THE RFC MYC: Southern Conference (FCS)

Southern Conference (FCS)

Overview: Thanks to a stunning season-opening win over a Kennesaw State squad that began the season ranked #8 in the Hero Sports preseason poll, the Samford University Bulldogs parlayed that upset victory into an unlikely Southern Conference and FCS playoff run in 2022. 

After finishing the regular season at 10-1 overall, as well as undefeated in SoCon play at 8-0, the Bulldogs needed overtime to outlast Southeastern Louisiana in the second round of the FCS playoffs before falling to eventual national runner-up North Dakota State in the quarterfinals to finish their season at 11-2 overall. Only two weeks before, Samford got by Mercer (7-4 overall, 5-3 in the SoCon in 2022), in double overtime, to not only secure their first-ever outright SoCon crown but also finished unbeaten in conference play in the process.

The other SoCon squad to advance to postseason play was the Furman University Paladins. The Paladins finished second in SoCon play at 7-1 en route to a final regular-season record of 9-2 overall. In FCS playoff action, Furman rolled over Elon, 31-6, in the first round, before falling to UIW in a heartbreaker the following week to finish the 2022 season at 10-3 overall.

Looking ahead to 2023, some of the biggest questions to be answered are these: Can both Furman and Samford repeat 2022's success? Can Chattanooga (7-4, 5-3) and/or Mercer finally break through and advance to the FCS playoffs? Or, can Western Carolina (6-5, 4-4) be the sleeper team that sneaks its way into postseason play? Or, can even East Tennessee State (3-8, 3-5) return to respectability after having a disappointing showing last fall?

All of the aforementioned questions listed above will be answered, in one way or another, this upcoming fall.

2023 Schedules (Teams are 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 2023 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.

Final 2022 Southern Conference Football Standings

Chattanooga

East Tennessee State

Furman

Mercer

Samford

The Citadel

VMI

Western Carolina 

Wofford

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