RFC Small College Preview: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA)--(NCAA Division III)

Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA)

2014 MIAA Standings

Looking back: Five of the seven teams in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) finished the 2014 season with a winning record. Of those five squads, the Adrian College Bulldogs finished on top at 5-1 in MIAA action (8-3 overall), while four other teams: Albion, Trine, Olivet, and Hope, all finished at 6-4 overall.

With their 2014 MIAA championship, Adrian advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the second time in the last three years, only to be crushed by eventual national runner-up, Mount Union, 63-3, in the first round.

Looking ahead: Adrian will face stiff competition from the other six MIAA teams, as the Bulldogs try to win their back-to-back league titles, and third in the last four seasons.

Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):

1. Adrian (8-3): Head Coach Jim Lyall must depend on the contribution of rising sophomore running back Emmanuel Stewart, while also replacing multiple seniors, if the Bulldogs are to hoist another MIAA championship trophy in the air this fall.

2. Albion (6-4): But the Britons will be back with a vengeance, as they try to win their third league title in five years, as well as their 36th overall.

3. Olivet (6-4): The Comets must overcome the loss of d3football.com All-America defensive end Ryan Armstrong, as well as become dependent on multiple returnees, if they're to find themselves in the MIAA title discussion this season.

4. Hope (6-4): The Flying Dutchmen will rely on the contributions of co-captains Rob Kish at quarterback, and Augie Mata at defensive back in hopes of becoming serious MIAA championship contenders this season.

5. Trine (6-4): The Thunder will face a tough slate in 2015, paying visits to perennial D-III power North Central, as well as to Albion and Adrian later in the season.

6. Alma (2-8): The Scots struggled once again in 2014, losing five of their seven games by double-digit margins.

7. Kalamazoo (2-8): Can anybody say "nowhere to go but up" for the Hornets? They'll try to to bounce back from a rough 2014 season after finishing 6-4 in 2013.


Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.