South Atlantic Conference (SAC)-(NCAA Division II)
Overview: If you were looking for a conference that not only didn't have a clear cut favorite to even advance to the conference championship game, much less win the conference championship, the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) was the conference for you in 2022.
The first case in point was the inaugural SAC championship game that was played on November 12. The Piedmont Division champion Newberry College Wolves held off the Mountain Division champion Mars Hill University Lions 27-24 to win their second straight SAC title.
However, despite finishing the season at 9-2 overall, the Wolves found themselves on the outside looking in when postseason play arrived, as Wingate and Limestone advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs instead. As for the Lions, they finished their 2022 campaign at 7-4 overall after losing to Newberry.
In the D-II playoffs, the Bulldogs ousted Virginia Union in the first round, as well as previously unbeaten Benedict in the second round, before losing to West Florida in the quarterfinals to finish their season at 11-3 overall, while the Saints' season ended at 8-4 overall after losing to that same aforementioned UWF squad in the first round.
Looking ahead to 2023, expect another competitive season from top to bottom in the SAC, as all 12 teams lost at least two games in conference play last season, with Mars Hill being the lone team to go undefeated in division play at 5-0 in the Mountain Division.
But in 2024 and beyond, there will be some changes, as the Anderson University Trojans from Anderson, South Carolina will start their first football season, while both Barton and Erskine will move to Conference Carolinas starting in 2025. That will give the SAC 10 football-playing schools by then.
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, 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 more.
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, 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 more.
*-Ineligible for the South Atlantic Conference title, transitioning from the NCAA Division III level.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
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