skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: Albany (N.Y.) and Wagner were the class teams in what was an otherwise weak Northeast Conference in 2012, as both squads finished 7-1 in league play. But it was the Seahawks who advanced to the FCS playoffs after shutting out the Great Danes, 30-0, on November 3. Wagner advanced to the second round before bowing to Eastern Washington. The Seahawks and Great Danes were the only NEC teams to finish with winning records last season.
Looking ahead: With Albany having left the NEC to join the CAA, Wagner could very well be the favorite to win the league crown, and maybe more, in 2013.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Wagner (9-4): With a preseason national ranking of No. 24, according to Lindy's Sports magazine, expect the Seahawks to beat the team in the NEC this season.
2. Monmouth (N.J.)--(5-5): The Blue Hawks will spend one final season in the NEC before heading to the Big South Conference in 2014.
3. St. Francis (Pa.)--(5-6): Coming off one of the best seasons in recent memory, the Red Flash hope to take another step towards an NEC title, and more.
4. Bryant (4-7): The Bulldogs will try to build on a 4-4 mark in NEC play a year ago.
5. Duquesne (5-6): The Dukes will try to bounce back after a four game losing streak ended the 2012 season.
6. Robert Morris (4-7): The Colonials struggled in close games last year, going 4-4 in contests decided by 10 points or less.
7. Central Connecticut State (2-8): The Blue Devils head into 2013 fighting an uphill battle.
8. Sacred Heart (2-9): The Pioneers welcome a new head coach in Mark Nofri, who held the role on an interim basis last season.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: Despite being declared ineligible for the automatic bid, Old Dominion (11-2 overall) still managed to post the best record in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) contests in 2012, going 7-1 in conference play, while advancing to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs, where their final season in that division ended with a 49-35 loss to Georgia Southern.
Other teams that advanced to the FCS playoffs, though, weren't as fortunate. New Hampshire fell to Wofford, 23-7, in round two, while Villanova was eliminated by Stony Brook, 20-10, in round one.
Aside from ODU, four teams actually shared the CAA title in 2012: Richmond, New Hampshire, Towson, and Villanova. All four teams finished league play at 6-2 last year.
Looking ahead: The landscape for the CAA will be drastically different in 2013. Old Dominion is out. Georgia State. Gone. Both programs will officially join begin the transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) this fall, with the Monarchs eventually joining Conference USA, while the Panthers will join the Sun Belt Conference.
Taking the place of both of those aforementioned programs will be a pair of programs from New York State in Albany and Stony Brook.
Speaking of the FBS, every CAA team will face at least one opponent from the former NCAA Division I-A. That, ironically, includes newcomer Albany heading south to face former CAA member Old Dominion on September 28. Rhode Island will travel to ODU on November 2.
Oh, just one more thing. Elon will join the CAA in 2014.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Richmond (8-3): The Spiders hope to contend for the CAA crown in 2013 with a redshirt senior laden roster.
2. New Hampshire (8-4): With just seven starters lost from 2012, expect the Wildcats to be a team to be reckoned with once again in 2013.
3. Towson (7-4): A four game winning streak to end last season has the Tigers and their faithful cautiously optimistic for this season.
4. Villanova (8-4): The Wildcats will be put to the test quickly on August 31, when they open the 2013 season at ACC foe Boston College.
5. James Madison (7-4): Head Coach Mickey Matthews (96-61 career record at JMU) needs just four wins to win his 100th game at the Dukes helm.
6. Delaware (5-6): The Blue Hens hope to begin the long road back to prominence after they ended last season with four straight losses.
7. Stony Brook (10-3): The Seawolves will face much tougher competition in their inaugural CAA campaign.
8. Albany (N.Y.)--(9-2): So will the Great Danes.
9. William & Mary (2-9): The Tribe hopes to put the misery of last season behind them.
10. Rhode Island (0-11): Hard to believe that the Rams haven't won a game since November 5, 2011.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: Washington & Jefferson ended Thomas More's run of four straight President's Athletic Conference (PAC) championships, upsetting previously unbeaten Waynesburg in the final game of the regular season to claim the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2012. The Presidents found themselves in the "one-and-done" department after losing to Johns Hopkins in the first round.
Looking ahead: The burning questions in the PAC for 2013 are these: can W&J stay on top? Or will Waynesburg seal the deal, and land in the D-III playoffs. Or can Thomas More return to prominence after a down season? It'll be interesting to see what happens this fall.
Off the field, the PAC's football membership will grow by two teams in 2014, when Carnegie Mellon and Case Western Reserve will join the league as associate members.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Waynesburg (10-1): The Yellow Jackets not only found themselves just one win away an undefeated regular season, but also one win away from a trip to the NCAA Division III Football. Instead, the loss to Washington & Jefferson in the final game of the regular season forced them to settle for a bid in the ECAC Southwest Bowl, where they outlasted Carnegie Mellon, 28-24. The Yellow Jackets hope to use the way 2012 ended as motivation in 2013.
2. Washington & Jefferson (8-3): Fresh off of their program's 22nd overall conference championship in 2012, the Presidents will try to stay on top of the PAC in 2013.
3. Thomas More (7-3): The Saints will become the hunters instead of the hunted in 2013, as they saw their streak of four straight conference titles fall by the wayside in 2012.
4. Grove City (6-4): The Wolverines hope that a three game winning streak to end 2012 will carry them into 2013.
5. Bethany (W. Va.)--(3-7): The Bison will have one of the toughest schedules in the nation, as they'll take on six teams who won at least six or more games last year. But that's not all, as they welcome a new head coach in Bill Garvey.
6. Geneva (3-7): The Golden Tornadoes had a down season by their standards, finishing 3-5 in PAC play last season.
7. Thiel (3-7): The Tomcats hope to improve on last year's 3-5 mark in PAC action
8. Westminster (Pa.)--(3-6): The Titans face a long uphill battle after a disappointing 2012 season.
9. St. Vincent (0-10): Just when it seemed like the Bearcats program had turned the corner, it fell back to the bottom of the PAC, suffering their third winless season in six years. That followed a 6-5 mark in 2011.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Northeast 10 Conference
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: New Haven reached the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second straight season, only to be ousted by Indiana (Pa.) in the second round last year. Since restarting their football program in 2009, the Chargers have compiled an overall record of 34-10 (.772 winning percentage, not finishing below .500 even once during the last four years.
Looking ahead: Approaching their fifth season since resuming football, look for New Haven to be the team to be in the Northeast 10 Conference going into 2013. In off the field news, LIU-C.W. Post will return to the NE-10 fold this year after spending the last five years in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. New Haven (10-1): With the loss of 32 seniors from last year's NE-10 championship and NCAA Division II playoff team, Head Coach Peter Rossomando must find new players to step up if the Chargers hope to even reach the postseason, much less make another deep playoff run. Over the last two years alone, the Chargers are 22-3 overall (.880 winning percentage).
2. American International (7-3): After a second place finish in NE-10 action in 2012, the Yellow Jackets hope to take that next step, and dethrone UNH in 2013. Speaking of which, AIC was 7-1 overall, before back-to-back losses to the Chargers derailed their hopes for both a conference title and playoff berth. If that wasn't enough, the Yellow Jackets gave up 37 points each in both games against UNH.
3. Bentley (8-2): Had it not been for back-to-back close losses to New Haven and American International in succession, the Falcons not only would have finished the regular season undefeated, they also would have likely earned a playoff bid in 2012. In 2013, they'll play host to AIC on October 19, but must visit UNH three weeks later.
4. Stonehill (5-5): The Skyhawks will find out quickly how good they might be when they travel to Pennsylvania to open the 2013 season against Bloomsburg on September 7.
5. Merrimack (6-4): If the Warriors have any chance of being serious contenders for the NE-10 crown in 2013, they must do it under new head coach Dan Curran.
6. Assumption (3-7): With six of their 10 games in 2013 being on the road, the Greyhounds must find a way to steal wins in enemy territory if they hope to show improvement in the final standings.
7. Southern Connecticut State (2-8): The Owls will look to get back into rebound mode after a disappointing 2012 season.
8. LIU-C.W. Post (3-7): The Pioneers have a tough road ahead in their first season back in the NE-10.
9. St. Anselm (1-9): The Hawks will try to put last year behind them as well.
10. Pace (0-9): The Setters enter the 2013 season looking to win their first game since September 10, 2011. They've lost 17 games in a row since that aforementioned contest.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Centennial Conference
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: Johns Hopkins turned out to be the class of an ultra-competitive Centennial Conference in 2012, finishing first at 8-1 in league play, with their lone loss during the regular season coming at the hands of Franklin & Marshall. The Blue Jays advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, where their season ended with a 55-13 loss to eventual national champion Mount Union.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if the race for the CC crown in 2013 comes down to the final week of the regular season.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Johns Hopkins (10-2): The Blue Jays have won at least eight games in each of the last five years. In the three years they've advanced to the D-III playoffs (2009, 2011, 2012), Johns Hopkins has won at least 10 games. Hopefully, 2013 will be the year the Blue Jays not only notch another 10-win season, but also make a deeper postseason run, maybe.
2. Muhlenberg (8-3): If there's any team in the CC that could challenge Johns Hopkins for the conference crown, it's the Mules. They ended 2012, though, on a losing note, as they fell to Delaware Valley, 24-21, in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl. In 2013, they must make the trip to Baltimore to face the Blue Jays on September 28.
3. Franklin & Marshall (7-4): Despite the upset win over Johns Hopkins, the 2012 season ended on a sour note for the Diplomats, as they lost a 38-31 heartbreaker to Gettysburg to end the regular season, before blowing a 14-point lead late in losing to Albright in the ECAC Southeast Bowl the following week. The Dips open their 2013 schedule with a trip south to Virginia to face Washington and Lee, before opening conference play at home against Muhlenberg.
4. Gettysburg (7-3): Despite defeating the Dips in their final game of 2012, the Bullets found themselves on the outside looking in when the postseason rolled around. In starting 5-0 last season, the Bullets held their opponents to seven points or less in four of those first five games. Additionally, they've lost all three games by 10 points or less.
5. Ursinus (6-4): The Bears will look to improve on last year's 5-4 mark in CC play last season. But road trips to Gettysburg, Susquehanna, and Johns Hopkins might make that effort to finish 2013 above .500 very tough.
6. Susquehanna (6-4): A season-ending three game winning streak helped the Crusaders gain their third winning season in four years. They open the 2013 campaign with four road games in their first five weeks, including visits to Johns Hopkins, Muhlenberg, and Gettysburg. Not easy at all.
7. Dickinson (4-6): The Red Devils will try to get back on track after suffering their third straight losing season in 2012.
8. Juniata (3-7): The Eagles hope to soar higher after their first three win season since 2003.
9. Moravian (2-8): The Greyhounds enter the 2013 season having lost six games in a row after starting 2-2.
10. McDaniel (0-10): Speaking of losing streaks, the Green Terror will look to win their first game since October 29, 2011, when they outlasted Juniata, 23-19.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC)--(NCAA Division III)
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: Widener went unbeaten during the 2012 regular season, and the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs from the MAC. The Pride advanced to the national quarterfinals, only to be crushed by eventual national champion, Mount Union, 72-17.
Looking ahead: Will Widener wind up on top again in 2013? Or will someone else finish on top of the mountain that is the MAC. It'll be interesting to see how it all unfolds this fall.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Widener (12-1): The Pride will be sternly tested coming out of the right of the gate, when they travel to Dover, Delaware for a date against perennial power Wesley to open the 2013 season on September 6. If they want to advance to the playoffs again, they must do it under new head coach Bobby Acosta. He takes over for Isaac Collins, who moved up one division to take over the helm at NCAA Division II Seton Hill.
2. Delaware Valley (8-3): After finishing 7-2 in MAC play during the regular season, the Aggies completed an otherwise so-so 2012 campaign by outlasting Muhlenberg, 24-21, in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl. Hopefully, that thrilling win will propel them into an excellent 2013 season. They'll open it at home against Rowan on September 7. Oh, and they hope to win either a MAC or ECAC championship for the sixth year in a row this year.
3. Lycoming (8-2): The Warriors were just five points away from finishing unbeaten in conference play in 2012. But a tough loss to Widener in the closing seconds not only kept from winning that league title, it also likely cost them a trip to postseason play, as they were shut out of the ECAC bowls as well. Hopefully, the sting of being stubbed will be a rallying cry for the Warriors in 2013.
4. Albright (8-3): The Lions are also coming off an ECAC bowl victory, as they defeated Franklin and Marshall, 38-34, in the Southeast Bowl. Don't count out the Lions as being among the contenders for the MAC title this year.
5. Lebanon Valley (6-4): The Dutchmen hope to make it six straight winning seasons in 2013. But they face tough tests to open the season at home against Montclair State on September 7, followed by trip to Widener to open MAC play a week later.
6. Wilkes (5-5): The Colonels are coming off an up-and-down 2012 season, which included nail-biting win over the likes of Morrisville State and Stevenson, while being blown out by Widener, 90-0. They open 2013 with a home game against Morrisville, before opening MAC play at Lycoming the following weekend, followed by a home game against Widener the week after that. Ouch!
7. Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham (2-8): The Devils hope to put the misery of last season behind them.
8. Stevenson (2-8): Same thing goes for the Mustangs.
9. King's (2-8): Ditto for the Monarchs, who haven't had a winning season since 2006 (6-5).
10. Misericordia (0-10): The #1 goal for the Cougars in Year 2: get their first-ever win on the field.
Follow Real Football Central on Twitter @realfootball.
New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: The NJAC sent two teams to postseason play in 2012, with Cortland State getting the automatic bid, while Rowan earned an at-large bid. The Red Dragons advanced to round two before being crushed by Wesley, 56-6, while the Profs found themselves in the "one-and-done" after losing to Salisbury, 17-9.
Looking ahead: Can Cortland claim another NJAC title in 2013? Or will Rowan, or maybe someone else, step up and take home the title? Lots of questions yet to be answered. Meanwhile, the departure of Western Connecticut State (now in the MASCAC), as well as the eventual departure of the College of Brockport (formerly Brockport State) will leave the NJAC with just seven schools for football by 2014.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Cortland State (9-2): The Red Dragons managed to finish undefeated in NJAC play at 7-0, despite having their game against William Paterson called off because of Hurricane Sandy. They'll face fellow non-conference, Upstate New York foes such as Buffalo State and St. John Fisher to get ready for what is sure to be yet another tough conference schedule.
2. Rowan (7-3): The Profs were another team that advanced to the NCAA playoffs despite also having one game cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy. Like Cortland, Rowan will gear up for NJAC play by perennial Middle Atlantic Conference power Delaware Valley, as well as defending New England Football Conference champion Framingham State. Oh, and the Profs did punch their ticket to postseason play despite playing just four home games last season (4-0 in 2012).
3. Kean (5-4): The Cougars had a "Jekyll and Hyde" 2012 season. After starting 0-2, they reeled off five straight wins before losing their final two contests. Looks like getting to a fast start is a must if the Cougars have any aspirations of postseason play in 2013.
4. Brockport (6-4): Despite a so-so showing in league play last year (4-4 in 2012), the Golden Eagles still managed to clinch their first winning season since 2004, when they finished 6-4 overall. They hope to make one last serious run at the NJAC crown in 2013, before jumping to the Empire 8 Conference as an affiliate member in 2014.
5. Montclair State (5-5): Back-to-back wins in their final two games salvaged what was an otherwise disappointing season by Red Hawks standards in 2012. Head Coach Rick Giancola hopes they return to the elite status that the locals have been used to in 2013.
6. William Paterson (5-5): The Pioneers have hovered around the four to five win range for the last six years. In order to finally get above that .500 hump that has eluded them over that span, they must overcome an early stretch of games that has them facing the likes of King's, Bridgewater State, and Cortland, all on the road, to start the 2013 campaign.
7. The College of New Jersey (4-6): The Lions will look to get back on the winning track following a disappointing 2012 season. That followed up a 2011 campaign which produced a 7-3 mark. But with a schedule that has them playing against seven teams that won five or more games last season, finishing with that winning record this season might be a tall order for the Lions.
8. Morrisville State (1-9): Can anybody say "nowhere to go but up"? That's the direction the Mustangs want to go in after yet another dismal season. They've never won more than three games since starting varsity play in 2006.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Liberty League (NCAA Division III)
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: Hobart (12-1 overall) dominated the Liberty League en route to winning that conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2012, finishing unbeaten in league play at 7-0. St. Thomas, though, stomped the Statesman, 47-7, in the quarterfinal round.
Looking ahead: Barring any losses due to serious injury, academic, or other issues, don't be surprised if Hobart ends up making another deep postseason run in 2013.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Hobart (12-1): The Statesmen won exactly 12 games in 2012, thanks to scoring an average of more than 36 points per game. Still, the thumping they took at the hands of St. Thomas in the D-III playoffs has the Hobart faithful hoping for much more this season. If they're to make it at least 13 wins in 2013, the Statesmen must overcome the loss of 13 seniors from that squad, including quarterback Nick Strang.
2. Springfield (8-3): The Pride will look to mount a serious threat to the Statesmen's supremacy in the LL in 2013, under veteran head coach Mike DeLong. But they must overcome an early season stretch of playing three home games in the season's first four weeks if they're to do just that.
3. Union (N.Y.)--(6-4): The Dutchmen overcame an 0-3 start to finish strong, at 6-1 in Liberty League action in 2012. That was good enough for a second place finish in the conference, with the only loss there coming to Hobart. It'll be interesting to see if Union can make a serious run at the crown in 2013, as the Dutchmen will face the Statesmen at home on November 2.
4. Merchant Marine (5-5): The Mariners defeated St. Lawrence, 33-12, to finish 3-4 in LL play in 2012. That's something that the USMMA faithful hopes will carry over into 2013.
5. RPI (5-4): A promising 5-1 start disintegrated into a disappointing three-game losing streak to end 2012 for the Engineers. They hope that new Head Coach Ralph Isernia can get their program back to the days of when they won at least seven or more games seven times from 1999-2008. That stretch included a deep run in the D-III playoffs in 2003, when they fell to eventual national champion St. John's.
6. Rochester (4-5): The Yellowjackets were solid at home in 2012, going 3-1, but not so much on the road, finishing with a 1-4 mark in away games. Winning those games in enemy territory just might be one of the keys to victory in 2013.
7. WPI (2-8): Winning seasons have been few and far between for the Engineers, who have finished above. 500 just twice since 2000. Their last winning campaign was in 2008, when they finished 7-3.
8. St. Lawrence (0-10): What a difference two years makes? In 2010, the Saints were an NCAA playoff team, finishing 5-1 in conference games (5-6 overall). But by the end of the 2012 season, they finished it without a single win. They enter 2013 hoping to win their first contest since November 12, 2011, when they outlasted WPI, 21-14.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Empire 8 Conference (NCAA Division III)
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: For the second straight season, the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University took home the Empire 8 Conference championship, as well as a second straight automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Unlike 2011, however, (when they advanced to the national quarterfinals), the Sea Gulls were "two and out" in 2012, as they were eliminated by Widener, 28-7, in the second round.
Despite finishing in a four-way tie for third place in the E8 at 4-3, St. John Fisher grabbed a spot in a postseason game, as the Cardinals crushed Castleton State, 63-7, in the ECAC Northwest Bowl.
Looking ahead: Expect the other seven teams to once again chase Salisbury for the E8 crown in 2013.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Salisbury (9-3): The Sea Gulls have been consistent; consistently good, under Head Coach Sherman Wood, suffering just one losing season dating back to 2002. Still, they'll face a tremendous challenge to open the 2013 season, as they play against two teams that advanced to the D-III playoffs last year in Christopher Newport and Wesley.
2. St. John Fisher (8-3): As it hard as it is to believe, the Cardinals last losing season came in 2001, when they finished 3-7. Since 2002, SJFC has had 11 straight winning seasons, including a trip to the national semifinals in 2006. If they're to make it 12 straight winning seasons in 2013, the Cards must get through a brutal schedule that saw eight teams (five in conference play alone) post winning records in 2012. Ouch!
3. Alfred (6-4): Despite struggling to a 1-2 mark in non-conference games last season, the Saxons still managed to finish E8 play in sole possession of second place. Head Coach Dave Murray already has 100 wins in his coaching career. He hopes those winning ways will continue in 2013.
4. Buffalo State (6-4): A low-scoring 7-6 upset win over then-defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater on September 15 helped propel the Bengals to their first winning season since 2000, when they finished 7-4. If that wasn't enough, they also ended the 2012 season with four straight wins. Believe it or not, the Bengals will host the Warhawks in a re-match on September 21, 2013.
5. Ithaca (6-4): The Bombers were yet another team that finished in a four-way tie for third place at 4-3, losing their 2012 season finale(in heartbreaking fashion) to archrival Cortland State in the annual battle for the "Cortaca Jug". It'll be interesting to see if 2013 will have a much happier ending.
6. Utica (6-4): The Pioneers carried a 6-2 overall record into final two games of the 2012 season, before losing back-to-back contests to Salisbury and St. John Fisher to end it on a disappointing note. They open the 2013 campaign on September 7, when they play host to Lewis and Clark, in a battle of, you guessed it, Pioneers.
7. Frostburg State (3-7): The Bobcats hope to move forward after yet another disappointing season.
8. Hartwick (3-7): Speaking of disappointing, the Hawks enter the 2013 season looking to snap a seven-game skid, with all of the losses last year coming in conference play. That was after starting 3-0.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC)
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: Both Mount Ida and Castleton State finished ECFC play at 6-1 in league play. However, because of their 52-28 win over Castleton on November 10, Mount Ida earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
While the Mustangs fell to Wesley, 73-14, in the first round of the NCAA playoffs, the Spartans season ended on a losing note as well, as St. John Fisher cruised to a convincing 63-7 win in the ECAC Northwest Bowl.
Elsewhere in the ECFC, the Maritime-Norwich game that was scheduled to be played on November 3, 2012 was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.
Looking ahead: Expect yet another wide-open race for the ECFC title in 2013.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Mount Ida (8-3): The Mustangs hope to make to back-to-back ECFC crowns in 2013. They do face one team had a winning record last season to close out their non-conference schedule, as they travel to Springfield (8-3 in 2012) on September 21.
2. Castleton State (7-4): The Spartans carried a 7-2 overall record into their regular season finale against Mount Ida before losing that game, followed by the blowout loss to St. John Fisher in the ECAC Northwest Bowl. They must replace the 19 seniors that helped them earn a share of the conference crown they won last season. If there is one positive for the Spartans, they do get to host Mount Ida on October 12.
3. Galluadet (7-3): The Bison hope to build on last year's 5-2 conference mark. They won back-to-back games over Mount Ida and Maritime to close out the 2012 season.
4. Norwich (7-3): The cancellation of the November 3 game against Maritime forced the Cadets to settle for a 4-2 mark in ECFC play in 2012. If that wasn't enough, they advanced to the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl, where they fell to Endicott, 34-14. Hopefully, 2013 will bring about a different ending for the Cadets: an ECFC title.
5. Becker (3-7): The Hawks lost six games by 10 or more points in 2012. That's a stat that must change if they're to have a winning season in 2013, which would be the first in the program's eight-year history. However, the three wins they did get last season are a school record.
6. Maritime (N.Y.)--(3-6): The Privateers will try to return to the winning form of 2010 (10-1) and 2011 (8-2) after a disappointing 2012 season.
7. Anna Maria (2-8): After winning four games in all the past two years, the Amcats hope to take yet another giant step in 2013: trying to clinch the program's first-ever winning season. But doing that might be easier said than done, as they'll face five teams that posted winning records themselves in 2012. That includes four teams in the ECFC.
8. Husson (2-8): The Eagles hope to notch their first winning season since 2008, when they finished 7-3.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
New England Small Collegiate Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: Trinity (Conn.) completed an undefeated season in 2012 by finishing 8-0, making it the Bantams sixth outright NESCAC championship or co-championship dating back to 2002.
Looking ahead: Will Trinity stay on top in 2013? Or will another team step up to dethrone the Bantams?
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Trinity (Conn.)--(8-0): With at least 15 seniors gone from last year's roster, the Bantams and Head Coach Jeff Devanney must find other players in hopes of taking home yet another NESCAC title in 2013.
2. Middlebury (7-1): With their game against Trinity being played at home on October 26, the Panthers have a chance to avenge their lone loss of last season: a 45-7 rout in the Bantams favor on October 27, 2012.
3. Bates (5-3): Coming off their first winning season since 1981, the Bobcats hope to take the next step, and seriously challenge for the NESCAC crown, instead of just the CBB title, which they won outright in 2012, thanks to wins over archrivals Colby and Bowdoin in back-to-back weekends.
4. Amherst (6-2): The Lord Jeffs go into 2013 on a roll after knocking off archrival Williams, 23-20, to close out 2012. Head Coach E.J. Mills must replace the 14 seniors who led them to a 28-4 overall record over the past four years. Mills needs just six more wins to join the 100-win club, as his career coaching mark sits at 94-34 going into his 17th season on the sidelines.
5. Williams (4-4): Coming off their worst record since 1987, when they also finished 4-4, the Ephs look to get back on the winning track in 2013. But they face in getting there, as three of their first four games will be played on the road, including visits to Trinity and Middlebury.
6. Wesleyan (5-3): The Cardinals became one of the latest programs to join the 500-win club, clinching their first winning season since 2002, when they also finished 5-3. They'll carry an all-time of 500-497-42 into 2013.
7. Colby (3-5): The Mules look to start anew under new Head Coach Jonathan Michaeles.
8. Hamilton (1-7): The Continentals also look to start over new Head Coach Andrew Cohen.
9. Bowdoin (1-7): The Polar Bears look to rebound after their worst season since 2001, when they also finished 1-7.
10. Tufts (0-8): The Jumbos are looking to win a game, any game, after a winless 2012 season.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
New England Football Conference (NEFC)
Website
2012 Final Standings
Looking back: In what will likely be the final championship game for the foreseeable future, former member Framingham State outlasted Salve Regina, 28-16, for the 2012 NEFC title on November 10. While Framingham State and Bridgewater State both advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs, Endicott had to settle for a berth in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl, defeating Norwich, 34-14. Meanwhile, Salve Regina found itself on the outside looking in for postseason play despite winning nine games last season.
Looking ahead: With the defection of eight members to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) during the offseason, the NEFC will operate with just one division of eight teams, instead of two divisions of eight teams, in 2013. Also, the league has a new commissioner in John Harper, who ironically, had retired as athletic director at Bridgewater State.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses):
1. Endicott (9-2): After splitting their first four games, the Gulls finished 2012 with a flourish, winning seven straight games, including a win in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl. Maybe, just maybe, that strong finish will carry over in 2013. Still, they'll get a good indication of just how good they might be when they play host to former NEFC member Framingham State in the season opener on September 7.
2. Salve Regina (9-2): The sting of being left out of postseason play could serve as a motivating factor for the Seahawks this season. Their non-conference schedule, though, will consist of a home game against NEFC runner-up and D-III playoff participant Bridgewater State (September 7), as well as a trip to Montclair State (September 14).
3. Curry (6-4): A three-game winning streak closed out what was an otherwise mediocre 2012 season for the Colonels, who lose 12 seniors from the team that finished third in the Boyd Division last year, at 5-2 in conference play.
4. Western New England (6-4): The Golden Bears will look to get back to the form that put them in the D-III playoffs in 2011 after a disappointing 2012.
5. MIT (5-4): The Engineers hope to build on their first winning season since 1999, when they finished 6-4 overall. They hope to win at least seven games for the first time ever in 2013.
6. Coast Guard (5-4): If the Bears have any hope of contending in the downsized NEFC, they must learn to grind their way through a schedule that includes road trips to Endicott and Salve Regina late in the 2013 season.
7. Nichols (1-9): The Bison enter the 2013 season looking to go nowhere but up, in the win column, that is.
8. Maine Maritime (0-9): The Mariners will try to snap a 12-game losing streak that dates back to October 15, 2011. Their last win came on October 8, 2011, when they defeated Westfield State, 36-34, in double overtime.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Editor's Note: Welcome to the fourth season of the "RFC Summer Semester", exclusively on Real Football Central. The post you're about to read below will be the first of what hopefully will be many previews to come, covering small college, NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and now "Group of Five" football.
For those people reading the blog for the first time, the "Group of Five" consists of the five low-tiered, or mid-major, conferences of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS): the American Athletic Conference (AAC)--(formerly the Big East Conference), Conference USA (C-USA), the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Mountain West Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference.
Oh, and we'll occasionally cover all things Arena Football League, Canadian Football League (CFL), and other professional football leagues, indoors and outdoors, that aren't named the National Football League (NFL).
With that said, let's get started, with the all-new NCAA Division III Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC).
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC)
Website
2012 Final Standings (MASCAC games only)
2012 Final Standings (as members of the New England Football Conference)
Looking back: Framingham State won not one, but two, championships in 2012. Sort of. In addition to winning the NEFC title in their final season in that league, the Rams finished also undefeated against their fellow MASCAC foes, finishing 5-0 in that conference. Also, Bridgewater State carried the banner for the MASCAC last year, as the Bears joined the Rams in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Both fell in the first round, with Framingham falling to Cortland State in a 20-19 heartbreaker, while Bridgewater lost to Widener, 44-14.
Looking ahead: Being new to NCAA Division III football, the MASCAC will not get an automatic bid to the playoffs, despite having nine teams in 2013. In addition to the six schools that played in the MASCAC last year, Plymouth State, UMass-Dartmouth, and Western Connecticut State will also join the conference as affiliate members.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses):
1. Framingham State (10-2): With six of their 10 games, including three of their first four contests, on the road, the Rams might have a tough row to hoe in winning 10 games again in 2013. If that wasn't enough, the Rams also must pay a visit to Bridgewater State on November. 9, the next-to-last week of the regular season.
2. Bridgewater State (9-2): Speaking of the Bears, they'll open the 2013 season against a Salve Regina team that also finished 9-2 in 2012, but missed out on postseason play, thanks to a 28-16 loss to Framingham State in the NEFC title game on November 10, 2012.
3. Worcester State (6-4): The Lancers will have a difficult debut in the MASCAC for 2013, as they travel to Bridgewater State in their first league contest on September 20.
4. UMass-Dartmouth (5-5): The Corsairs also will have a new conference to adjust to, as they open MASCAC play with road games at Westfield State (September 21) and Framingham State (October 5).
5. Massachusetts Maritime (5-4): The Buccaneers had nine players make the all-NEFC academic team in 2012, with just two lost to graduation. It will be interesting to see if success in the classroom will translate into success on the field in 2013.
6. Westfield State (3-7): The good news for the Owls? They lose just 11 seniors from their 2012 roster. The bad news? They'll likely have to fight for every win in the new-look MASCAC in 2013.
7. Fitchburg State (2-8): The Falcons last winning season came in 2005, when they finished 8-3.
8. Plymouth State (2-8): The Panthers also face an uphill battle in trying to get back to their winning ways. They haven't had a winning record since 2009, when they finished 8-3. Their last NCAA playoff appearance came the year before that, in 2008, finishing 10-2 that season.
9. Western Connecticut State (1-8): The Colonials join the MASCAC from the NJAC, but face a tremendous challenge under second-year Head Coach Joe Loth.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
The Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) not only has a champion for 2013, but one that has finished its season undefeated. The Erie Explosion edged the Saginaw Sting, 37-36, on Sunday, May 12, to claim the crown. The Explosion finished 12-0 with the win over the Sting.
Post Game Coverage
CIFLFootball.com (click here)
ErieExplosion.com (click here)
GoErie.com (click here)
Follow Real Football Central on Twitter @realfootball.
CBS Sports Network has announced its NCAA Division II schedule for 2013. And a first-year program will make its national TV debut in those of those games. Click here to find out which games will be carried on the CBS Sports Network, courtesy of ncaa.com/d2football.com.
One of the winningest coaches in all of college football at all levels has called it quits.
Larry Kehres, who won 332 games and 11 NCAA Division III national championship, stepped down as the head coach at Mount Union earlier this month. He'll remain at the school as its athletic director.
Click here for the full story, courtesy of d3football.com.
3-2 for Week 16 (Week of December 15, 2012)
1-0 in FCS title game (North Dakota State 39, Sam Houston State 13 on Saturday, January 5, 2013)
Final totals for the 2012-2013 season.
445-241 (.649)
FCS Championship
Saturday, January 5 (at Frisco, Tex.)
Key: Projected winner is marked in RED.
North Dakota State (13-1) vs. Sam Houston State (11-3)
