RFC Small College Preview: Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC)

Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC)

2015 Football Standings - Presidents Athletic Conference

Looking back: After a three-year absence from the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Thomas More College Saints made a triumphant return to postseason play in 2015, as they cruised to an unbeaten regular season (10-0 overall) en route to the Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) championship.  They advanced to the second round before losing a thriller to Wabash, 33-27.

Looking ahead: Can Thomas More make it back-to-back PAC crowns in 2016? Or will teams like Washington & Jefferson or Westminster (Pa.) step up, and steal it from the Saints? Of course, only time will tell, as the season slowly, but surely, progresses.

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Thomas More (11-1): The Saints hope to make a deeper postseason run under second-year head coach Regis Scafe.  

2. Washington & Jefferson (8-2): The Presidents hope to make a return trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs after finishing in a three-way tie for third place in the PAC at 6-2 last season.

3. Westminster (Pa.)--(9-2): After enjoying one of their best seasons as D-III member--which included a season-ending rout of St. John Fisher at the ECAC James Lynah Bowl--the Titans hope to take the next step, and advance to the NCAA playoffs for the first time ever, in 2016.

4. Carnegie Mellon (8-3): The Tartans hope to have a solid encore performance in 2016 after ending 2015 with seven straight wins, as they enter their second season in the PAC.

5. Case Western Reserve (7-3): The Spartans hope to put themselves back in the PAC title discussion after starting 7-1 overall, only to lose back-to-back games to close out the 2015 campaign.

6. Bethany (W. Va.)--(5-5): A three-game winning streak to end the 2015 campaign has the Bison and their faithful cautiously optimistic going into the 2016 season.

7. Waynesburg (3-7): The Yellow Jackets hope to bounce back in a big way after suffering their worst overall finish since 2005, when they finished 3-7.

8. Saint Vincent (4-6): After back-to-back winless campaigns--followed by back-to-back four-win seasons--all over the past four years, the Bearcats will turn their focus towards posting their first winning season since 2011, when they finished 6-5 overall.

9. Thiel (2-8): The Tomcats will begin a new era under new head coach Dan Blume.

10. Geneva (2-8): Can anybody say "uphill battle" for the Golden Tornados?

11. Grove City (0-10): Speaking of "uphill battles", does the date of November 16, 2013 to anyone reading this blog? That was the Wolverines last win, as they topped Thiel, 50-44, in an overtime thriller. GCC has lost 20 straight games spanning two full seasons since then.

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