2014 Football Standings
Looking back: The Macalester College Scots made history on the football field in 2014, as they defeated the Illinois College Blueboys, 30-27, to win their first-ever Midwest Conference (MWC) championship in their inaugural season. But their run at the NCAA Division III playoffs was stopped by eventual national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, 55-2, in the first round.
Looking ahead: The 2015 season will be the last for Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, as the Pioneers will return to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) in 2016 after more than 23 years of competing in the MWC.
Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):
North Division
1. Macalester (9-2): Can the Scots make it back-to-back conference championships in 2015?
2. Carroll (Wis.)--(8-2): But the Pioneers hope to go out of the MWC with a bang, by winning their first conference title since 1997.
3. St. Norbert (6-4): The Green Knights hope to return to the top of the MWC heap, as they go with their second head coach in as many years in Dan McCarty. He replaced Steve Opgenorth, who resigned in April to become the quarterbacks coach at Baldwin-Wallace.
4. Beloit (3-7): After going winless in conference play at 0-5, the Buccaneers hope to turn the corner in their second season under head coach Seth Duerr.
5. Ripon (3-7): The Red Hawks took a step backwards in 2014, suffering their first losing season since 1994, when they finished 4-6 overall.
6. Lawrence (2-8): The Vikings are looking for a fresh start under new head coach Rob McCarthy.
South Division
1. Monmouth (Ill.)--(8-2): The Scots found themselves a combined 12 points away from an undefeated season, losing to Illinois College and Carroll (Wis.). They hope to use those losses as motivation for the 2015 season.
2. Illinois College (7-3): The Blueboys must find a reliable replacement for now-graduated quarterback and Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist Michael Bates if they're to make a return trip to the MWC title game this fall.
3. Cornell (Iowa)--(5-4): Can the Rams make it three straight winning seasons under Vince Brautigam, who's entering his sixth season as their head coach? That will depend upon whether or not they beat either Monmouth or Illinois College at home, or both in 2015.
4. Lake Forest (4-6): The Foresters look to rebound after a disappointing 2014 season where they surrendered 27 or more points in each of their six setbacks.
5. Grinnell (3-7): Head Coach Jeff Pedersen hopes to lead the Pioneers to their first winning season since 2004, when they finished 6-4 overall.
6. Knox (2-8): The Prairie Fire and its faithful is looking for a spark after winning five games overall over the past three years.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
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