THE RFC MYC: Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC)-(NAIA)

Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC)-(NAIA)

Overview: Two teams dominated their respective divisions of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) in 2022, with Grand View winning the North Division championship, while Benedictine (Kan.) captured the South Division crown. Both teams finished at 5-0 in HAAC action en route to compiling final regular season records of 10-0 and 10-1 respectively.

In the NAIA playoffs, Grand View won two close games to advance to the national semifinals, only to be ousted by eventual national runner-up Keiser, 38-21, on December 3. The Vikings finished their 2022 season at 13-1 overall following the upset loss to the Seahawks.

As for Benedictine, the Ravens rolled past Southwestern (Kan.) 35-7 in the first round, before losing to Indiana Wesleyan to finish 2022 at 11-2. Their lone regular season loss came on September 3. That was when they fell to Grand View, 44-42, on a field goal as time ran out.

With the 2023 season just around the corner, expect Grand View and Benedictine to win their respective divisions yet again. That's according to the HAAC coaches preseason poll. Unfortunately, neither team will play each other during the regular season. That means the only way both teams could play against each other would be in the NAIA playoffs, which expands to 20 teams for the first time this fall.

The HAAC will see several new schools join its' football fold, as Missouri Baptist (4-7 overall in 2022) makes the move from the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) this fall, while St. Ambrose University from Des Moines, Iowa will join MBU in leaving the MSFA for the HAAC in 2024. Also, William Woods University from Fulton, Missouri will field a football program for the first time next season. The addition of all three schools gives the HAAC 14 squads for football by then, with seven squads each in both the North and South Divisions.  

One team, however, that has moved on from the HAAC is Evangel University (7-3 overall, 4-1 in the HAAC in 2022), with the Valor joining the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) in time for this season.  

2022 Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Football Final Standings

2023 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 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.

North Division

Clarke

Culver-Stockton

Graceland

Grand View

Peru State

William Penn

South Division

Baker

Benedictine (Kan.)

Central Methodist

MidAmerica Nazarene

Missouri Baptist

Missouri Valley

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THE RFC MYC: Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC)-(NAIA)

Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC)-(NAIA)

Overview: The 2022 football season for the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) could best be described as "a tale of two teams" from Iowa, with both squads experiencing their best and worst moments throughout the year.

One of the "best moments" for the GPAC came in the season opener between the then-defending national champion Morningside University Mustangs and the Northwestern College Red Raiders from Orange City, Iowa on September 3. In a contest that lived up to all of the expectations, the Mustangs held off the Red Raiders 30-29. Morningside then cruised through the rest of its' regular season schedule to finish it at 10-0 overall, with the Mustangs claiming their 13th GPAC championship.

As it turned out, however, this close clash vs. Morningside proved to be the only game that Northwestern would lose all season, as the Red Raiders ended the season with 13 straight wins, winning all of their contests by at least 10 points or more. Their season ended with a 35-25 win over Keiser (Fla.) in the NAIA national championship game on December 17. It was Northwestern's first national championship since winning the now-defunct NAIA Division II title in 1983, as well as their third overall, which came in 1973.

As for the "worst moment" of the 2022 season from the GPAC perspective, it happened on November 26. That was when the aforementioned Keiser squad rallied in the final minutes and seconds to pull off the upset over Morningside 29-28, to end the Mustangs quest for back-to-back national championships. Morningside's season ended at 11-1 overall following the stunning loss to the Seahawks from West Palm Beach, Florida.

Going into the 2023 season, it appears to be Northwestern/Morningside vs. "the field", as the Red Raiders were picked to finish first in the GPAC, while the Mustangs came in a close second in the conference's preseason poll. Expect Saturday, October 28 to be the "most-marked date on the calendar" for this fall, at least as far as NAIA football is concerned. That's when Northwestern plays host to Morningside in a contest that could decide this year's GPAC champion.

2022 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Football Final Standings

2023 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 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.

Briar Cliff

Concordia (Neb.)

Dakota Wesleyan

Doane

Dordt

Hastings

Jamestown

Midland

Morningside

Mount Marty

Northwestern (Iowa)

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THE RFC MYC: American Rivers Conference (ARC)-(NCAA Division III)

American Rivers Conference (ARC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The 2022 football season for the American Rivers Conference (ARC) truly turned out to be the "Year of the Knights", as in the Wartburg College Knights from Waverly, Iowa. Wartburg enjoyed a truly historic run in more ways than one.

After dominating ARC action in finishing the regular season undefeated at 8-0 in conference play, as well as at 10-0 overall, the Knights outlasted Wisconsin-LaCrosse 14-6 in the first round, then stunned St. John's 23-20 on the road in the second round, and crushed Aurora 45-17 in the quarterfinals to advance to the national semifinals for the first time ever. Wartburg's storybook season ended on December 10, with the Knights giving eventual national runner-up Mount Union all it could handle before losing 34-31, to finish at 13-1 overall. 

Wartburg will enter the 2023 season with high expectations, as the Knights will begin it ranked at #5 in the d3football.com poll, as well as #4 in the AFCA poll. But several other squads will look to dethrone the Knights in ARC action, with Coe (7-3, 6-2), Dubuque (6-4, 6-2), Central (7-3, 5-3), and Loras (5-5, 5-3) hoping to become serious contenders for the conference crown this fall.

2022 American Rivers Conference Football Final Standings 

2023 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 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 preseason previews, schedules, schedule updates, and much more.

Buena Vista

Central

Coe

Dubuque

Loras

Luther

Nebraska Wesleyan

Simpson

Wartburg

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THE RFC MYC: North Star Athletic Association (NSAA)-(NAIA)

North Star Athletic Association (NSAA)-(NAIA)

Overview: The Dickinson State University Blue Hawks from Dickinson, North Dakota finished undefeated at 6-0 in North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) action in winning their eighth-straight conference championship last fall. Following an 8-2 regular-season finish, the Blue Hawks fell to eventual national champion Northwestern (Iowa), 49-7, in the first round, to end their 2022 season at 8-3 overall.

With the 2023 season fast approaching, the NSAA will enter the new football campaign with two fewer institutions in the fold, as Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota both permanently closed their doors due to declining enrollment, as well as financial issues. The loss of both aforementioned schools leaves the NSAA with just five schools fielding squads this fall.

Even with the loss of two institutions, however, expect Dickinson State to remain the team to beat in the NSAA this season, with the likes of Dakota State (6-4, 4-2), Valley City State (5-5, 4-2), and Waldorf (7-4, 3-3) hoping to derail the Blue Hawks hopes of winning their ninth-straight conference championship.

2022 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Football Final Standings

2023 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 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.

Dakota State

Dickinson State

Mayville State

Valley City State

Waldorf

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THE RFC MYC: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)-(NCAA Division II)

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: The 2022 season proved to be another campaign of parity for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), as eight of the league's 14 teams finished last fall with a winning record, with four of them advancing to postseason play.

The Bemidji State University Beavers from Bemidji, Minnesota were one of those squads that moved on to the NCAA Division II playoffs, as they defeated and eliminated fellow NSIC foe Winona State in the first round before succumbing to Angelo State in the second round to finish their season at 10-3 overall. As for the Warriors, their 2022 campaign wrapped up at 8-4 overall.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota State University Mavericks from Mankato, Minnesota also advanced to the D-II playoffs last fall after a regular season finish of 9-2 overall. They ended another NSIC team's season in Wayne State (Neb.) at 9-3 overall after ousting the Wildcats 26-9 in the first round, only to fall to eventual national runner-up Colorado School of Mines in a 48-45 second round shootout, to finish at 10-3 overall. 

Change will be the primary theme for the NSIC entering the 2023 season. One of those changes came in its' membership, as Upper Iowa University left during the offseason to join the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), while the other remaining squads will play one non-conference game this fall, with Bemidji State being the lone exception. The loss of UIU leaves the NSIC with 13 football-playing schools for this upcoming year.

The loss of Upper Iowa has also led to the elimination of the North and South Divisions. That means that all 13 teams will play at least a 10-game round-robin schedule in a single division format. Again, aside from Bemidji State, every NSIC squad will play up to 11 regular season games with no bye weeks.

Finally, as far as the preseason predictions are concerned, expect both Bemidji State and Minnesota State to do battle for the NSIC crown again this season, with Wayne State, Minnesota-Duluth (8-3 overall in 2022), and Augustana (S.D.)-(7-4 overall) not that far behind. Don't count out Northern State (6-5) or Sioux Falls (8-3) either. 

2022 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Football Final Standings

2023 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 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.

Augustana (S.D.)

Bemidji State

Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)

Minnesota-Duluth

Minnesota State

Minot State

MSU Moorhead

Northern State

Sioux Falls

Southwest Minnesota State

U Mary

Wayne State (Neb.)

Winona State

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THE RFC MYC: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The Saint John's University Johnnies defeated the Bethel University Royals for the second straight win in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) championship game on November 12, 2022, this time by a final score of 28-10. The win over Bethel not only gave SJU its' fourth-straight MIAC crown but also a record 36th conference championship for the Johnnies. 

However, the NCAA Division III playoffs proved to be a different story, as Bethel actually advanced one round farther than St. John's. The Royals pulled off upset road wins over then #15 Wheaton and #5 Linfield before losing to #3 Mary Hardin-Baylor in the quarterfinals to finish their season at 10-3 overall.

As for the Johnnies, they cruised past Northwestern (Minn.), 49-0, in the first round, only to fall at home in a heartbreaker to Wartburg in the second round. SJU's season ended at 10-2 overall after losing to the Knights.

With the same two aforementioned teams in St. John's at #5, as well as Bethel at #13, both ranked in the d3football.com preseason Top 25 poll for 2023, don't be surprised if this year's MIAC title comes down to both of those aforementioned teams yet again.

2022 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Football Final Standings

2022 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 2022 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.

Augsburg

Bethel (Minn.)

Carleton

Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.)

Gustavus Adolphus

Hamline

Macalester

St. John's

St. Olaf

St. Scholastica

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THE RFC MYC: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The University of Northwestern (UNW) Eagles overcame an 0-4 start to their 2022 season by winning six straight games, all in conference play, to clinch the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championship. 

One of those wins for UNW came on October 8. That was when the Eagles shocked Greenville (Ill.)-(7-3 overall, 5-1 in the UMAC in 2022) 41-35. The upset win over the then-heavily favored Panthers propelled the Eagles to their unlikely UMAC title. UNW's season ended in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs with a 49-0 loss to St. John's (Minn.). The Eagles finished their 2022 campaign at 6-5 overall after losing to the Johnnies on the road.

The UMAC will head into 2023 with one less institution among its' small football membership, as Finlandia University from Hancock, Michigan closed its' doors in March due to constant financial issues. The loss of Finlandia leaves the UMAC with just six schools taking the field this fall.

Among those remaining six squads, it's anyone's guess as to who might win this season's UMAC crown. UNW could very well repeat. Or Greenville might end up winning its' second league title in three years. Or it could even be upstarts such as Minnesota-Morris (5-5, 4-2) or Crown (3-7, 3-3).

2022 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Football Final Standings

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.

Crown

Greenville

Martin Luther

Minnesota-Morris

Northwestern (Minn.)

Westminster (Mo.)

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THE RFC MYC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) once again proved why it's one of the toughest conferences at the NCAA Division III level, with four of its' eight teams posting winning overall records, out of which three teams advanced to postseason play in some form last fall. 

However, only one of those teams managed to win a postseason game, while the other two teams were eliminated in the first round of the D-III playoffs. Wisconsin-LaCrosse finished the regular season at 6-1 in WIAC action, as well as at 9-1 overall, but fell at Wartburg to finish its' 2022 campaign at 9-2 overall. 

Elsewhere in 2022, Wisconsin-Whitewater earned the WIAC's automatic bid to the playoffs on the strength of a 34-31 road win at UWL on October 1. Just like the Eagles though, the Warhawks season would also end in the opening round of the playoffs, as UWW fell to Aurora, 33-28, to finish their season at 8-3 overall and 6-2 in conference play.

Ironically, the lone WIAC team to win a postseason game last fall didn't play in the D-III playoffs at all, as the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons defeated Washington University of St. Louis 31-24 for the second straight season, and win their second straight Culver's Isthmus Bowl on November 19. UWRF finished its' season at 7-4 overall and 4-3 in WIAC play as a result of that dramatic win.

Moving forward to 2023, the WIAC is once again expected to be competitive from top to bottom, with four of its squads beginning the season ranked in the d3football.com Top 25.

UWW comes at #11, followed at UWL at #12, followed by Wisconsin-Oshkosh (6-4 overall, 4-3 in the WIAC in 2023) at #21, and River Falls at #23. Don't count out Wisconsin-Platteville (5-5, 4-3) or Wisconsin-Stout (5-5, 3-4) either. 

In fact, don't be surprised if any of these aforementioned squads end up not only winning the WIAC title but also advancing to postseason play come November.      

2022 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Football Final Standings

2023 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 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.

Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Wisconsin-LaCrosse

Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Wisconsin-Platteville

Wisconsin-River Falls

Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Wisconsin-Stout

Wisconsin-Whitewater

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THE RFC MYC: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC)-(NCAA Division III)

Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The Aurora University Spartans had a history-making football season last fall, winning not one, but two NCAA Division III playoff games en route to ending 2022 with double-digit wins.

After losing their season opener to Hope on September 3, the Spartans responded to that setback by reeling off 11 straight wins. That incredible run not only included clinching the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) championship but also upset wins over  perennial powerhouse Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round, as well as a previously unbeaten Alma squad in the second round. Aurora's season ended in the quarterfinals with a 45-17 loss to Wartburg on December 3. The Spartans finished their campaign at 11-2 overall after losing to the Knights.

As the 2023 season quickly approaches, Aurora hopes to build on its' 2022 success, as the Spartans begin their own season ranked at #8 in the Lindy's Sports poll, as well as at #20 in the d3football.com poll. 

Still, don't be surprised if longtime mainstays in Concordia (Wis.)-(8-3, 6-2), St. Norbert (7-3, 6-2), and Benedictine (Ill.)-(7-3, 5-3) manage to mount a serious challenge for the NACC crown this season.

2022 NACC Football Final Standings

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.

Aurora

Benedictine (Ill.)

Concordia-Chicago (Ill.)

Concordia (Wis.)

Eureka

Lakeland

Rockford

St. Norbert

Wisconsin Lutheran

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THE RFC MYC: Midwest Conference (MWC)-(NCAA Division III)

Midwest Conference (MWC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The primary storyline for the 2022 season in the Midwest Conference (MWC) turned out to be a “three-way race” for the league title, with the top three teams all combining to win 27 games overall, as well as 24 games in conference play last fall.

But as soon as postseason play arrived on the third Saturday in November, one team saw its’ season end in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, while another team won an inaugural bowl game in Wisconsin, and the third team finding itself sitting at home altogether despite losing only one game during the regular season.

The Lake Forest College Foresters were one of those three teams that finished the regular season at 9-1 overall, and 8-1 in conference action last season. However, it was wins over Monmouth (31-14 on October 29) and Chicago (13-7 on November 12) that proved to be the difference in the Foresters securing the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Their season ended at 9-2 overall after losing to eventual national champion North Central, 50-0, in the first round.

As for the other two teams that finished in a three-way tie for the MWC title, Monmouth settled for a berth in the inaugural Cousin’s Subs Lakefront Bowl in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on November 19. Unlike the Foresters, the Scots ended their season on a winning note, crushing Concordia (Wis.) 45-20 to also finish at 9-2 overall, while Ripon was shut out of postseason play despite finishing at 9-1 overall.

Looking ahead to the 2023 season, expect another tight race for the Midwest Conference championship, with all three of the aforementioned teams doing battle for the coveted auto bid to the D-III playoffs, with fourth place Chicago (7-3, 6-3 in 2022) hoping to disrupt things.

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. 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 more.

2022 Midwest Conference (MWC) Football Final Standings

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. 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 more.


Beloit

Chicago

Cornell (Iowa)

Grinnell

Illinois College

Knox

Lake Forest

Lawrence

Monmouth (Ill.)

Ripon

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THE RFC MYC: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)-(NCAA Division III)

College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The North Central College Cardinals cruised to an undefeated season in 2022, while winning their second NCAA Division III national championship in three seasons. The Cardinals downed Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-14 to win their first-ever national championship in 2019.

However, despite allowing only 100 points combined throughout the season, North Central's toughest test came in the Stagg Bowl on December 16. That was when Mount Union gave the Cardinals all it could handle before losing 28-21. North Central finished another historic season in its' program's long history unbeaten at 15-0 overall.

Now, as the 2023 season fast approaches, North Central hopes to build on its' recent streak of success, in which the Cardinals have compiled a combined overall record of 42-2 dating back to start of the 2019 season, last losing to Wheaton during the regular season in 2019, as well as to Mary Hardin-Baylor in the 2021 Stagg Bowl.

Still, there are challengers to any defense of any championship, whether it's a conference or national. Wheaton might just be one of those squads to challenge the Cardinals for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) crown this fall, with the Thunder finishing second in conference play at 8-1, as well as 8-3 overall. Their losses came to Trinity (Texas), North Central, and Bethel (Minn.), with that third loss ending their season in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

In addition to North Central and Wheaton, three other teams that could challenge for the CCIW crown this fall include Washington (Mo.)-(8-3, 7-2), Illinois Wesleyan (6-4, 5-4), and Carroll (Wis.)-(6-4, 5-4).

2022 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Football Final Standings

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. 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 more.

Augustana (Ill.)

Carroll (Wis.) 

Carthage

Elmhurst

Illinois Wesleyan

Millikin

North Central

North Park

Washington (Mo.)

Wheaton


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