RFC Summer Semester: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

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2012 Final Standings

Looking back: For the first time since 2004, a team other than the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater came out on top in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).  And it was the Titans of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh that made the most of their 2012 season, as they finished unbeaten in WIAC play (7-0) en route to their first-ever NCAA Division III playoff appearance.  The Titans lost to eventual national runner-up St. Thomas in the national semifinals.

Looking ahead: Can Oshkosh make another deep postseason run?  Or can Whitewater rebound, and return to the form that helped them advance to seven straight Stagg Bowls (2005-2011), win four national championships in five years (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011), three straight national championships (2009, 2010, 2011)? Or will some other team step up, and find themselves on top come mid-November?  At least one of those questions will be answered during the 2013 season.

Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)

1. Wisconsin-Oshkosh (13-1):  After a historic 2012 season, the Titans will try to follow up that performance with an excellent 2013 season.  Prior to last year, Oshkosh had never won more than eight games in a single season.  Even then, the Titans had managed to do just that in just three seasons prior to 2012.

2. Wisconsin-Whitewater (7-3):  The Warhawks enter the 2013 season with the rare experience of being the hunter, instead of being the hunted. Their non-conference schedules includes a trip east to face Buffalo State on September 21.  Why is that game so significant, you ask?  Because it was the Tigers that ended the Warhawks lengthy winning streak with a 7-6 upset win last season. 

3. Wisconsin-Platteville (8-2):  Coming off of a 2012 season which saw them finish in a second place tie with Whitewater at 5-2 in the WIAC (which included giving the aforementioned Warhawks all they could handle before losing in a heartbreaker, 27-26), the Pioneers hope to make some in the WIAC in 2013.

4. Wisconsin-Eau Claire (4-6):  The Blugolds face a laundry list  of tough tasks to start the 2013 season, as they must travel to Minnesota on back-to-back weekends (St. Thomas and St. John's), then play host to a Pacific Lutheran squad that finished second (5-1) in Northwest Conference action in 2012, before opening WIAC play on the road against Platteville on October 5.

5. Wisconsin-LaCrosse (4-6):  Speaking of tough schedules, the Eagles must face Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic foe Dubuque, perennial playoff participant North Central, and Missouri S&T from the NCAA Division II ranks, before starting conference action at home against Whitewater.  If that wasn't enough, the Eagles must a pay a visit to defending WIAC champion Oshkosh the following week. Ouch!

6. Wisconsin-Stout (3-7):  Guess who the Blue Devils will face on September 21, 2013?  Yes, you guessed it, North Central!

7. Wisconsin-Stevens Point (2-8):  The Pointers face a long, uphill battle after their worst finish since 2000, when they also finished 2-8 overall.  

8. Wisconsin-River Falls (2-8):  The Falcons find themselves in that same boat after finishing 1-6 in the WIAC last season.


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