THE RFC MYC: Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: Despite suffering their earliest exit from postseason play in a quarter-century in 2019, as well as not playing any playoff games at all due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the spring of 2021, the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders continued to prove why they're still among the elite programs not only at the NCAA Division III level but at all levels of college football, by adding two more Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) championship trophies to what's surely an already crowded trophy case.

The Purple Raiders cruised through yet another undefeated regular season in finishing their 2019 campaign at 10-0. Although they crushed Hanover in a convincing 65-14 first-round victory on November 23, Mount Union's postseason run ended abruptly in the second round, as the eventual national champion North Central College Cardinals from Naperville, Illinois pulled off the shocking upset over the then-No. 2 Purple Raiders in a high-scoring 59-52 contest on November 30. The loss to North Central marked Mount Union's earliest exit from the NCAA Division III playoffs since losing a 34-33 heartbreaker to another eventual national champion in Albion on November 26, 1994. The Purple Raiders ended the 2019 season at 11-1 overall after losing to the Cardinals.

Fast-forwarding to the spring season of 2021, Mount Union, like most teams at the Division III level, played a limited schedule of games due to COVID-19, with the Purple Raiders playing four of five contests. But they still managed to make the most of that abbreviated season, as they finished the season at 4-0 overall after crushing Heidelberg 64-14 in the OAC title game on April 16. The win gave Mount Union its record 31st OAC championship, to go with the Purple Raiders 13 national championships, with the last coming in 2017.

As the OAC prepares to play what will hopefully be a normal season for the fall of 2021, expect Mount Union to not only be the favorite to win their 32nd OAC crown but also among the favorites to win another national championship. However, don't be surprised if Heidelberg (4-1 overall in the spring of 2021) and John Carroll (9-1 overall in 2019) make a serious run for the title this fall.

2019 Ohio Athletic Conference Football Final Standings

2021 (Spring) Ohio Athletic Conference Football Final Standings

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 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.

Baldwin-Wallace

Capital

Heidelberg

John Carroll

Marietta

Mount Union

Muskingum

Ohio Northern

Otterbein

Wilmington

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