Gulf South Conference (GSC)-(NCAA Division II)
Overview: The Gulf South Conference (GSC) had a down season in 2022, as only three of its' eight squads finished the season with a winning record, with two of those teams posting a pair of double-digit win seasons.
However, both of those teams represented the GSC well in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with both eventual conference co-champions in Delta State and West Florida, respectively, advancing to the second round. UWF avenged their lone regular-season loss to DSU in a 45-42 double-overtime defeat on September 24, as the Argonauts downed the Statesmen 38-27 on November 26.
While Delta State's season ended at 11-2 overall following the loss to West Florida, the Argonauts advanced to the quarterfinal round of the D-II playoffs. That's where they would defeat Wingate 45-14 to advance to the national semifinals. UWF's season ended at 12-2 overall after losing 38-17 eventual national champion Ferris State on December 10.
The only other GSC team to post winning season last fall was the University of West Georgia Wolves from Carrollton, Georgia. Despite finishing the regular season at 8-2 overall and 5-2 in GSC action, which included a stunning 52-42 late season win over DSU, UWG was snubbed for an NCAA Division II berth in 2022. The Wolves fell to a Mississippi College squad that lost its last four games to finish its season at a disappointing 4-7 overall, as well as to UWF.
Looking ahead to 2023 and beyond, the GSC will undergo multiple changes to its football membership over the next several seasons, with Chowan University of Murfreesboro, North Carolina joining the conference for the next two seasons, eventually moving on to Conference Carolinas by 2025.. The Hawks finished the 2022 season at 7-4 overall, and 7-1 in CIAA play in 2022, losing to Fayetteville State in the conference title game.
In addition to Chowan becoming an affiliate member of the GSC, Erskine College from Due West, South Carolina will join the league as an associate member for the 2024 season only. During this transition period, Shorter University of Rome, Georgia will play their 2024 football campaign as an independent program in anticipation of joining Conference Carolinas in time for the start of the 2025 season. Those three teams will eventually join Barton, North Greenville, and UNC Pembroke in the CC by then.
In the meantime, though, expect Delta State and West Florida to do battle for the GSC title this fall, with the Argonauts coming to Cleveland, Mississippi to square off against the Statesmen on October 21.
2023 Schedules (Teams are 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 2023 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
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