RFC Small College Preview: Mid-States Football Association (MSFA)--(NAIA)

Mid-States Football Association (MSFA)

2014 Standings--Mideast League

2014 Standings--Midwest League 

Looking back: The Mid-States Football Association once again proved why it was one of the toughest conferences in the NAIA last season, as three of its teams: Grand View, Marian, and St. Xavier, all won at least 10 games in 2014. However, the conference's streak of winning NAIA national championships ended at three straight games, with Southern Oregon crushing Marian 55-31 to win the title last season. Ironically, those three aforementioned teams: St. Xavier (2011), Marian (2012), and Grand View (2013) were the last three teams to win the NAIA national championship prior to Southern Oregon.

Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if the MSFA sends multiple teams to the NAIA playoffs this fall. But the league must move forward without Grand View, whose Vikings have left the MSFA to join the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). William Penn also made the jump to the HAAC along Grand View over the offseason. The departure of both schools leaves the league with 13 teams this fall.

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

Mideast League

1. Marian (11-3): The Knights will have a challenging 2015 schedule, including an inaugural clash with NCAA Division II Indianapolis on September 12. 

2. Siena Heights (6-4): The Saints are looking to defend their share of the Mideast League title that they won with Marian last season.

3. St. Francis (Ind.)--(6-5): The Cougars will look to rebound after a "down" season.

4. Taylor (5-6): Scoring as many points as possible will be the top priority for the Trojans in 2015, as they were held to 15 points or less in the six games that they lost in 2014.

5. Concordia (Mich.)--(3-8): Head Coach Lonnie Pries enters his third season trying to turn the Cardinals into conference title contenders in 2015.

6. Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.)--(2-8): The Lynx will enter their fourth season hoping to notch their first-ever winning season. In order to reach that milestone, though, they'll have to do it with new interim head coach Byron Gettis, who recently replaced Jeff Fisher (no, not the veteran NFL head coach).

7. Missouri Baptist (1-10): The Spartans hope to build on an inaugural season where a 34-10 win over Haskell Indian Nations was their lone triumph of 2014.

Midwest League

1. St. Xavier (10-3): The Cougars will be tested early in 2015, as they open the season against another preseason Top 25 team in Marian on August 29.   

2. Robert Morris (Ill.)--(8-3): The Eagles hope that a switch in divisions will finally help their football team land in the NAIA playoffs for the first time ever this fall. Still, they'll face some tough early season tests against NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Oskhosh and Marian in a MSFA crossover contest.

3. St. Francis (Ill.)--(4-7): The Fighting Saints and their fans hope that the addition of Western Carolina transfer tight end Brent Walker will turn around their team's fortunes this fall. 

4. St. Ambrose (5-5): The Bees hope to fight their way back to the top of the Midwest League standings after a 2-3 finish in MSFA play last season. 

5. Olivet Nazarene (2-9): The Tigers will be fishing for their first winning season under Brian Fish, who's beginning his fifth season as their head coach this fall.

6. Trinity International (3-7): The Trojans will try to crack the win column in conference play this season, going winless in MSFA action at 0-5 last season.

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.