Tuesday, July 07, 2026

The RFC Offseason Schedule: Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC)-(NCAA Division III)


Overview: It was a tight race from start to finish in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) in 2025, with three teams, Anna Maria, Framingham State, and Plymouth State, tying for first place at the end of the regular season at 7-2 in conference play. 

But it was Framingham State that emerged as the MASCAC's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III playoffs, thanks primarily to a 31-25 win over Anna Maria on September 13. The Rams' season came to a close in the first round of the tournament at 7-4 overall after losing to LaGrange (Ga.) 24-21.

As for the other two teams who shared the MASCAC crown last season, Anna Maria finished their 2025 campaign at 7-3 overall, while Plymouth State fell short of postseason play despite an 8-2 overall record last fall. The AmCats lost to eventual NCAA playoff participants Eastern and Framingham State in their first two games before winning seven of their last eight contests. Meanwhile, the Panthers lost to Anna Maria and UMass-Dartmouth, with the latter loss costing them a chance to advance to the postseason.

Fast-forwarding to the 2026 season, the MASCAC will have one less team in its lineup, as Anna Maria closed its doors permanently in May 2026. The loss of the now-defunct Paxton, Mass.-based institution gives the MASCAC nine football-playing schools for the upcoming season. 

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Monday, July 06, 2026

The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker: New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)-(NCAA Division III)

New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)-(NCAA Division III)


Overview: The Christopher Newport University Captains from Newport News, Virginia, were one of three teams from the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) to win at least eight overall in 2025. CNU cruised through the regular season undefeated at 7-0 in NJAC action and 10-0 overall, earning the right to represent the conference as an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III playoffs last fall. 

But Christopher Newport's run in the D-III dance lasted just one game, as the Captains saw their season come to a sudden end after Susquehanna pulled off a 42-28 upset win over CNU in the second round. Christopher Newport's season ended at 10-1 overall, with the loss to the River Hawks. 

Two other NJAC teams also won at least eight games in 2025, with the Salisbury Sea Gulls earning an at-large D-III playoff bid, while Rowan ended an up-and-down campaign with four straight wins after a 4-2-1 start. 

The Sea Gulls outlasted Endicott 35-28 in the second round before being eliminated by Johns Hopkins 45-13 in the third round. Salisbury's season ended at 10-2 overall, with its lone regular-season loss coming to CNU in a thrilling 45-42 contest that decided the NJAC crown on November 8. 

As for Rowan, the Profs' season opened with a bizarre 17-17 tie against Case Western Reserve on September 6, which ended at the end of the third quarter due to inclement weather. That was followed by the Profs' winning four of their next six games, before a four-game winning streak ended their campaign at 8-2-1. The Profs ended their 2025 season with a 26-20 win over Utica in the Asa S. Bushnell Bowl on November 22.

So, what does the 2026 season hold in store for the NJAC? The same eight teams that took the field in 2025 will do so again in 2026, including Castleton from Vermont. But expect Christopher Newport, Rowan, and Salisbury to contend for the conference crown again this fall.


 


262. Castleton

263. Christopher Newport

264. Kean

265. Montclair State

266. Rowan 

267. Salisbury

268. The College of New Jersey 

269. William Paterson



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Sunday, July 05, 2026

The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker: Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC)-(NCAA Division III)


Overview: In only their third season of existence, the Eastern University Eagles of St. Davids, Pennsylvania, made history, as they clinched their first-ever Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship, finishing the 2025 regular season at 8-1 in conference play and 9-1 overall. 

As a result of that unlikely, historic run, Eastern also earned its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs, with the Eagles making the most of their inaugural postseason run in a stunning 28-24 first-round win over another NCAA playoff newbie in Franklin & Marshall, before being shut out by Susquehanna, 29-20, in the second round the following week. Eastern's season ended at 10-2 overall following the loss to Susquehanna.

With the 2026 season just around the corner, expect Eastern to be in the mix for another MAC title, with squads such as Delaware Valley (8-3, 7-2), Misericordia (7-4, 7-2), Lebanon Valley (6-5, 6-3), Stevenson (6-4, 5-4), and King's (5-5, 5-4) looking to bring the Eagles back down to earth.

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Saturday, July 04, 2026

The RFC Offseason Schedule: Landmark Conference (LC)-(NCAA Division III)

Landmark Conference (LC)-(NCAA Division III)


Overview: The Susquehanna University River Hawks made yet another deep postseason run, as they finished undefeated in Landmark Conference (LC) action at 6-0, en route to winning their third-straight league title in 2025.


After posting an 8-2 regular-season record last fall, losing back-to-back games to eventual NCAA Division III playoff participants Johns Hopkins and Christopher Newport, the River Hawks won three straight D-III playoff games, outlasting Washington & Jefferson in a 38-32 thriller, shocking a then-undefeated Christopher Newport squad 42-28 on the road, and shutting out upstart Eastern 29-0, before succumbing to JHU for the second time in as many tries, 40-10, in the quarterfinals. Susquehanna's season ended at 11-3 overall after losing to the Blue Jays.



As the Landmark Conference moves into its fourth season of play in 2026, Susquehanna will try to strengthen its stranglehold on this fledgling league, as the River Hawks hope to win their fourth-straight league championship this season. But they must try to do so with new head coach Chris Pincince. He replaces Tom Perkovich, who compiled an overall record of 84-25 in his 10 seasons of coaching the Selingsgrove, Pennsylvania-based institution. Perkovich resigned at the end of the 2025 season to accept the head coaching position at Albany (N.Y.).

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2025 Landmark Conference Final Standings

245. Catholic

246. Juniata


247. Lycoming


248. Moravian


249. Susquehanna


250. Western Connecticut State


251. Wilkes



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The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker:Centennial Conference (CC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The 2025 season proved to be a banner year for the Centennial Conference, as six of its eight squads advanced to postseason play in some form last fall.


Of those eight teams, three advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs last season, with second-place Johns Hopkins advancing the farthest. Despite settling for an at-large bid to the playoffs after finishing 6-1 in CC action, the Blue Jays proved why they were one of the nation's elite programs, as they posted convincing wins over Springfield, Salisbury, and Susquehanna, before succumbing to eventual national champion Wisconsin-River Falls 48-41 in the national semifinals on December 20. JHU's season ended at 12-2 after falling to the Falcons.


Meanwhile, two other CC squads advanced to NCAA postseason play after posting solid regular-season performances. Franklin & Marshall made history last fall, as the Diplomats finished CC action unbeaten at 7-0 after upsetting Johns Hopkins in the regular-season finale for both teams, and advanced to the D-III playoffs for the first time ever, only to lose to another first-time participant in Eastern 28-24, in the second round to finish the season at 9-2.


On the other hand, Muhlenberg was the only other CC team to earn an NCAA playoff bid, with the Mules outlasting Union (N.Y.) 34-26 in the first round before being crushed by Mount Union, 49-7, in the second round, to end their season at 9-3. Both of the Mules' regular-season setbacks came against F&M, 28-27 on October 11, and against JHU, 47-26 on November 1, as they settled for a third-place finish in conference play at 5-2. 


Finally, the three remaining teams from the CC that advanced to postseason play all finished 3-4 in conference games, with Ursinus defeating Lebanon Valley 31-13 to finish 7-4 overall, Carnegie Mellon outlasting Misericordia 24-17 to end its season at 6-5, and Dickinson dropping a 14-13 decision to Delaware Valley to close their campaign at 5-6. All three games were played as a part of the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series, which features contests between teams from the Centennial and Middle Atlantic Conferences.    


With a #6 preseason ranking from Lindy's Sports, expect Johns Hopkins to be the team to beat in the Centennial Conference again this fall. However, don't be surprised if Franklin & Marshall, Muhlenberg, and the rest of the CC have something to say about who comes out on top in 2026. 


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Friday, July 03, 2026

The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker: Mountain East Conference (MEC)-(NCAA Division II)

Mountain East Conference (MEC)-(NCAA Division II)


Overview: The Frostburg State University Bobcats from Maryland and the University of Charleston Golden Eagles of West Virginia both shared the Mountain East Conference (MEC) football championship in 2025 after both teams finished 7-1 in conference play. Frostburg State finished the regular season at 9-2, while Charleston finished at 8-3.

But it was the Bobcats that emerged as the first-ever automatic qualifiers to the NCAA Division II playoffs from the MEC after they defeated the Golden Eagles 32-30 in a triple-overtime thriller on October 18. Frostburg State's lone loss in MEC play came the week before, on October 11. That's when the Bobcats fell to Glenville State, 19-13, in double overtime.

As for Charleston, all three of the Golden Eagles' losses came to California (Pa.), West Alabama, and Frostburg State. Additionally, all three of UC's losses were by a combined 10 points: 23-19 to the Vulcans, 28-24 to the Tigers, and 32-30 to the Bobcats.

In the NCAA Division II playoffs, Frostburg State pulled off back-to-back wins on the road, as the Bobcats pulled off the upset over CIAA champion Johnson C. Smith 21-7 in the first round, followed by a 23-21 win over Cal U in the second round, before being crushed by eventual national semifinalist Kutztown 51-29 in the quarterfinals. Frostburg State's season ended at 11-3 after losing to the Golden Bears.

As the 2026 season approaches, expect Frostburg State to be favored to win another MEC championship this fall, with Charleston being among the multiple challengers for the top spot in this challenging conference. 

228. Charleston (W. Va.)

229. Concord

230. Fairmont State

231. Frostburg State

232. Glenville State 

233. West Liberty

234. West Virginia State

235. West Virginia Wesleyan

236. Wheeling

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Thursday, July 02, 2026

The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker: Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC)-(NCAA Division III)


Overview: Despite an 0-2 start to their season, the Washington & Jefferson College Presidents still managed to dominate the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) in 2025, as they not only finished PAC action undefeated at 8-0, but also won all eight conference games by double digits, with the closest contest coming in a 28-17 win over Case Western Reserve on November 1.

Meanwhile, the Grove City College Wolverines had another good season last fall, finishing second in PAC play at 7-1. Their lone loss in league play came in the league opener to W&J on September 27, with the Wolverines losing to the Presidents 34-14. GCC ended its regular season with seven straight wins.

Three PAC teams advanced to postseason play in 2025, with W&J earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs thanks to its undefeated conference season, while GCC earned an at-large bid. Both teams saw their seasons end heartbreakingly in the D-III playoffs, as the Presidents lost to Susquehanna 38-32 and the Wolverines fell to Hanover on the road in Indiana 38-32. W&J and GCC both finished their respective seasons at 8-3. 

The third team from the PAC that advanced to postseason play last season was the Westminster College Titans. After a third-place finish in PAC play at 6-2, the Titans also ended their 2025 season at 8-3 after knocking off Mount St. Joseph 40-21 in the Extra Points Bowl in Canton, Ohio, on November 22. The Titans ended their season on a four-game winning streak.

The 2026 season for the PAC sees the addition of one new member in the Saint Francis University Red Wolves (formerly the Red Flash) of Loretto, Pennsylvania. St. Francis joins the league after spending the last 33 seasons at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, winning two Northeast Conference (NEC) championships in 2016 and 2022. Because of the transition to Division III, SFU is ineligible for the PAC championship or postseason play. The addition of St. Francis will give the PAC 12 football-playing schools for this season.



221. Hiram


*-Transitioning from the NCAA Division I (FCS) level to the NCAA Division III level.

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Friday, June 26, 2026

The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker: Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)-(NCAA Division II)


Overview: Can any team stop the Kutztown University Golden Bears? That's the question the other 15 programs in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) must answer as the 2026 football season approaches.

KU had its best season in school history in 2025, advancing to the NCAA Division II national semifinals. Sadly, Kutztown's season came to a close at 14-1 overall after losing to eventual national runner-up Harding 49-27 on December 13.

Aside from Kutztown's outstanding season, the PSAC proved to be a "master class" in parity last fall. No other PSAC squad won more than 10 games, although two West Division teams advanced to postseason play. Indiana (Pa.) lost to Assumption in the first round of the D-II playoffs to finish at 7-4, while fellow rival California (Pa.) managed to advance to the second round despite finishing 3-3 in PSAC play. The Vulcans upset Virginia Union on the road in the first round, before losing to Frostburg State in a 23-21 heartbreaker to end their season at 9-4.

The PSAC will have a new look to its line-up in 2026, with the Lackawanna College Falcons from Scranton, Pennsylvania, joining the mix this fall. The addition of Lackawanna gives the PSAC 16 teams this season, with eight teams, including Lackawanna, in the East Division and eight squads playing in the West Division. The addition of Lackawanna forced Lock Haven to move to the West Division.

Still, no matter what the makeup of the PSAC will be, Kutztown will still be the team to beat, as the Golden Bears hope to win their fourth-straight conference title this fall. That is, until and unless another squad proves otherwise. 

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