THE RFC MYC: Liberty League (LL)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 Liberty League Final Standings (Courtesy of the Liberty League)

Overview: The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers and the Ithaca College Bombers both shared the Liberty League title in 2017, with both squads finishing at 8-3 overall and 4-1 in conference games. But it was a 27-14 win on the road over Ithaca on October 14 that helped RPI advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Engineers season ended in the first round with a 45-27 loss to Wesley. 

As for the Bombers, they overcame a 0-2 start to finish their first season of Liberty League action at 4-1 en route to a conference co-championship. Ithaca rallied past Salisbury with 20 fourth-quarter points to capture the Scotty Whitelaw Bowl title.

For a league with just six teams in it, the race for the LL title was surprisingly competitive, as four of its squads finished within one full game of each other. In addition to Ithaca's and RPI's respective co-championship, both Hobart (7-3 overall) and Union (N.Y.)-(7-4 overall) finished in a two-way tie for third place in LL action at 3-2. 

The Dutchmen lost three straight games to end the 2017 season after starting 7-1, ending with a tough 35-28 loss to Cortland in the New York Bowl. Meanwhile, the Statesmen sat out postseason play last season despite having won at least seven games in a single season for seven straight seasons dating back to the beginning of the 2011 season.

With the 2018 season just around the corner, don't be surprised if the race for the Liberty League crown comes down to the final weekend of the season.

2018 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below 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 2018 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.

Hobart

Ithaca

Rochester

RPI

St. Lawrence

Union (N.Y.)

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THE RFC MYC: Empire 8 Conference (E8)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 Empire 8 Conference Final Standings (Courtesy of the Empire 8 Conference)

Overview: The Brockport Golden Eagles were among the most dominant teams at the NCAA Division III level last season, as they finished unbeaten in Empire 8 Conference play at 7-0 en route to a 13-1 overall record for 2017. They advanced to the national semifinals, falling to then-defending national champion turned eventual national runner-up Mary Hardin-Baylor in a 24-0 shutout loss.

While the Golden Eagles breezed through the E8 last fall, three other teams managed to reach postseason play, with Alfred (8-3 overall in 2017) defeating Stevenson 29-16 to win the James Lynah Bowl, Cortland (7-4) outlasting Union (N.Y.), 35-28, to claim the inaugural New York Bowl crown, while Buffalo State (6-5) lost to Merchant Marine, 35-20, in the Clayton Chapman Bowl at Newark, Delaware.

The main questions going into 2018 are these: Can Brockport repeat its magical run of 2017? Or will the likes of Alfred, Buffalo State, and Cortland step up, and make things interesting? Or, even, if a once solid program such as St. John Fisher (2-8 in 2017) can bounce back from its first losing season since 2001, as the Cardinals finished 3-7 overall.

2018 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below 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 2018 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.

Alfred 

Brockport

Buffalo State

Cortland

Hartwick

Morrisville State

St. John Fisher

Utica

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THE RFC MYC: Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 MASCAC Final Standings (Courtesy of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference)

Overview: If there was ever such a bizarre season at any level of college football anywhere in 2017, it was in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). That's where both of the league's co-champions, Framingham State and Plymouth State, finished the regular season at 9-1 overall. However, Plymouth State's stunning upset win over Framingham State in overtime on October 14 helped propel the Panthers to the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs from the MASCAC, while the Rams had to settle for a berth in the New England Bowl Series.

The MASCAC had mixed results for postseason play in 2017, as Plymouth State fell to Brockport State in the first round of the D-III playoffs to finish the season at 9-2 overall, while Framingham State crushed Curry, 48-14, to win their second straight New England Bowl, and finish at 10-1 overall.

2018 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 2018 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.

Bridgewater State

Fitchburg State

Framingham State

Massachusetts Maritime

UMass Dartmouth

Western Connecticut State

Westfield State

Worcester State

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THE RFC MYC: Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 Final Standings (Courtesy of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference)

Overview: The Husson College Eagles (10-2 overall in 2017) not only won their third Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) championship in four years, finishing unbeaten in conference play at 7-0, they also made history in the process, stunning then-previously undefeated Springfield, 23-21, for their first-ever NCAA Division III playoff win. The Eagles season ended in the second round, losing to Delaware Valley, 37-15.

The only other ECFC team to advance to postseason play in 2017 was Maritime (N.Y.)-(9-2 overall). After finishing 6-1 in league contests last year, the Privateers fell to WPI, 17-3, in the New England Bowl Series.

On a sad note, Mount Ida College in Newton, Massachusetts closed its doors permanently in May, forcing its athletics department to shut down as well. On the football field last fall, the Mustangs finished what turned out to be their final season at 4-6 overall, 3-4 in the ECFC.

However, there is some happy news to report for the ECFC, as conference officials announced that Keystone College out of Marshfield, Massachusetts will join the league for the 2020 season. 

2018 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 2018 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.

Alfred State

Anna Maria

Castleton

Dean

Gallaudet

Husson

Maritime

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THE RFC MYC: New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 Final Standings (Courtesy of the New England Small College Athletic Conference)

Overview: In the first season where all 10 of its teams played against each other in a full round-robin, the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) crowned the Trinity College Bantams of Hartford, Connecticut as its 2017 champion. The Bantams finished the 2017 campaign at 8-1 overall, with their lone loss coming to the Amherst College (Mass.) Mammoths in the next-to-last week of the season, on November 4. But the Bantams bounced back on the following weekend, November 11, as they rolled past Wesleyan, 28-3, in the season finale, while Williams upset Amherst, 31-24. Trinity's win, combined with Amherst's upset loss, allowed the Bantams to claim their second straight NESCAC crown. Meanwhile, Middlebury outlasted Tufts, 35-24, to finish the 2017 season tied with Amherst for second place in the NESCAC at 7-2 overall. With all of its squads choosing to sit out the NCAA Division III playoffs, expect the 2018 season to be just as competitive for the NESCAC.

2018 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 2018 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.

Amherst

Bates

Bowdoin

Colby

Hamilton

Middlebury

Trinity (Conn.)

Tufts

Wesleyan

Williams

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THE RFC MYC: Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 CCC Final Standings (Courtesy of the Commonwealth Coast Conference)

Overview: Six teams from the New England region joined forces to form the football version of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) for the inaugural 2017 season. At the end of that rookie campaign, the Western New England University Golden Bears (8-3 overall) finished unbeaten in conference play at 6-0 to win the first-ever CCC gridiron crown. WNEU's postseason run was cut short in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, as the Golden Bears lost to Delaware Valley, 35-0, in the first round. The only other CCC squad to get a taste of postseason play was Curry. The Colonels didn't fare much better, as they fell to Framingham State, 48-14, in the New England Bowl Series.

Looking ahead to 2018, the CCC will add one more team to its list for its second season, as the University of New England Nor'easters out of Biddeford, Maine makes their move in the fledgling league's mix this fall.

2018 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 2018 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.

Becker

Curry

Endicott

Nichols

Salve Regina

University of New England 

Western New England


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THE RFC MYC: New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC)-(NCAA Division III)

2017 NEWMAC Final Standings (Courtesy of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference)



Overview: In its inaugural season of action, the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) saw eight teams in all take the field for the 2017 season. When the dust finally settled, the Springfield College Pride (10-1 overall) won their league's first-ever title after finishing undefeated at 7-0 in NEWMAC play. The Pride fell to Husson, 23-21, in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. The only other NEWMAC team to win at least nine games last season was the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Engineers, who defeated Maritime (N.Y.), 17-3, to win a New England Bowl Series game. It was the first-ever postseason win for WPI.



2018 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 2018 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.



Catholic



Coast Guard



Maine Maritime



Merchant Marine



MIT



Norwich



Springfield



WPI



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THE RFC MYC: 2018 Debut-Northeast 10 Conference

Editor's Note: Welcome to the 2018 debut of the "RFC MYC", with the "MYC" initials standing for "Mark Your Calendars". The purpose of the previews at the Real Football Central blog is to present the schedules of every college football team outside of the so-called "Power Five" conferences (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, and SEC), throughout the summer of 2017. So, what are we waiting for? Let's get started.

Northeast 10 Conference (NCAA Division II)

Final 2017 Northeast 10 Conference Football Standings

Overview: The Assumption College Greyhounds (11-2 overall in 2017) had a historic season last fall, advancing as far as the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs before falling to Indiana (Pa.). Don't be surprised if the Greyhounds are the team to beat in the Northeast 10 Conference again in 2018.

2018 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 2018 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.

American International

Assumption

Bentley

LIU Post

Merrimack

New Haven

Pace

Saint Anselm

Southern Connecticut State

Stonehill



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American International College Yellow Jackets - Football announces 2018 schedule

American International College Yellow Jackets - Football announces 2018 schedule: The American International College football team announced its 2018 slate on Thursday, May 10. The Yellow Jackets' nine-game schedule features four home games, three of which pit AIC against teams that finished atop the Northeast-10 Conference last season.



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RFC College Footballl Final Predictions Total For The 2017 Season-Better Late Than Never

Bowl Predictions

6-7 (.462)

FINAL OVERALL TOTALS FOR 2017

473-247 (.657)

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2018 Georgia Southern Football Schedule Released | Georgia Southern Athletics

2018 Georgia Southern Football Schedule Released | Georgia Southern Athletics: Six games at Paulson Stadium highlight slate



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RFC Throwback Thursday: Fresno State vs. USC in the 1992 Freedom Bowl

(Video courtesy of Raycom Sports)



This special bowl season edition of "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to 1992, with the Fresno State University taking on the USC Trojans in the Freedom Bowl from Anaheim, California. Led by future Super Bowl champion quarterback Trent Dilfer, the Bulldogs pulled off the upset over the heavily-favored Trojans in an eventual 24-7 win.



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RFC Throwback Thursday-Mount Union National Championship Game Highlights from 1993

(Video courtesy of ESPN/University of Mount Union)



With the 25th-and final-Stagg Bowl set to take place in Salem, Virginia on Friday, RFC turns the clock back to 1993, with the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders outlasting the Rowan University Profs, 34-24, to claim the first of multiple national championships at the NCAA Division III level.



For the next two years, 2018 and 2019, the Stagg Bowl will be played in Shenandoah, Texas. But for 2017, Mount Union will look to send Salem off in style with yet another national championship, as Purple Raiders will face off defending national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor this week.



But in the meantime, just simply sit back and enjoy a small piece of where it all began for Mount Union that many years ago!



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RFC Group Of Five Bowl Predictions Special 2017

Editor's Note: Only the bowl games involving at least two teams from any two of the FBS Group Of Five Conferences (American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) are eligible for inclusion in this post. With that said, let's get started.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Saturday, December 16

R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (at New Orleans)

Troy (10-2) vs. North Texas (9-4)

AutoNation Cure Bowl (at Orlando, Fla.)

Western Kentucky (6-6) vs. Georgia State (6-5)

Gildan New Mexico Bowl (at Albuquerque, N.M.)

Marshall (7-5) vs. Colorado State (7-5)

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (at Montgomery, Ala.)

Middle Tennessee State (6-6) vs. Arkansas State (7-4)

Tuesday, December 19

Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl (at Boca Raton, Fla.)

Akron (7-6) vs. Florida Atlantic (10-3)

Wednesday, December 20

DXL Frisco Bowl (at Frisco, Tex.)

Louisiana Tech (6-6) vs. SMU (7-5)

Thursday, December 21

Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl (at St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Temple (6-6) vs. Florida International (8-4)

Friday, December 22

Bahamas Bowl (at Nassau, Bahamas)

UAB (8-4) vs. Ohio (8-4)

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (at Boise, Idaho)

Central Michigan (8-4) vs. Wyoming (7-5)

Saturday, December 23

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (at Fort Worth, Tex.)

San Diego State (10-2) vs. Army (9-3)

Dollar General Bowl (at Mobile, Ala.)

Appalachian State (8-4) vs. Toledo (11-2)

Sunday, December 24 (CHRISTMAS EVE)

Hawai'i Bowl (at Honolulu)

Fresno State (9-4) vs. Houston (7-4)

Friday, December 29

NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl (at Tucson, Ariz.)

New Mexico State (6-6) vs. Utah State (6-6)

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM REAL FOOTBALL CENTRAL!!!!!!!

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RFC Top Games: Week Of December 16, 2017-The FCS Semifinals, plus the D-II, D-III, and NAIA National Championship Games, and The Celebration Bowl

Last Week: 7-2 (.778)
This Year: 467-240 (.661)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

FCS Playoffs-Semifinals

Bracket

Friday, December 15

Sam Houston State (12-1) at North Dakota State (12-1)

Saturday, December 16

South Dakota State (11-2) at James Madison (13-0)

NCAA Division II-National Championship (at Kansas City, Kan.)

Bracket

Saturday, December 16

West Florida (11-3) vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (13-1)

NCAA Division III-National Championship (Stagg Bowl at Salem, Va.)

Bracket

Friday, December 15

Mount Union (14-0) vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor (14-0)

Saturday, December 16

NAIA-National Championship (at Daytona Beach, Fla.)

St. Francis (Ind.)-(13-0) vs. Reinhardt (12-0)

Bonus Prediction

Saturday, December 16

Armed Forces Reserve Celebration Bowl (at Atlanta)

North Carolina A&T (11-0) at Grambling State (10-1)

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RFC Throwback Thursday: The Army-Navy Game from 1965

(Video courtesy of historycomestolife YouTube channel.)



With the 118th edition of the Army-Navy Game taking place in Philadelphia this Saturday, RFC turns the clock back to 1965, with both teams doing battle in this brief set of clips lasting less than two minutes.




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RFC Top Games: Week Of December 9, 2017-The Army/Navy Game, FCS Quarterfinals, plus the D-II and D-III Semifinals

Last Week: 20-10 (.667)
This Year: 460-238 (.659)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Saturday, December 9

Army (8-3) vs. Navy (6-5)

(It's the Black Knights doing battle with the Midshipmen in the 118th edition of the "Army-Navy Game" in Philadelphia!!! Kickoff is at 3 p.m. EST on CBS!!!)

FCS Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Bracket

Friday, December 8

Weber State (11-2) at James Madison (12-0)

Saturday, December 9

Wofford (11-2) at North Dakota State (12-1)

New Hampshire (9-4) at South Dakota State (10-2)

Kennesaw State (12-1) at Sam Houston State (11-1)

NCAA Division II Playoffs-Semifinals

Bracket

Saturday, December 9

West Florida (10-3) at Indiana (Pa.)-(13-0)

Harding (11-3) at Texas A&M-Commerce (12-1)

NCAA Division III Playoffs-Semifinals 

Bracket

Saturday, December 9

Mount Union (13-0) at Wisconsin-Oshkosh (12-0)

Brockport (13-0) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (13-0)

2017 Army-Navy Press Conference - Army/Navy Game

2017 Army-Navy Press Conference - Army/Navy Game: The press conference for the 118th Army-Navy Game presented by USAA was held Wednesday morning at the Lincoln Financial Field.



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