RFC Postseason's Greetings: 2019 Cure Bowl-Liberty vs. Georgia Southern

(Video courtesy of the CBS Sports Network.)

The 2023 "RFC Postseason's Greetings" series concludes by turning the clock to December 21, 2019. That was when the Liberty University Flames made their first-ever bowl appearance in their first full season of eligibility at the FBS level at the Cure Bowl, which was played at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Flames defeated the Eagles 23-16 for their first-ever bowl win to end their season at 8-5 overall.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 2014 Miami Beach Bowl-Memphis vs. BYU

(Video courtesy of ESPN.)

This installment of "RFC Postseason's Greetings" turns the clock back to December 22, 2014. That was when the University of Memphis Tigers took on the BYU Cougars in the now-defunct Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park (now Loan Depot Park) in Miami. In a close, high-scoring contest that ended with a bench-clearing brawl, the Tigers got by the Cougars 55-48 in double overtime to finish their season at 10-3 overall.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 1966 Sun Bowl-Wyoming vs. Florida State

(Video courtesy of CFB Archive.)

This installment of "RFC Postseason's Greetings" turns the clock to Christmas Eve, December 24, 1966. That was when the University of Wyoming Cowboys faced Florida State at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The Cowboys outlasted FSU 28-20 to finish the 1966 season at 10-1 overall as champions of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Following is a brief 20-minute coaches film featuring highlights of the game.  

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 2023 Stagg Bowl (NCAA Division III National Championship Game)-Cortland vs. North Central

(Video courtesy of ESPNU.)

Today's installment of "RFC Postseason's Greetings" features an recent "instant classic" from the night of Friday, December 15, 2023. That was when the State University of New York at Cortland Red Dragons did battle with the then-defending national champion North Central College Cardinals from Naperville, Illinois, in the 50th edition of the Stagg Bowl, which was played at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia. In one of the greatest games played in the half-century of NCAA Division III football, the Red Dragons stopped a two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds to stun the Cardinals, 38-37, and claim Cortland's first-ever national championship. Cortland finished the 2023 season at 14-1 overall, with their only loss coming to Susquehanna, 38-35, on September 16. 

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 2022 (2023) Cotton Bowl-Tulane vs. USC

(Video courtesy of ESPN.)

The latest installment of "RFC Postseason's Greetings" turns the clock to Monday, January 2, 2023. That was when the Tulane University Green Wave took on the USC Trojans in the Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In one of the greatest bowl games ever played in FBS history, Tulane rallied in the final seconds to stun the Trojans 46-45. The Green Wave finished the 2022 season as the unofficial Group Of Five Conference, as well as the Cotton Bowl champions at 12-2 overall.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 2014 Hawai'i Bowl-Rice vs. Fresno State

 

(Video courtesy of ESPN.)

The "RFC Postseason's Greetings" series continues by turning the clock back to Christmas Eve, December 24, 2014. That was when the Rice Owls faced the Fresno State Bulldogs in the Hawaii Bowl. The Owls beat the Bulldogs 30-6 to finish their 2014 season at 8-5 overall. It would be the last bowl appearance for the Rice program until the end of the 2022 season, when the Owls fell to Southern Mississippi in the Lending Tree (now 68 Ventures) Bowl 38-24.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: (Southwest) Texas State University NCAA Division II National Champions-1981

(Video courtesy of Texas State University Athletics.)

The "RFC Postseason's Greetings" series continues with a look back at the 1981 NCAA Division II national championship team at what is now Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. The then-Southwest Texas State University Bobcats finished the 1981 season at 13-1 overall in winning the first of back-to-back national championships at the Division II level. The Bobcats would go on the finish the 1982 season undefeated at 14-0 overall in winning their second straight title. Texas State moved up to what is now the FCS (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) level in 1984, followed by a move to what is now the FBS (formerly NCAA Division I-A) level in 2012, becoming fully eligible in 2013.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 1976 NCAA Division III National Championship Game-St. John's (Minn.) vs. Towson (State)

(Video courtesy of ABC Sports.)

The "RFC Post Season's Greetings" series continues by turning the clock back to Saturday, December 4, 1976. That was when the Saint John's University Johnnies squared off against the Towson (State) University Tigers in the Stagg Bowl at Phenix City, Alabama. After battling Minnesota-Morris to a 15-15 tie in the season opener on September, the Johnnies from Collegeville, Minnesota ended the season with 10 straight wins, culminating with a close 31-28 win over their counterparts from Maryland. St. John's finished the 1976 season at 10-0-1 overall in winning their program's first-ever NCAA Division III national championship.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 1983 California Bowl-Northern Illinois vs. Cal State

(Video courtesy of ESPN and the Mizlou Television Network [defunct].)

The "RFC Post Season's Greetings" series continues by turning the clock back to Saturday, December 17, 1983. That was when the Northern Illinois University Huskies did battle with the California State University-Fullerton Titans in the now-defunct California Bowl in Fresno, California. The Huskies outlasted the Titans 20-13 to finish the 1983 season at 10-2 overall after winning the Mid-American Conference championship at 8-1 in MAC action. As for Cal State-Fullerton, the now Big West Conference member dropped its' football program at the end of the 1992 season.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 2002 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship Game-Western Kentucky vs. McNeese State

(Video courtesy of ESPN.)

Today's installment of "RFC Postseason's Greetings" turns the clock back to December 20, 2002. That was when the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers played against the then top-ranked and heavily favored McNeese State University Cowboys in the NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship game at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In what has to be considered one of the biggest upsets in non-FBS/non-power conference college football history, the Hilltoppers knocked off the Cowboys 34-14 to win the program's first and only true national championship, albeit at the FCS level. WKU finished the 2002 season at 12-3 overall, winning 10 straight games to finish their campaign after a 2-3 start, including losses to McNeese State and Kansas State during the regular season.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: Jacksonville State Highlights-1992

(Video courtesy of Jacksonville State University.)

Today's installment of "RFC Postseason's Greetings" turns the clock back to 1992. That was when the Jacksonville State University Gamecocks won their only national championship in program history, taking home the Division II title. The Gamecocks moved up to what is now the FCS (now NCAA Division I-AA) level in 1995, making multiple playoff appearances during their almost three decades in that division. Jacksonville State finished the season at 12-1-1, defeating then defending national champion Pittsburg State (Kan.) 17-13 to win the title on December 12.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: Troy (State) NAIA National Championship-1968

(Video courtesy of Troy University.)

This installment of RFC Postseason's Greetings turns the clock back to 1968. That was when the Troy (State) University football team from Troy, Alabama took home the NAIA national championship. The then Red Wave (now Trojans) squad finished the season at 11-1 overall after outlasting Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) 43-35. Troy (State) would later go to win two more national championships at the NCAA Division II level in 1984 and 1987, before making the transition to what is now the FCS (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) level in 1993, followed by a transition to what is now the FBS (formerly NCAA Division I-A) level in 2001. 

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 1972 NAIA Football National Championship Games

(Video #1 courtesy of Texas A&M University-Commerce.)

(Video #2 courtesy of Missouri Southern 

State University.)

This installment of RFC Postseason's Greetings turns the clock back to December 1972. That was when the NAIA had not one, but two national championship games from that postseason. The first video above features film from the NAIA Division I title game between Carson-Newman and East Texas State (now Texas A&M-Commerce), while the second video below features highlights from the Division II contest between Missouri Southern State and Northwestern (Iowa). Both teams would go on to win their respective division's national championship in close contests, with East Texas getting by Carson-Newman 21-18 to finish the season at 10-2 overall, while Missouri Southern outlasted Northwestern 21-14 to end their season unbeaten at 12-0.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship Game-Pittsburg State (Kan.) vs. Wayne State (Mich.)

(Video courtesy of ESPN.)

Editor's Note: The "RFC Post-Season's Greetings" (formerly the '12 Days of Bowl Games') series has returned for the 2023 season. The purpose of this series is to post at least one postseason game per day, between now and New Year's Eve, involving programs that are currently members of FBS Group of Five conferences or below. That also includes the FCS, as well as the NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA ranks.

The debut video above features an unlikely national championship clash at the NCAA Division II level between the Pittsburg State University Gorillas from Kansas and the Wayne State University Warriors from Detroit, which was played on December 17, 2011, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.

In a close contest that wasn't decided until the closing seconds, the then #2-seeded Gorillas from Super Region #4 defeated the then #6-seeded Warriors from Super Region #3 by a final score of 35-21. Pittsburg State won its' second-ever national championship, and finished the 2011 season at 13-1 overall, while Wayne State finished at 12-4 overall.

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RFC Throwback Thursday: 1985 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship Game-Georgia Southern vs. Furman

(Video courtesy of ESPN.)

This week's installment of RFC Throwback Thursday turns the clock back to December 21, 1985. That was when the Georgia Southern University Eagles faced the Furman University Paladins in their first-ever NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship game appearance. In a high-scoring close contest, the Eagles edged the Paladins 44-42 for their first of their six national championships, all coming at the Division I-AA (FCS) level.

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RFC Group Of Five Bowl Predictions Special 2023

Editor's Note: Only the bowl games involving at least two teams from any two of the FBS Group Of Five Conferences (American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) are eligible for inclusion in this post. 

KEY: Projected winners are marked in RED.

Saturday, December 16

Myrtle Beach Bowl at Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Georgia Southern (6-6) vs. Ohio (9-3)

New Orleans Bowl at New Orleans

Jacksonville State (8-4) vs. Louisiana (6-6)

Cure Bowl at Orlando, Fla.

Miami (Ohio)-(11-2) vs. Appalachian State (8-5)

New Mexico Bowl at Albuquerque, N.M.

New Mexico State (10-4) vs. Fresno State (8-4)

Monday, December 18

Famous Toastery Bowl at Charlotte, N.C.

Western Kentucky (7-5) vs. Old Dominion (6-6)

Tuesday, December 19

Frisco Bowl at Frisco, Texas

UTSA (8-4) vs. Marshall (6-6)

Saturday, December 23

Camellia Bowl at Montgomery, Ala.

Arkansas State (6-6) vs. Northern Illinois (6-6)

Armed Forces Bowl at Fort Worth, Texas

James Madison (11-1) vs. Air Force (8-4)

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, Idaho

Georgia State (6-6) vs. Utah State (6-6)

68 Ventures Bowl at Mobile, Alabama 

Eastern Michigan (6-6) vs. South Alabama (6-6)

Hawai'i Bowl at Honolulu, Hawai'i

Coastal Carolina (7-5) vs. San Jose State (7-5)

Tuesday, December 26

First Responders Bowl at Dallas, Texas

Texas State (7-5) vs. Rice (6-6)

Saturday, December 30

Arizona Bowl at Tucson, Ariz.

Toledo (11-2) vs. Wyoming (8-4)

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM REAL FOOTBALL CENTRAL!!!!!!

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RFC Weekly Predictions: Week Of December 16, 2023-FCS Semifinal And Small College Championship Predictions, Plus The Florida Beach And Celebration Bowls

Last Week: 10-1 (.909)

This Year: 935-386 (.708)

KEY: Projected winners are marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

Florida Beach Bowl at Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

Wednesday, December 13 (7:30 pm EST)

Fort Valley State (7-3) vs. Johnson C. Smith (7-3)

FCS Semifinals

Interactive Bracket

Friday, December 15 (7 pm EST/6 pm CST on ESPN2.)

Albany (N.Y.)-(11-3) at South Dakota State (13-0)

Saturday, December 16 (4:30 pm EST/3:30 pm CST/ 2:30 pm MST on ESPN2.)

North Dakota State (11-3) at Montana (12-1)

NCAA Division III Championship Game (Stagg Bowl) at Canton, Ohio 

Friday, December 15 (7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST on ESPNU.)

North Central (14-0) vs. Cortland (13-1)

Celebration Bowl at Mercedes Benz Stadium-Atlanta

Saturday, December 16 (noon EST/11 a.m. CST on ABC.)

Howard (6-5) vs. Florida A&M (11-1)

NCAA Division II Championship Game at McKinney, Texas 

Saturday, December 16 (1 pm EST/noon CST/11 am MST on ESPNU.)

Harding (13-0) vs. Colorado School of Mines (14-0)

NAIA Championship Game at Durham, N.C.

Monday, December 18

Keiser (Fla.)-(11-2) vs. Northwestern (Iowa)-(14-0)

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RFC Throwback Thursday: The Army-Navy Game Radio Broadcast-1964

(Audio courtesy of Classic Sports Rewind/Mutual Broadcasting System [defunct].)

This week's installment of "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to November 28, 1964. That was when the 65th edition of the Army-Navy Game took place at the now-demolished John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. Click on the link above to listen to the live radio broadcast of the game as it happened on that day. 

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RFC Weekly Predictions: Week Of December 9, 2023-FCS/Small College Playoff Predictions, Plus The Army-Navy Game

Last Week: 17-12 (.586)

This Year: 925-385 (.706)

KEY: Projected winners are marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Saturday, December 9

The Army/Navy Game at Foxborough, Massachusetts (3 p.m. EST on CBS.)

Army (5-6) vs. Navy (5-6)

FCS Quarterfinals

Interactive Bracket

Friday, December 8 

Furman (10-2) at Montana (11-1)

Saturday, December 9

Villanova (10-2) at South Dakota State (12-0)

North Dakota State (10-3) at South Dakota (10-2)

Albany (N.Y.)-(10-3) at Idaho (9-3)

NCAA Division II Semifinals

Saturday, December 9

Lenoir-Rhyne (13-1) at Harding (13-0)

Kutztown (12-2) at Colorado School of Mines (13-0)

NCAA Division III Semifinals

Saturday, December 9

Cortland (12-1) at Randolph-Macon (13-0)

North Central (13-0) at Wartburg (13-0)

NAIA Semifinals

Saturday, December 9

Georgetown (Ky.)-(10-1) at Northwestern (Iowa)-(13-0)

College of Idaho (10-2) at Keiser (10-2)

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