RFC Summer Semester: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Preview (NCAA Division II)

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2012 Final Standings


Looking back: Colorado State-Pueblo cruised its way to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) championship in 2012, finishing the regular season undefeated at 11-0 overall (9-0 in conference play).  The Thunderwolves downed Indianapolis, 28-7, in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs, only to be upset by West Texas A&M, 34-13, in the quarterfinals.

Chadron State (9-3 overall in 2012) was the only other RMAC team to advance to postseason play.  Like CSU-Pueblo, the Eagles season also ended at the hands of West Texas A&M, 38-30, in the first round of the D-II playoffs.

Looking ahead: It will be interesting to see if CSU-Pueblo can either stay in the top, or if the likes of Chadron State, New Mexico Highlands, and Adams State can knock them off of the perch in the RMAC going into 2013.

Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)

1. Colorado State-Pueblo (12-1):  With a preseason national ranking of No. 8 by the AFCA, the Thunderwolves hope to use their stunning playoff loss to West Texas A&M last season as motivation for a deeper run in the playoffs this season.  With a tough non-conference schedule that includes the season opener at FCS Northern Colorado on September 7 followed by a trip to Cowboys Stadium to face Angelo State the following week, don't expect CSU-P to sneak up on anybody in 2013.

2. Chadron State (9-3):  The Eagles will look to learn last year's sudden first round playoff exit, and build on it in 2013. By the way, guess who they'll face at Cowboys Stadium on September 12?  The very team that ended their season in 2012: none other than West Texas A&M.

3. New Mexico Highlands (8-3):  They may have grabbed just two votes in the AFCA D-II Coaches Preseason Poll, but it appears that things are looking up for the Cowboys after many years of losing.  The faithful in Las Vegas, New Mexico that is, hope that their team will looking down on the rest of the RMAC by the end of 2013.  

4. Adams State (8-3):  A four-game winning streak to end 2012 has Grizzlies fans cautiously optimistic to start 2013.

5. Colorado Mines (6-5):  Orediggers head coach Bob Stitt (90-57 overall career record) needs just 10 wins to join the 100-win club.  But in a league that's as tough as the RMAC, reaching that milestone won't be easy.

6. Colorado Mesa (4-7):  The Mavericks enter the 2013 season looking for their first winning season since 2007 (10-2 overall).  In fact, they've had just four winning seasons dating back to 2000, with three of those being 10-win seasons.

7. Western New Mexico (4-7):  The Mustangs face an uphill battle after finishing 3-6 in RMAC action last season.

8. Black Hills State (4-7):  The Yellow Jackets go into 2013 looking to build on a season-ending three-game winning streak from 2012.

9. Western State (1-10):  The Mountaineers also hope to put the misery of 2012 behind them.

10. Fort Lewis (0-10):  As do the Skyhawks, whose last win came on November 12, 2011, a low-scoring 6-3 win over New Mexico Highlands.

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