RFC Small College Preview: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)--(NCAA Division II)

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)

2014 Football Standings (Overall)

2014 Football Standings (Divisional)

2015 NSIC Media Guide

Looking back: Three teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC): Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State-Mankato, and Sioux Falls, all finished the 2014 season with a combined overall record of 38-3 (.927 winning percentage).  Of those three teams, Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota State-Mankato both advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, with Bulldogs squaring off against the Mavericks in a quarterfinal clash. In the end, it was Mavericks blasting the Bulldogs, 44-17, in a battle of then undefeated teams en route to advancing to the national championship game, where they were shut out by Colorado State-Pueblo, 13-0.

Additionally, the University of Sioux Falls Cougars had its best season since moving up to Division II from the NAIA several years ago, as they finished 11-1 overall en route to routing Central Oklahoma, 42-10, at the 2014 Mineral Water Bowl. 

Looking ahead: Talk about a tough test right out of the gate for both Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota State-Mankato, as the Mavericks will play host to the Bulldogs not only in the 2015 season opener for both teams, but also a re-match of last year's quarterfinal playoff contest. That game will be played on Thursday, September 3. Both teams are expected to be serious contenders for the D-II national championship this year, with UMD ranked No. 1 in The Sporting News poll, while MSU-Mankato is tops in the Lindy's Sports preseason rankings.

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

North Division 

1. Minnesota-Duluth (13-1): With seven players, including rising junior quarterback Drew Bauer, coming back, the Bulldogs will be among the many teams to beat in the NSIC this fall.

2. Northern State (8-3): Coming off one of their best seasons in years, the Wolves hope to take that next step towards clinching a conference championship in 2015. But only if they can find a quality quarterback.

3. St. Cloud State (6-5): With nine players being named to the USA College Football Preseason All-America team, the Huskies hope to make some noise in the NSIC race as well. That's not to mention they won 12 games in 2013, and advanced to the D-II quarterfinals.

4. Mary (5-6): The Marauders look to make a move up in the NSIC standings under second-year head coach Josh Kotelnicki.

5. Minnesota State-Moorhead (4-7): Can the Dragons get over the four-win hump, after back-to-back seasons of winning exactly that many games the last two years? If a three-game winning streak to end the 2014 season is any indication, any thing is possible for the 2015 campaign.

6. Bemidji State (3-8): Head Coach Jeff Tesch hopes that the return of 47 letterwinners--including 21 returning starters--can turn around the fortunes of a Beavers program that has struggled to back-to-back three-win seasons over the last two years.

7. Minot State (1-10): The Beavers from North Dakota face an uphill battle, as they enter their second season under head coach Tyler Hughes. 

8. Minnesota-Crookston (0-11): The Golden Eagles will go into 2015 trying to snap a 15-game skid that dates back to October 2013.

South Division

1. Minnesota State-Mankato (14-1): If they can find a suitable replacement for now graduated center Josh Meeker, as well as a host of other seniors from 2014, the Mavericks might be tough to beat again in 2015. 

2. Sioux Falls (10-1): But with a pair of preseason Top 20 rankings--No. 20 in The Sporting News, as well as No. 11 in Lindy's Sports--the Cougars are a serious threat to topple the Mavericks, and more, this fall. Plus, they're starting just their fourth season at the D-II level.

3. Augustana (S.D.)--(6-5): The Vikings will look for significant improvement under third-year head coach Jerry Olszewski.

4. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)--(5-6): A season-ending four-game winning streak has Golden Bears fans cautiously optimistic for this fall.

5. Upper Iowa (6-5): The Peacocks are looking to crack the upper half of the South Division after finishing 2-5 in NSIC play last season.

6. Wayne State (Neb.)--(5-6): The Wildcats look to rebound after closing out the 2014 season with three straight losses. 

7. Southwest Minnesota State (3-8): The Mustangs took a big step back in 2014 following a 7-5 season in 2013. They haven't won more than eight games in any season since 1991, when they finished 9-1 overall.

8. Winona State (4-7): The Warriors find themselves trying to climb out of the South Division cellar following a four-game losing streak to end 2014.

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