0 but lost a 34-33 heartbreaker to St. John's (Minn.) in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III playoffs to finish the season at 12-1 overall.

However, it was North Central that carried the CCIW banner throughout the postseason, as the Cardinals outscored their opponents 227-109 in winning their first-ever national championship. That included a stunning upset over then-No. 2 Mount Union in the second round on the road in the D-III playoffs on November 30. NCC crushed Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-14 for the title on December 20.

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 caused just four teams to play eight games combined during the spring of 2021. The Carthage College Firebirds finished the significantly abbreviated season undefeated at 2-0 to win the de-facto CCIW crown, while Illinois Wesleyan and Millikin finished at 1-1 overall, and North Park winless at 0-2.

Looking ahead to the traditional fall season of 2021, it'll be interesting to see if North Central can return to the form that won them a national title in 2019, while Wheaton hopes to provide a tremendous challenge to the Cardinals along the way.

2019 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Football Final Standings

2021 (Spring) College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Football Final Standings

2021 (Fall) 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 2021 (fall) 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


Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)-(NCAA Division II)

Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: The Lindenwood University Lions were the surprise squad of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in 2019, finishing their inaugural season a perfect 7-0 in league play en route to winning their first-ever GLVC championship, while also finishing the regular season at 8-3 overall. The run to the crown included a 34-27 upset win over the then-No. 8 University of Indianapolis Greyhounds (9-2 overall, 6-1 in the GLVC in 2019) on November 2.

In the NCAA Division II playoffs, Lindenwood pulled off the upset over an Ouachita Baptist University team that not only came into postseason play undefeated at 11-0 but also at No.5 in the nation. The Lions knocked off the Tigers 41-38 in the first round, before losing to Northwest Missouri State in the second round to finish their season at 9-4 overall.

Three other GLVC teams finished the 2019 season with a winning record, with UIndy losing to Central Missouri in the first round of the D-II playoffs, while Truman State outlasted Ohio Dominican 21-7 on December 7 to win the inaugural America's Crossroads Bowl championship. The Bulldogs finished the season at 10-2 overall after defeating the Panthers. Another team, Missouri S&T, finished fourth in the GLVC at 7-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play. 

With 2019 champion Lindenwood choosing to opt-out of the spring 2021 season due to COVID-19 concerns, UIndy made the most of the shortened schedule in defeating Truman State 46-29 on April 24 to take home the 2020-21 title in the inaugural GLVC title game. The Greyhounds finished the season at 3-0 overall despite playing only two regular-season games prior to the championship, while the Bulldogs settled for a final overall mark of 3-1.

Looking ahead to the fall 2021 schedule, expect this season's race for the GLVC championship to be any team's to win, whether it be Lindenwood, UIndy, Truman State, Missouri S&T, or maybe even another team. 

2019 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Football Final Standings

2021 (Spring) Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Football Final Standings

2021 (Fall) 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 2021 (fall) 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

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: For the second straight season, the Ferris State University Bulldogs made a deep run in the NCAA Division II playoffs, finishing unbeaten during the regular season to another Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championship. But unlike the run to the national championship game where they were national runners-up after losing to Valdosta State in 2018, Ferris State saw its quest to take a title home in 2019 ended in the national semifinals, as the Bulldogs were upset by eventual national champion West Florida to finish that season at 12-1 overall.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only one GLIAC team took the field in the spring of 2021, as the upstart Davenport University Panthers finished 2-0 overall during their abbreviated schedule. The Panthers defeated their lone opponent, the Gannon University Golden Knights, in both games, winning 30-22 on the road on March 20, and 37-22 at home on April 9.

The GLIAC will see a major change in its membership this fall, as the Ashland University Eagles from Ohio made the move to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) on July 1, 2021. Ashland's departure leaves the GLIAC with eight football-playing schools, all from Michigan.

2019 GLIAC Football Final Standings

2021 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 2021 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.


Davenport

Ferris State

Grand Valley State

Michigan Tech

Northern Michigan

Northwood

Saginaw Valley State

Wayne State (Mich.)

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

South Atlantic Conference Announces Additions of Barton and Erskine as Associate Members for Football

South Atlantic Conference Announces Additions of Barton and Erskine as Associate Members for Football: South Atlantic Conference Announces Additions of Barton and Erskine as Associate Members for Football

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.

THE RFC MYC: Mid-States Football Association (MSFA)-(NAIA)

Mid-States Football Association (MSFA)-(NAIA)

Overview: The Marian University Knights were the class of the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) in 2019, finishing the season at 12-1 overall. The Knights advanced to the national championship game on December 21, giving Morningside all it could handle before falling 40-38. 

Other Mideast Division teams to advance to the NAIA playoffs were Concordia (Mich.)-(8-3 overall in 2019), whose Cardinals fell to Grand View in a 31-30 heartbreaker in the first round, as well as St. Francis (Ind.)-(7-3), losing to Lindsey Wilson, 30-26, also in the first round.

The lone Midwest Division team to advance to postseason play in 2019 was the Saint Xavier University Cougars. The Cougars knocked off Northwestern (Iowa) in a hard-fought 25-20 contest in the first round on the road, before falling to eventual national champion Morningside 51-0 in the second round to finish their season at 9-3 overall.

As for 2020-21, a season that was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not to mention starting in February, at least six teams won at least five games while posting a winning record, with three of those squads advancing to postseason play.

In the Mideast League, Concordia won the division championship after finishing undefeated in MSFA play at 4-0 and 5-0 in the regular season, while Marian finished second at 3-1 and 5-1 respectively. The Cardinals defeated and eliminated Georgetown (Ky.) 21-7 in the first round, before losing to eventual national champion Lindsey Wilson 49-27 in the second round to finish their season at 6-1 overall. 

On the other hand, the Knights found themselves in the "one and done" category after one postseason contest, as they lost to Reinhardt 40-29 in the first round to finish at 5-2 overall. The loss to Reinhardt ended Marian's quest to return to the NAIA national championship game after losing to Morningside in the 2019 title game.

In the Midwest League, the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers cruised through the regular season unbeaten at 8-0 but lost to Baker University in a thrilling 59-54 first-round battle to finish their season at 8-1 overall. Meanwhile, the Roosevelt University Lakers, formerly the Robert Morris University of Illinois, missed out on postseason play despite finishing with an 8-1 overall record, while St. Ambrose and St. Xavier both finished at 5-3 overall, with records of 4-2 and 3-3 in MSFA play respectively.

Looking ahead to the traditional fall season of 2021, expect Marian and Concordia to be the top two teams in the Mideast League, while Olivet Nazarene and Roosevelt are expected to be the favorites in the Midwest League. Additionally, five MSFA teams finished the season in the NAIA Postseason Top 25 poll, with Concordia leading the way at No. 6, followed by Olivet Nazarene at No. 9, Marian at No. 10, St. Francis (Ind.)-(2-2 overall in the spring of 2021) at No. 17, and Roosevelt at No. 20.     

2019 Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Final Standings

Mideast League

Midwest League

2020-21 Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Final Standings

Mideast League

Midwest League

2021 (Fall) 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 2021 (fall) 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

Roosevelt

Saint Ambrose

Saint Francis (Ill.)

Saint Xavier

Trinity International

Provisional/Ineligible For Title

Judson

Madonna

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.