THE RFC MYC: Mid-States Football Association (MSFA)-(NAIA)

Mid-States Football Association (MSFA)-(NAIA)

Overview: The Marian University Knights were the class of the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) in 2019, finishing the season at 12-1 overall. The Knights advanced to the national championship game on December 21, giving Morningside all it could handle before falling 40-38. 

Other Mideast Division teams to advance to the NAIA playoffs were Concordia (Mich.)-(8-3 overall in 2019), whose Cardinals fell to Grand View in a 31-30 heartbreaker in the first round, as well as St. Francis (Ind.)-(7-3), losing to Lindsey Wilson, 30-26, also in the first round.

The lone Midwest Division team to advance to postseason play in 2019 was the Saint Xavier University Cougars. The Cougars knocked off Northwestern (Iowa) in a hard-fought 25-20 contest in the first round on the road, before falling to eventual national champion Morningside 51-0 in the second round to finish their season at 9-3 overall.

As for 2020-21, a season that was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not to mention starting in February, at least six teams won at least five games while posting a winning record, with three of those squads advancing to postseason play.

In the Mideast League, Concordia won the division championship after finishing undefeated in MSFA play at 4-0 and 5-0 in the regular season, while Marian finished second at 3-1 and 5-1 respectively. The Cardinals defeated and eliminated Georgetown (Ky.) 21-7 in the first round, before losing to eventual national champion Lindsey Wilson 49-27 in the second round to finish their season at 6-1 overall. 

On the other hand, the Knights found themselves in the "one and done" category after one postseason contest, as they lost to Reinhardt 40-29 in the first round to finish at 5-2 overall. The loss to Reinhardt ended Marian's quest to return to the NAIA national championship game after losing to Morningside in the 2019 title game.

In the Midwest League, the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers cruised through the regular season unbeaten at 8-0 but lost to Baker University in a thrilling 59-54 first-round battle to finish their season at 8-1 overall. Meanwhile, the Roosevelt University Lakers, formerly the Robert Morris University of Illinois, missed out on postseason play despite finishing with an 8-1 overall record, while St. Ambrose and St. Xavier both finished at 5-3 overall, with records of 4-2 and 3-3 in MSFA play respectively.

Looking ahead to the traditional fall season of 2021, expect Marian and Concordia to be the top two teams in the Mideast League, while Olivet Nazarene and Roosevelt are expected to be the favorites in the Midwest League. Additionally, five MSFA teams finished the season in the NAIA Postseason Top 25 poll, with Concordia leading the way at No. 6, followed by Olivet Nazarene at No. 9, Marian at No. 10, St. Francis (Ind.)-(2-2 overall in the spring of 2021) at No. 17, and Roosevelt at No. 20.     

2019 Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Final Standings

Mideast League

Midwest League

2020-21 Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Final Standings

Mideast League

Midwest League

2021 (Fall) Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)

NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2021 (fall) season. When the team's schedule is submitted, the link (s) will appear in each blog post. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.

Mideast League

Concordia (Mich.)

Indiana Wesleyan

Lawrence Tech

Marian

Saint Francis (Ind.)

Siena Heights

Taylor

Midwest League

Missouri Baptist

Olivet Nazarene

Roosevelt

Saint Ambrose

Saint Francis (Ill.)

Saint Xavier

Trinity International

Provisional/Ineligible For Title

Judson

Madonna

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.