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Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)-(NCAA Division II)
Overview: The race for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) championship in 2018 was basically a battle between two teams in the Colorado State University-Pueblo Thunderwolves and the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers. Both teams finished RMAC action at 9-1, with the Orediggers outlasting Thunderwolves 35-21 in the regular season contest on September 15.
But CSU-Pueblo avenged that setback to Colorado Mines in a stunning upset on the road in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs on November 17. The Orediggers season ended at 10-2 overall after the loss to the Thunderwolves. Meanwhile, Pueblo's season came to a close at 11-2 overall after losing to then No. 1 Minnesota State-Mankato in a second-round contest the following weekend.
The RMAC will lose one of its members to the NCAA Division I ranks after this season, as Dixie State University from Utah announced its intentions to upgrade from the Division II level starting in 2020. That move will leave the league with only four non-Colorado schools with football programs in Chadron State of Nebraska, New Mexico Highlands from New Mexico, and Black Hills State and South Dakota School Mines in South Dakota.
2018 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Football Final Standings
2019 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 2019 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.
Adams State
Black Hills State
Chadron State
Colorado Mesa
Colorado Mines
Colorado State-Pueblo
Dixie State
Fort Lewis
New Mexico Highlands
South Dakota Mines
Western Colorado
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American Southwest Conference (ASC)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders won their second NCAA Division III national championship in three years in the first Stagg Bowl ever to be held in their home state of Texas, knocking off then-defending national champion Mount Union 24-16 on December 14. The win over the Purple Raiders avenged a 12-0 shutout loss to the Ohio-based squad in the 2017 Stagg Bowl.
Now the big question going into 2019, at least within the American Southwest Conference (ASC), is this: Can any team stop UMHB? For now, the answer appears to be no one, according to the ASC preseason poll, with the "Cru" being picked to cruise to yet another conference championship this season.
Should the Crusaders falter at any point this fall, the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys could be the best bet to take the title. H-SU finished 9-2 overall in 2018, with both losses coming to UMHB, including a first-round loss to the Crusaders in the NCAA D-III playoffs. The Cowboys will get their chance against the "Cru" on October 26 in a game that could decide the ASC crown. Mary Hardin-Baylor shut out Hardin-Simmons 26-0 in last year's regular-season meeting on October 6, then ended the Cowboys season in the playoff contest 27-6 on November 17.
2018 American Southwest Conference (ASC) Football Final Standings
2019 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 2019 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.
Belhaven
East Texas Baptist
Hardin-Simmons
Howard Payne
Louisiana College
Mary Hardin-Baylor
McMurry
Southwestern (Tex.)
Sul Ross State
Texas Lutheran
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Lone Star Conference (LSC)-(NCAA Division II)
Overview: 2018 proved to be "The Year of the Texans," the Tarleton State University Texans, that is, at least as far as the Lone Star Conference (LSC) was concerned. After finishing the regular season undefeated at 10-0, the Texans crushed Azusa Pacific in the first round, dethroned fellow LSC foe and then-defending NCAA Division II national champion Texas A&M-Commerce in a second round thriller, before losing a heartbreaker to then top-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato in the quarterfinals to finish the season at 12-1 overall.
As the 2019 season quickly approaches, the big questions in the LSC are these? Can Tarleton repeat last year's success? Will Texas A&M-Commerce (10-3 overall in 2018) win their second national championship in three years? Or can Midwestern State (8-2) can work their way into postseason play after missing out on the D-II playoffs last year? Those questions, and many more, will be answered when the regular season starts on Thursday, September 5, when Angelo State (6-6) plays host to Western Oregon.
2018 Lone Star Conference (LSC) Football Final Standings
2019 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 2019 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.
Angelo State
Eastern New Mexico
Midwestern State
Tarleton State
Texas A&M-Commerce
Texas A&M-Kingsville
UT-Permian Basin
West Texas A&M
Western New Mexico
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Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC)-(NAIA)
Overview: The Langston University Lions clinched the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) title after finishing unbeaten in league action at 8-0 last season. The Lions fell to eventual national semifinalist Kansas Wesleyan in the first round of the NAIA playoffs on November 17 to finish their 2018 campaign at 9-2 overall.
With a ranking of No. 14 in the NAIA preseason coaches poll, look for Langston to contend for yet another postseason berth in 2019. However, don't be surprised if either Oklahoma Panhandle State (6-5 overall, 6-2 in the SAC in 2018) and/or Arizona Christian (8-3, 5-3) manage to mount a strong challenge against the Lions this fall.
2018 Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Football Final Standings
2019 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 2019 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.
Arizona Christian
Langston
Lyon
Oklahoma Panhandle State
Ottawa (Ariz.)
SAGU
Texas College
Texas Wesleyan
Wayland Baptist
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Great American Conference (GAC)-(NCAA Division II)
Overview: The eighth season of gridiron competition for the Great American Conference (GAC) was perhaps the most competitive ever, with five of the league's 12 teams finishing the 2018 campaign with a .500 or better record, and four of those five squads advancing to postseason play in some form. Even the four teams that finished in a four-way tie for last place in league play last year managed to finish 3-8 overall.
Ouachita Baptist was the best team by far in the GAC last fall, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs before falling to Ferris State to finish 12-1 overall, after finishing the regular season undefeated at 11-0. Harding finished second in the GAC at 9-2, losing to that same Ferris State squad in a hard-fought first round clash to finish 9-3 overall.
Two other GAC teams advanced to bowl games, only to lose both contests. Southern Arkansas (8-4 overall in 2018) ended the season with three straight losses after losing to Missouri Western State in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl, while Arkansas-Monticello (6-6) fell to Emporia State in the Corsicana Bowl.
Going into 2019, expect Ouachita Baptist to be the team to beat, with Harding and Southern Arkansas looking to dethrone the Tigers while challenging for another postseason berth. Don't count Arkansas-Monticello or Southeastern Oklahoma State (6-5 in 2018) either.
2018 Great American Conference (GAC) Football Final Standings
2019 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 2019 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.
Arkansas Tech
Arkansas-Monticello
East Central
Harding
Henderson State
Northwestern Oklahoma State
Oklahoma Baptist
Ouachita Baptist
Southeastern Oklahoma State
Southern Arkansas
Southern Nazarene
Southwestern Oklahoma State
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Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA)-(NCAA Division II)
Overview: The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) sent five of its top six teams to postseason play in 2018, with Pittsburg State (Kan.)-(8-3 overall) being the lone exception despite a third-place finish.
Fort Hays State (9-3 overall, 9-2 in the MIAA) stunned Northwest Missouri State (10-3, 9-2) on November 3 to win a share of the league title. However, it was the Bearcats that advanced in the NCAA Division II playoffs, crushing Grand Valley State on the road in the first round before falling to eventual national runner-up Ferris State in the second round. As for the Tigers, their season ended in the first round of the D-II playoffs with a 38-27 loss at Indianapolis.
Three other MIAA teams advanced to postseason play last season, with all three squads winning their bowl games. Central Oklahoma (8-4) outlasted Angelo State 41-34 to claim the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl crown, Emporia State (8-4) got by Arkansas-Monticello 30-22 to win the Corsicana Bowl in Texas, and Missouri Western State (7-5) defeated Southern Arkansas 30-25 in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl.
The 2019 season brings a small membership change to the MIAA, as Lindenwood has left for the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), while Lincoln (Mo.) takes its place in the MIAA.
2018 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Football Final Standings
2019 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 2019 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.
Central Missouri
Central Oklahoma
Emporia State
Fort Hays State
Lincoln (Mo.)
Missouri Southern State
Missouri Western State
Nebraska-Kearney
Northwest Missouri State
Pittsburg State (Kan.)
Washburn
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Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC)-(NAIA)
Overview: The Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes finished undefeated in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) at 10-0 en route to finishing the regular season undefeated at 11-0 overall for 2018.
KWU made a deep run in the NAIA playoffs, advancing to the national semifinals before falling to eventual national runner-up Benedictine (Kan.) 43-21 on December 1. The loss to the Ravens gave the Coyotes a final record of 13-1 overall for last fall.
With a preseason ranking of No. 1 in the College Football America Yearbook poll, as well as No. 4 in the NAIA preseason coaches poll, expect Kansas Wesleyan to be the team to beat in the KCAC once again this fall.
2018 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Football Final Standings
2019 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 2019 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.
Avila
Bethany (Kan.)
Bethel (Kan.)
Friends
Kansas Wesleyan
McPherson
Ottawa (Kan.)
Saint Mary
Southwestern (Kan.)
Sterling
Tabor
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Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC)-(NAIA)
Overview: The Benedictine College Ravens from Atchison, Kansas proved to be worthy representatives of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) in 2018, advancing to their first-ever NAIA national championship game last season. They fell to Morningside in a tight 35-28 decision on December 15 to finish 13-2 overall.
As for other HAAC teams that advanced to postseason play last fall, the Baker University Wildcats upset then No.3-ranked Bethel (Tenn.) 44-41 in a double-overtime thriller in the first round of the NAIA playoffs, only to lose to St. Francis (Ind.) 33-23 in the second round to finish their 2018 season at 9-3 overall. Other teams that finished last season with a winning record, only to miss out on the postseason were Evangel (9-2 overall in 2018) and Grand View (8-3).
With a preseason No. 2 ranking behind defending national champion Morningside in the inaugural AFCA NAIA coaches poll, as well as multiple stars returning for the Ravens this season, don't be surprised if Benedictine returns to the NAIA national championship game in 2019.
2018 Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Football Final Standings
2019 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 2019 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.
North Division
Clarke
Culver-Stockton
Graceland
Grand View
Peru State
William Penn
South Division
Baker
Benedictine (Kan.)
Central Methodist
Evangel
MidAmerica Nazarene
Missouri Valley
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Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC)-(NAIA)
Overview: With the exception of three games decided by a combined margin of 21 points, the Morningside College Mustangs were the most dominant team at the NAIA level in 2018, winning most of their games by 18 or more points. Two of the three aforementioned games were decided by eight points or less, with the Mustangs needing overtime to oust then two-time defending NAIA national champion St. Francis (Ind.) 34-28 on December 1, then outlasted Benedictine (Kan.) 35-28 on December 15 for their first-ever NAIA national championship.
Going into 2019, Morningside received 11 of 12 first-place votes in the media poll, as well as nine of 10 first-place votes in the coaches poll, to repeat as GPAC champions. The Mustangs will be challenged by a Northwestern (Iowa) team that's looking to rebound after being shocked by Dickinson State in the first round to finish the 2018 season at 9-2 overall. Also keep an eye on Dordt (7-3 in 2018) and Midland (7-4 in 2018).
2018 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Football Final Standings
2019 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 2019 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.
Briar Cliff
Concordia (Neb.)
Dakota Wesleyan
Doane
Dordt
Hastings
Jamestown
Midland
Morningside
Northwestern (Iowa)
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North Star Athletic Association (NSAA)-(NAIA)
Overview: The Dickinson State University Blue Hawks finished undefeated at home at 5-0 on the way to finishing 6-1 in North Star Athletic Association play, and clinching the NSAA crown, with their lone league loss coming at the hands of a Waldorf team (5-5 overall in 2018) that finished tied with Valley City State (6-4 in 2018) at 5-2 in conference action.
In the NAIA playoffs, the Blue Hawks stunned then No. 5 Northwestern (Iowa) in a tight 14-6 defensive struggle in the first round, before losing a heartbreaker to then No. 6 Kansas Wesleyan in a 43-40 thriller in the quarterfinals. Dickinson State finished the 2018 season at 9-3 overall.
With non-conference home games looming against another NAIA playoff participant in Rocky Mountain (8-4 in 2018) in the season opener on August 29, followed by a clash vs. NCAA Division III Wisconsin-LaCrosse (7-3 in 2018) on September 21, Dickinson State hopes to make a return trip to postseason play in 2019.
2018 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Football Final Standings
2019 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 2019 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.
Dakota State
Dickinson State
Mayville State
Presentation
Valley City State
Waldorf
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