RFC Small College Preview: South Atlantic Conference (SAC)

South Atlantic Conference (SAC)

2015 Football Standings--South Atlantic Conference

Looking back: Catawba won a close race to take home the 2015 South Atlantic Conference championship, finishing 6-1 in league play. Carson-Newman finished in a two-way tie for second place with Mars Hill at 5-2, while Newberry round the top four in the SAC at 4-3. All three teams advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs with a combined 25 wins overall.

However, the SAC's postseason run abruptly ended after the first round, as Carson-Newman lost a heartbreaker to Valdosta State in a high-scoring thriller, Catawba fell victim to an upset by visiting Tuskegee, and North Alabama crushed Newberry.

Looking ahead: Expect another competitive race in the SAC again this fall.

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

1. Carson-Newman (9-3): Veteran head coach Ken Sparks enters his 37th season with the Eagles. He and his charges enter the 2016 season looking to put the pain of last year's playoff loss behind them.

2. Catawba (9-3): The Indians 2016 slate includes a key season opener at West Georgia on September 3.

3. Newberry (7-5): The Wolves will try to make it three playoff appearances in four years. But they must get through a tough schedule that includes games against Carson-Newman and Catawba, both at home.

4. Mars Hill (6-5): The Lions and their faithful hope that a four-game winning streak to end 2015 will carry over into 2016.

5. Wingate (6-5): On the other hand, the Bulldogs will try to bounce back after ending the 2015 season with four straight losses.

6. Lenoir-Rhyne (5-5): Just two years removed from an appearance at the NCAA Division II national championship game, the Bears will look to bounce back as well following a disappointing 2015 campaign that saw them finish 3-4 in SAC action.

7. Tusculum (4-7): The Pioneers will have their work cut out for them under new head coach Jerry Odom.

8. Brevard (0-11): With a move to the NCAA Division III level looming, the Tornados find themselves in the ironic position of hosting the first NCAA Division II game of the 2016 college football season on September 1. That's when they play host to East Stroudsburg.

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