UIndy picked to win the GLVC

Click here for the full press release (courtesy of the Great Lakes Valley Conference)

Quick Analysis: Once again, the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds have been picked to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship on the football field. With one just league loss dating back to 2012, UIndy might be tough to beat this fall.

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NDSU the team to beat in the MVFC...AGAIN!!!...

As another college football season rolls around, the five-time defending FCS national champion North Dakota State University Bison will enter 2016 as the team to beat in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Which, of course, should come as no surprise to those who've followed the MVFC over the years.

For more information, please click here.

Also...

West Georgia picked to win the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference...

CLICK HERE...

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RFC Small College Preview: Southern Athletic Association (SAA)

Southern Athletic Association (SAA)

2015 Football Standings--Southern Athletic Association

Editor's Note: Due to circumstances beyond our control, this is the first post since Monday, June 27, 2016. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Looking back: In just their third year of existence, the Hendrix College Warriors won their first-ever Southern Athletic Association (SAA) title. They fell to another first-time postseason participant in Huntingdon, as the Hawks eliminated the Warriors in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Looking ahead: Expect Hendrix to get a challenge, not only from an established program such as the Centre College Colonels from Kentucky, but also from another program that's entering its fourth season of play, in the Berry College Vikings out of Rome, Georgia.

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Centre (8-2): The Colonels hope to notch their third NCAA Division III playoff appearance dating back to 2011.

2. Hendrix (8-3): But coming off a 7-1 mark in SAA play, as well as an SAA title, don't count out the Warriors in the 2016 title race.

3. Berry (7-3): The Vikings hope to finish what they started after ending the 2015 season with back-to-back losses following a program-best 7-1 start.

4. Chicago (6-4): With a move to the Midwest Conference looming by 2017, the Maroons hope to shake up the SAA race in 2016.

5. Washington (Mo.)--(6-4): The Bears will join a new conference as well, as they're slated to join the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) in 2018.

6. Birmingham Southern (5-5): A season-ending upset win over Berry has the Panthers faithful cautiously optimistic heading into 2016.

7. Rhodes (4-6): The Lynx will have a tough row to hoe in 2016, as they'll face at least six teams that finished with a .500 or better record in 2015.

8. Millsaps (3-7): Despite a dismal 2015 campaign, a season-ending two-game winning streak has the Majors shooting for a much-better 2016 season.

9. Sewanee (1-9): It's back to "square one" for the Tigers after finishing winless in the SAA at 0-8 last year.

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RFC Small College Preview: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)

2015 Football Standings--Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Looking back: It was a history-making moment in more ways than one for the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers in 2015, as they pulled off back-to-back upset wins on the road in the NCAA Division II playoffs. After knocking off Catawba on the road for their first-ever playoff win, the Tigers stunned perennial Gulf South Conference power North Alabama the following week for their second-ever playoff win. Tuskegee's season finally ended in the quarterfinals, falling at West Georgia, 35-6.

Looking ahead: Don't be surprised to see Tuskegee as the favorite to win the SIAC title, or if the Golden Tigers make an even deeper playoff run for matter, in 2016.

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

East Division

1. Albany State (Ga.)--(6-4): With Dan Land being named the permanent head coach after spending last season as the interim head coach, don't be surprised if the Golden Rams end up in the SIAC title discussion again this season.

2. Fort Valley State (5-4): Coming off of a 3-1 finish in SIAC action in 2015, the Wildcats hope to mount a serious challenge for the conference crown again in 2016.  But they must rise to that occasion under new head coach Kevin Porter.

3. Morehouse (5-5): The Maroon Tigers hope that the signing of 13 recruits will help them get over the hump this fall.

4. Clark Atlanta (1-8): The Panthers struggled to score points in 2015, as they were held to 14 points or less in each of their losses. Scoring more points must be a priority if the Panthers are to win more games in 2016.

5. Benedict (0-10): The Tigers hope to get win number one...and then some...under second year head coach Mike White.

West Division

1. Tuskegee (10-3): With two Top 15 preseason rankings; No. 13 in The Sporting News, and No. 10 in Lindy's Sports, the key to the Golden Tigers success in 2016 could ride of the performance of rising junior defensive back Jonah McCutcheon.

2. Miles (7-5): But in coming off an upset win over Tuskegee that led to an eventual SIAC championship, as well as the signing of 28 players on National Signing Day, don't count out the Golden Bears for not only a potential return to the league title game, but also a repeat league title this year.

3. Central State (5-5): Fresh off of a two-win season just two years ago, the Marauders hope to shake up the SIAC in a big way this fall.

4. Kentucky State (3-7): Can anyone say "uphill battle" for the Thorobreds, after finishing 2-3 in SIAC play last season.

5. Lane (3-7): The Dragons find themselves in a similar situation after finishing 1-4 in the SIAC last year.

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RFC Small College Preview: South Atlantic Conference (SAC)

South Atlantic Conference (SAC)

2015 Football Standings--South Atlantic Conference

Looking back: Catawba won a close race to take home the 2015 South Atlantic Conference championship, finishing 6-1 in league play. Carson-Newman finished in a two-way tie for second place with Mars Hill at 5-2, while Newberry round the top four in the SAC at 4-3. All three teams advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs with a combined 25 wins overall.

However, the SAC's postseason run abruptly ended after the first round, as Carson-Newman lost a heartbreaker to Valdosta State in a high-scoring thriller, Catawba fell victim to an upset by visiting Tuskegee, and North Alabama crushed Newberry.

Looking ahead: Expect another competitive race in the SAC again this fall.

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Carson-Newman (9-3): Veteran head coach Ken Sparks enters his 37th season with the Eagles. He and his charges enter the 2016 season looking to put the pain of last year's playoff loss behind them.

2. Catawba (9-3): The Indians 2016 slate includes a key season opener at West Georgia on September 3.

3. Newberry (7-5): The Wolves will try to make it three playoff appearances in four years. But they must get through a tough schedule that includes games against Carson-Newman and Catawba, both at home.

4. Mars Hill (6-5): The Lions and their faithful hope that a four-game winning streak to end 2015 will carry over into 2016.

5. Wingate (6-5): On the other hand, the Bulldogs will try to bounce back after ending the 2015 season with four straight losses.

6. Lenoir-Rhyne (5-5): Just two years removed from an appearance at the NCAA Division II national championship game, the Bears will look to bounce back as well following a disappointing 2015 campaign that saw them finish 3-4 in SAC action.

7. Tusculum (4-7): The Pioneers will have their work cut out for them under new head coach Jerry Odom.

8. Brevard (0-11): With a move to the NCAA Division III level looming, the Tornados find themselves in the ironic position of hosting the first NCAA Division II game of the 2016 college football season on September 1. That's when they play host to East Stroudsburg.

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RFC Small College Preview: USA South Athletic Conference (USAC)

USA South Athletic Conference (USAC)

2015 Football Standings--USA South Athletic Conference

Looking back: The best team of the 2015 football season in the USA South Athletic Conference (USAC) didn't come from Virginia, North Carolina, or even Georgia. It hailed from Montgomery, Alabama: the home of the Huntingdon University Hawks. They finished USAC play unbeaten at 7-0, while also finishing the regular season at 9-1 overall.

In the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Hawks downed another postseason newcomer in Hendrix, 38-27, for their first-ever playoff win.  Their season ended with a 43-23 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor in the second round.

In a bizarre, ironic twist, every other team besides Huntingdon lost at least two games in conference play last season, with Maryville and North Carolina Wesleyan both finishing at 5-2, while the other five teams won just two league contests. That was only because two of those schools in that quintet played one less league game in 2015, as the Averett-LaGrange game was cancelled due to inclement weather. As a result, both teams finished USAC action at, you guessed it, 2-4.

Looking ahead: Can Huntingdon win back-to-back USA South titles? Or will Maryville or some other team step up and win all of the marbles?

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Huntingdon (10-2): The team to beat in the USAC until another team proves otherwise.

2. Maryville (8-2): But the Scots found themselves on the outside looking in after two blowout losses not only cost them an undefeated regular season, but also a sure playoff berth.  That's something they hope to change this fall.

3. North Carolina Wesleyan (5-5): The Battling Bishops will play one of the toughest schedules at the D-III level in 2016, as they'll face the likes of defending national champion Mount Union and rising powerhouse Stevenson, as well as USAC foes such as Maryville and Huntingdon, among others.

4. Methodist (4-6): Keven Williams will serve as the acting head coach for the Monarchs, following the sudden resignation of former head coach C.J. Goss earlier this year.

5. Greensboro (3-7): The Pride will get a new head coach this fall as well, as Greg Crum hopes to turn around a long-struggling program.

6. Averett (2-7): Take away the cancelled game against LaGrange, and the Cougars would have finished the 2015 season with a winning record had they not lost three straight games by a combined 12 points in late October. With that said, don't be surprised if they sneak up on a few opponents in 2016.

7. LaGrange (2-7): It was also a season of "what if's" for the Panthers from Georgia, as they not only lost their first three games by seven points or less, but also lost their last three games by a combined 59 points.

8. Ferrum (2-8): The 2015 season was one to forget for the Panthers from Virginia as well, as they look to move forward under new head coach Rob Grande.

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RFC Small College Preview: Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)

Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)

2015 Football Standings--Old Dominion Athletic Conference

Looking back: Two of the eight football playing schools in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) combined to finish the 2015 season at 19-2 overall. Those two teams were Washington and Lee (10-1) and Guilford (9-1). Only the Generals, however, advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs last fall. While W&L's season ended with a loss to Thomas More in the first round, a one-loss regular season (their only loss came to the Generals) was not enough for the Quakers to advance to postseason play.

Looking ahead: Will it be a two-team race in the ODAC this fall? Or will traditional mainstays like Hampden-Sydney and Randolph-Macon step up and steal a playoff berth in 2016? It's a question that's sure to get a serious answer this fall.

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Washington and Lee (10-1): With a No. 9 preseason ranking by the Lindy's Sports College Football Preview magazine, don't be surprised if the Generals lead the way in the ODAC again this year.

2. Guilford (9-1): With 20 new players coming on board for preseason camp, the Quakers hope to use last year's loss to the Generals as motivation for the 2016 season.

3. Hampden-Sydney (6-4): After their worst finish since 2012, the Tigers hope to bounce back in a big way in 2016.

4. Emory and Henry (6-4): With the loss of at least 16 seniors from the 2015 squad, the Wasps must reload quickly, and grow up fast, if they hope to hear their name called on Selection Sunday in November.

5. Randolph-Macon (4-6): Despite having their first losing season since 2006, when they finished 2-8 overall, the Yellow Jackets did end their 2015 campaign on a high note, winning their final three games. That included a season-ending win over archival Hampden-Sydney in "The Game" on November 14.

6. Bridgewater (Va.)--(4-6): The Eagles will have their work cut out for them after finishing 2-5 in ODAC action last season.

7. Shenandoah (4-6): The Hornets had a deflating end to their season too, losing four straight games to close out 2015.

8. Catholic (1-9): The Cardinals recently named Bill Bachman as their interim head coach following the sudden departure of Dave Dunn.

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RFC Small College Preview: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

2015 Football Standings--Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Looking back: The Winston-Salem State University Rams pulled off the biggest upset of the 2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) season, as they stunned a Bowie State (9-3 overall) team that cruised through the regular season unbeaten at 7-0 in league play. WSSU won the 2015 CIAA championship with a 17-14 win over the Bulldogs. Bowie State then advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, where they fell to Assumption, 51-29, in the first round.

The only other CIAA squad to advance to postseason play was Virginia Union (8-3 overall in 2015). Just like their counterparts at Bowie State, the Panthers season also ended in the first round of the D-II dance, as Slippery Rock rolled to a 40-21 victory.

Looking ahead: Look for a competitive race for the CIAA gridiron crown in 2016.

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Bowie State (9-3): The Bulldogs enter the 2016 campaign as the team to beat in the CIAA. Especially with 16 starters returning from the 2015 team.

2. Virginia Union (8-3): But don't be surprised if the Panthers have a say as to who comes out on top when all is said and done.

3. Winston-Salem State (6-5): Fresh off of a CIAA championship game win last year, don't count the Rams out of the title mix for this year, either.

4. Livingstone (5-4): The Blue Bears will look to build on their first winning season since 1998.

5. Chowan (6-4): The Hawks will look to soar even higher after finishing 4-3 in CIAA action last season.

6. Virginia State (6-4): The Trojans will look to stay competitive under new head coach Reggie Barlow, who spent eight years at Alabama State.

7. Johnson C. Smith (4-6): It was a season of "what might have been" for the Golden Bulls, as they lost five games by double digits in 2015.

8. Fayetteville State (4-6): The Broncos will leave the state of North Carolina only once in 2016. But it will be a big game on the road against Bowie State on October 1.

9. Elizabeth City State (4-5): On the other hand, the Vikings won't play their first home game of 2016 until, you guessed it, October 1. That's when they'll play host to Shaw.

10. St. Augustine's (1-9): The Falcons will face a tough road ahead after a rough 2015 season.

11. Lincoln (Pa.)--(3-7): A quick 2-0 start was quickly forgotten down the stretch for the Lions, finishing 1-7 the rest of the way in 2015. With the signing of multiple players during the offseason, they hope to make a serious move up in the standings for 2016.

12. Shaw (1-9): The beleaguered Bears hope to get off to a fresh start under new head coach Adrian Jones.


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RFC Small College Preview: Mountain East Conference (MEC)

Mountain East Conference (MEC)

2015 Football Standings - Mountain East Conference

Looking back: In just three short seasons, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) has gone from a fledgling league, to a circuit that has seen two of its squads make deep playoff runs. In 2014, Concord advanced to the national semifinals before losing to eventual national runner-up Minnesota State-Mankato. In 2015, Shepherd became their conference's first-ever national championship game representative, falling to Northwest Missouri State.

Looking ahead: As it prepares to take the field for fourth season, the MEC hopes to continue its early run of excellence in postseason play, with one of its teams even winning it all this fall. Just. Maybe. 

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Shepherd (13-1): It'll be interesting to see if the Rams are able to make the return trip to the NCAA Division II title game in 2016.  

2. Charleston (10-2): But after a playoff run that ended way too early in a first round loss to Indiana (Pa.), the Golden Eagles could prove to be a worthy challenger to the Rams in the MEC this fall.

3. Fairmont State (6-4): The Falcons hope to soar to even greater heights after posting their first winning season since 2011, when they finished 7-4 overall.

4. Glenville State (7-4): The Pioneers hope to close the gap between Shepherd and Charleston after finishing 6-4 in conference play last season.

5. Concord (5-5): The Mountain Lions hope to climb their way back to the top of the MEC mountain after a so-so 2015 season.

6. Notre Dame (Ohio)--(5-6): The Falcons look to move forward under new head coach Mike Jacobs.

7. West Liberty (5-6): Head Coach Roger Waialae hopes that the signing of 18 new players will help his Hilltoppers go over the top in the Mountain East Conference this season. 

8. West Virginia State (5-6): Despite a three-game losing streak to end the 2015 campaign, the Yellow Jackets still managed to post their most wins in a single season in quite some time. Can they sting some teams on the road to potential success in 2016? Only time will tell.

9. Urbana (2-9): The Blue Knights 2016 schedule not only includes games against five teams that finished the 2015 season at .500 or better, but also their first-ever game against first-year program Cincinnati Christian out of the NAIA.

10. West Virginia Wesleyan (2-8): The Bobcats will look to rebuild under new head coach Del Smith.

11. UVa.-Wise (1-10): The Cavaliers also have a new head coach in Dane Damron.

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RFC Small College Preview: Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC)

Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC)

2015 Football Standings - Presidents Athletic Conference

Looking back: After a three-year absence from the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Thomas More College Saints made a triumphant return to postseason play in 2015, as they cruised to an unbeaten regular season (10-0 overall) en route to the Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) championship.  They advanced to the second round before losing a thriller to Wabash, 33-27.

Looking ahead: Can Thomas More make it back-to-back PAC crowns in 2016? Or will teams like Washington & Jefferson or Westminster (Pa.) step up, and steal it from the Saints? Of course, only time will tell, as the season slowly, but surely, progresses.

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Thomas More (11-1): The Saints hope to make a deeper postseason run under second-year head coach Regis Scafe.  

2. Washington & Jefferson (8-2): The Presidents hope to make a return trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs after finishing in a three-way tie for third place in the PAC at 6-2 last season.

3. Westminster (Pa.)--(9-2): After enjoying one of their best seasons as D-III member--which included a season-ending rout of St. John Fisher at the ECAC James Lynah Bowl--the Titans hope to take the next step, and advance to the NCAA playoffs for the first time ever, in 2016.

4. Carnegie Mellon (8-3): The Tartans hope to have a solid encore performance in 2016 after ending 2015 with seven straight wins, as they enter their second season in the PAC.

5. Case Western Reserve (7-3): The Spartans hope to put themselves back in the PAC title discussion after starting 7-1 overall, only to lose back-to-back games to close out the 2015 campaign.

6. Bethany (W. Va.)--(5-5): A three-game winning streak to end the 2015 campaign has the Bison and their faithful cautiously optimistic going into the 2016 season.

7. Waynesburg (3-7): The Yellow Jackets hope to bounce back in a big way after suffering their worst overall finish since 2005, when they finished 3-7.

8. Saint Vincent (4-6): After back-to-back winless campaigns--followed by back-to-back four-win seasons--all over the past four years, the Bearcats will turn their focus towards posting their first winning season since 2011, when they finished 6-5 overall.

9. Thiel (2-8): The Tomcats will begin a new era under new head coach Dan Blume.

10. Geneva (2-8): Can anybody say "uphill battle" for the Golden Tornados?

11. Grove City (0-10): Speaking of "uphill battles", does the date of November 16, 2013 to anyone reading this blog? That was the Wolverines last win, as they topped Thiel, 50-44, in an overtime thriller. GCC has lost 20 straight games spanning two full seasons since then.

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RFC Small College Preview: Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)

2015 Football Standings - Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference

Looking back: There were tight races in both the East and West Divisions of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in 2015, as every team lost at least one league game last season.  In the end, however, only two teams from the PSAC advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, with both Indiana (Pa.) and Slippery Rock losing to eventual national runner-up Shepherd. The Crimson Hawks lost a second round heartbreaker to the Rams, 17-13, while the "Rock" advanced to the quarterfinals before falling, 28-16.

Even with just two teams advancing to the postseason play last fall, the PSAC proved once again why it's one of the toughest conferences in all of D-II, with 10 of its 16 teams finishing the 2015 campaign with a winning record. Still, of the six teams that finished last season with a losing record, two of them; Cheyney and Edinboro, both finished winless at 0-11.

Looking ahead: Expect the PSAC to be one of the most competitive conferences in all of NCAA Division II once again in 2016. In fact, don't be surprised if some of the "sleeper" teams pull off a few upsets on the "favorites" this fall.

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

East Division:

1. Shippensburg (8-3): As the lone division team to win at least eight games overall last fall, don't sleep on the Red Raiders as the potential "Beasts of the East" this fall.

2. West Chester (7-4): But it's the Golden Rams that will be the team to beat in the East, as they enter the 2016 season as the defending division champions. However, they must replace several seniors from the 2015 season, three of whom earned all-PSAC honors.

3. Bloomsburg (7-4): The Huskies had a down season by their own standards, finishing in a three-way tie for second place in the PSAC East at 5-2 last year. Still, with a player like Lawrence Elliott, Jr. being named to the NFL Draft Watch List, don't be surprised if "Bloom" blasts its way back into the title discussion this year. 

4. Kutztown (7-4): Thanks to a four-game winning streak to end the 2015 season, don't count out the Golden Bears as a contender for the 2016 season, either. If the final score of the spring game earlier this year is any indication, expect KU to score a lot of points this fall.

5. East Stroudsburg (6-5): If the Warriors are to have their fourth straight winning season in 2016, they must go through a schedule that has them playing against six teams that finished with a winning record in 2015.

6. Millersville (2-9): Despite a two-game winning streak to end the 2015 season after starting 0-9, the Marauders still face an uphill battle to move up in the PSAC standings as the 2016 season approaches.

7. Lock Haven (2-9): The Eagles also struggled in 2015, finishing 2-5 in PSAC East play.

8. Cheyney (0-11): With the exception of their season-opening 29-22 loss to Lincoln (Pa.), the Wolves were blown out in all of their contests last year, being held to seven points or less all but three games.

West Division

1. Slippery Rock (12-2): The "Rock" will enter the 2016 campaign looking to win their fourth straight West Division title, as well as advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the fourth straight year, not to mention their third straight overall PSAC championship.

2. Indiana (Pa.)--(9-3): The Crimson Hawks hope to replace 10 seniors with a recruiting class of seven players this season. Oh, and IUP begins 2016 ranked No. 4 in D-II by The Sporting News, thanks to 21 starters returning from the squad that reached the playoffs in 2015. Talk about high hopes and expectations...eh?

3. California (Pa.)--(8-3): The Vulcans named Gary Dunn as their new head coach on January 29, 2016. He replaces Mike Kellar, who stepped down to take the head coaching job at Lenoir-Rhyne. Dunn's top priority will be to maintain the winning tradition that began under Kellar.

4. Clarion (7-4): The Golden Eagles started 7-0 before stumbling in their last four contests of 2015. Head Coach Chris Weibel hopes that a recruiting class of at least 28 players will help his team stay competitive during the critical stretch run of 2016.

5. Gannon (6-5): With just a mere handful of seniors-redshirts included-on their roster, the Golden Knights hope to hold their own this fall-and then some.

6. Mercyhurst (5-6): The Lakers face a long, uphill battle back towards the upper portion of the PSAC standings after a disappointing 2015 season that saw them finish 2-5 in West Division play. It won't get any easier for them in the 2016 season either, as they'll face eight teams that finished last fall with a winning record. That includes at least six teams that won at least seven games last year. 

7. Seton Hill (3-8): The Griffins face a tough road themselves, also taking on eight teams that finished with winning records last fall.

8. Edinboro (0-11): The Fighting Scots look to bounce back from a winless season under new head coach Justin Lustig.

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