THE RFC MYC: South Atlantic Conference (SAC)-(NCAA Division II)

South Atlantic Conference (SAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: Just like the end of the 2018 season, the end of the 2019 season in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) not only saw just three teams finish with winning records, but those same three squads also won at least seven or more games during that single season.

The main difference, though, was that Carson-Newman (9-3 overall in 2019) not only managed to make the NCAA Division II playoffs, but the Eagles also won a playoff game, pulling off the upset over a previously undefeated Bowie State squad in the first round, before falling to fellow SAC foe Lenoir-Rhyne in the second round.

However, it was Lenoir-Rhyne that dominated the SAC on the gridiron once again in 2019, finishing the regular season unbeaten at 7-0 in conference play, as well as at 11-0 overall in advancing to the national semifinals of the D-II playoffs. The Bears crushed Miles in the first round, as well as Carson-Newman in the second round, before being knocked off by eventual national champion West Florida in the quarterfinals to finish their campaign at 13-1 overall. Meanwhile, Wingate (10-2 in 2019) saw its postseason run cut short in the first round of the D-II playoffs by that same UWF squad.

In the pandemic-shortened spring season of 2021, the Tusculum University Pioneers overcame an opening-week loss at Newberry on March 6 to win four straight games and the SAC championship. In the inaugural SAC championship game, the Pioneers pulled off the upset over a previously undefeated Lenoir-Rhyne team (3-1), 28-23, to take home the title on April 10. As a result, Tusculum finished the season at 4-1 overall.

With the fall 2021 season just around the corner, this year's SAC championship could be any team's to win, with Tusculum not only looking to defend the very title that they won during the spring, but also the likes of Carson-Newman, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Wingate giving chase to the Pioneers. Don't be surprised if any of these four teams not only end up at or near the top but also if any of those same four squads find themselves making deep postseason runs that could very well go deep into December.

2019 South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Football Final Standings

2021 (Spring) South Atlantic Conference (SAC) 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.

Carson-Newman

Catawba

Lenoir-Rhyne

Limestone

Mars Hill

Newberry

Tusculum

Virginia-Wise

Wingate

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