RFC Summer Semester: Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

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2012 Final Standings

Looking back: After three straight seasons of finishing 8-2, Concordia (Chicago) finally broke though in 2012, as the Cougars finished the regular season undefeated at 10-0, winning the Northern Athletics Conference championship, and advancing to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time ever.  Still, their taste of postseason play was brief, as their season ended with a heartbreaking 24-23 loss to Bethel (Minn.) in the first round.

Looking ahead: The Northern Athletics Conference underwent a slight name change as of July 1.  It's now known as the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC). 

As if that wasn't enough, Maranatha Baptist decided it had enough of the NACC, and will settle for being an NCAA Division III independent.  That will leave the league with seven teams for football. Even so, every other team in the newly renamed conference will be chasing Concordia (Chicago) in 2013.

Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)

1. Concordia (Chicago)--(10-1):  If the Cougars hope to make a deeper playoff run this season, they must do it under new head coach Randy Awrey.  

2. Concordia (Wis.)--(7-3):  Thanks to a season-ending four game winning streak, the other Concordia hopes to dethrone the Cougars, and swoop down on a conference championship in 2013.

3. Wisconsin Lutheran (7-3):  Coming off of their best season in program history, the Warriors hope to take the next step, and earn their first-ever NCAA playoff appearance in 2013.

4. Aurora (5-5):  The Spartans hope to improve on a 4-3 finish in conference play last season.

5. Benedictine (Ill.)--(5-5):  The Eagles find themselves playing the role of the hunter, instead of the hunted, after winning at least a share of the conference title in 2010 and 2011. But in 2012, they struggled to a 3-4 mark in conference play.

6. Lakeland (2-8):  The Muskies will try to turn the corner after a dismal 2012 season.

7. Rockford (2-8):  The Regents face a similar uphill battle after a 1-6 mark in league games last year.

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