RFC Summer Semester: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preview (NCAA Division II)

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)--NCAA Division II

Website

2013 Final Standings

History (Courtesy of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference)

Looking back: The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) sent three teams with double-digit wins to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2013--Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State, and St. Cloud State.  St. Cloud State--the No. 6 overall seed from Super Region 3--made the deepest run of that trio, losing to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State, 59-21, in the quarterfinals.  The Huskies upset two previously unbeaten teams in No. 3 seed Henderson State, as well as No. 2 seed and fellow NSIC foe Minnesota State-Mankato to advance to the round of eight.

Looking ahead: Expect another strong showing from the NSIC and its squads in 2014.

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

1. Minnesota-Duluth (11-2):  Bulldogs hope to be in the hunt for their third national championship (2008, 2010) after falling to Northwest Missouri State in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

2. Minnesota State (11-1):  The Mavericks must try to defend their NSIC title with a new starting quarterback, as 2013 Harlon Hill Award finalist Jon Wolf has graduated.

3. St. Cloud State (12-2):  If the Huskies hope to build on their record-setting dozen-win season of 2013, they must do so while replacing 16 seniors from last year's squad.

4. Southwest Minnesota State (7-5):  The Mustangs hope to move up further in the NSIC standings after posting their first winning season since 2008, when they finished 6-5 overall.

5. Winona State (6-5):  Warriors 2014 slate includes a date with Minnesota State-Mankato on national television (CBS Sports Network) on October 9.

6. Sioux Falls (6-5):  Cougars will also to move up in the NSIC standings this season after a so-so 2013 campaign.

7. Upper Iowa (6-5):  Peacocks look to move forward after experiencing what the local faithful hadn't experienced in years: a winning season.

8. U Mary (6-5):  New head coach Josh Kotelnicki will look to keep the Marauders competitive going into the 2014 season.

9. Concordia-St. Paul (5-6): Golden Bears also hope to hold their own in a very tough conference.

10. Minnesota State-Moorhead (4-7):  Dragons hope their win total from 2013 will go up in 2014.

11. Northern State (4-7):  The Wolves hope that year three under head coach Tom Dosch will be the charm after taking two steps back from a 6-5 mark in 2012.

12. Augustana (S.D.)--(4-7):  With one year under his belt, the Vikings hope to show significant improvement in the win column under second-year head coach Jerry Olszewski.

13. Bemidji State (3-8):  Beavers out of Minnesota have a long, winning road ahead of them if they win their first conference championship since 2006.

14. Minot State (2-9):  The Beavers from North Dakota also face a long, uphill battle after a miserable season.

15. Minnesota-Crookston (2-9):  The Golden Eagles find themselves in a similar situation too.

16. Wayne State (Neb.)--(2-9):  As do the Wildcats.

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