Mid-States Football Association (MSFA)-(NAIA)
Overview: The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) saw both of its' eventual
"league" or division champions go undefeated in conference play in 2022, with at least one team winning multiple playoff games, while the other was "one and done" after one round. Additionally, a third team's season ended in the quarterfinals after losing to the eventual national champion.
That one team was the Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats from Marion, Indiana. In only their fifth season of existence, IWU finished 7-0 in MSFA play to win the Mideast League title, as well as 9-1 at the end of the regular season. In their first-ever NAIA playoff appearance, the Wildcats knocked off more established programs such as Avila and Benedictine (Kan.) before succumbing to eventual national champion Northwestern (Iowa) in the national semifinals to finish their historic season at 11-2 overall.
On the other hand, the other two MSFA teams that advanced to the NAIA playoffs saw their respective squads seasons end in the first round. The Marian University Knights advanced to postseason play after finishing second in the Mideast League at 7-1 in MSFA action and 8-1 overall. The Knights stomped St. Xavier in the first round before losing to Northwestern in the quarterfinals to finish their season at 9-2 overall.
In the Midwest League, the Saint Xavier University Cougars held off the University of Saint Francis Saints (7-3, 6-1 in 2022) from Joliet, Illinois on the final day of the regular season to win that division crown, finishing unbeaten in conference play along the way. SXU fell to Marian in the first round of the NAIA playoffs to end the Cougars season at 9-3 overall.
With the 2023 season just around the corner, don't be surprised if any of these aforementioned teams advance to the NAIA playoffs in November. However, the MSFA will have one less team in its' Midwest League mix, as Trinity International University of Deerfield, Illinois announced the shutdown of its' athletics department on February 16.
Also, Olivet Nazarene University (7-4, 5-2) will look to carry its' season-ending three-game winning streak into 2023, while Roosevelt University (7-3, 4-3) will spend one final season in the NAIA before beginning the transition into the NCAA Division II ranks in 2024.
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. 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
Midwest League
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
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