RFC Small College Preview: Frontier Conference (FC)--(NAIA)

Frontier Conference (FC)

2014 Standings

Looking back: The Southern Oregon University Raiders (13-2 overall) defeated the Marian University Knights, 55-31, to claim their first-ever NAIA national championship last season. They defeated perennial Frontier Conference power Carroll (Mont.) in two out of three games along the way; 38-35 in the regular season opener on September 6, and 45-42 in the quarterfinals of the NAIA playoffs. It was also the first double-digit win season in program history for SOU, who had won nine games just three other times ever. 

Speaking of the Saints, they won 10 straight games in between both losses to SOU in 2014, even holding off the Raiders in a high-scoring 42-40 contest at midseason. At the time of their upset loss to the Raiders, the Saints were ranked No. 1 in the NAIA. 

Looking ahead: Expect another tight race in the Frontier Conference (FC), with Southern Oregon and Carroll fighting for the top two spots in the league, and Eastern Oregon (8-3 overall in 2014) being thrown in the mix just for good measure.

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

1. Southern Oregon (13-2): The Raiders will begin their defense of last year's national championship with a trip to Carroll in the season opener for both teams on September 5.

2. Carroll (Mont.)--(10-2): But the perennial powerhouse Saints aren't going to go away quite so quickly. 

3. Eastern Oregon (8-3): With a preseason ranking of No. 13, expect the Mountaineers to mount a challenge to SOU and Carroll this fall.

4. Montana Western (6-5): The Bulldogs will do battle with Carroll on September 26, followed by Southern Oregon on October 10, with both games to played at home.

5. Rocky Mountain (5-6): The Bears hope to bounce back after losing four straight games at the end of the 2014 season.

6. College of Idaho (4-7): The 'Yotes were surprisingly competitive in their first football season since 1977, starting at 4-2 before closing with five straight losses, while also winning three of their four contests by four points or less. Having said that, they hope to build on 2014, in 2015.

7. Montana State-Northern (3-8): The Lights hope to climb out of the darkness that's the bottom of the Frontier Conference standings this season.

8. Montana Tech (1-9): Speaking of the basement, the Orediggers will enter the 2015 season having lost eight straight games.

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