RFC Summer Semester: Lone Star Conference (LSC) Preview (NCAA Division II)

Lone Star Conference (LSC)--NCAA Division II

Website

2013 Final Standings

Looking back: In one of the most bizarre twists of any regular season in college football history, five of the seven teams in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) won at least seven games--while also losing at least three overall--in 2013.  In the conference standings, though, Eastern New Mexico and Tarleton State both shared the conference crown at 5-1, with both teams finishing at 7-3 overall.

Still, it was the West Texas A&M University Buffaloes that advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs despite finishing third in the LSC at 4-2.  They pulled off upset wins over Indianapolis and Ohio Dominican on the road, before losing to Grand Valley State in the quarterfinals.

Looking ahead: Expect another wide-open race for the LSC crown in 2014. Also, McMurry University from Abilene, Texas will play in the LSC for just one season before returning to the NCAA Division III level in 2015.  Additionally, in a college football first, the conference will also sponsor its first-ever football playoff in 2014.

Predicted order of finish (2013 overall record in parentheses):

1. West Texas A&M (11-3):  The Buffaloes will try to win the 2014 LSC title with Mike Nesbitt becoming the head coach after serving on an interim basis in 2013. They'll be tested right away in the season opener on September 4, when they travel west to face fellow NCAA Division II playoff participant Colorado State-Pueblo.

2. Tarleton State (7-3):  The defending LSC co-champion Texans will look to win the title outright, with 29 starters returning, while losing only nine, from last season.

3. Eastern New Mexico (7-3):  The Greyhounds hope to have a say in the LSC title race too, as six of their players were named USA College Football Preseason All-Americans. Oh, and they'll enter the 2014 season riding a six-game winning that ended the 2013 season.

4. Midwestern State (7-3):  The Mustangs will look for a better ending to 2014 after 2013 ended with back-to-back losses following a 7-1 start.

5. Texas A&M-Commerce (7-5):  Despite struggling to a 2-4 mark in LSC play a year ago, the Lions still managed to post their first winning season since 2001.  They hope to build on that success this season--as 48 letterwinners, including 14 starters--return for 2014.

6. Angelo State (5-6):  A season-ending three-game winning streak has the Rams and their faithful hopeful for bigger and better things to come in 2014.

7. Texas A&M-Kingsville (2-8):  Second-year head coach David Calloway hopes to rebuild a once-mighty Javelina program in 2014.

Not eligible for NCAA Division II playoffs

McMurry (3-8):  The War Hawks hope to play for pride, as well as a winning season, before they begin the "re-transition" back to the NCAA Division III ranks in 2015. 

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.