skip to main |
skip to sidebar
What it is: With a history dating back nearly a century, to 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, or CIAA for short, is a conference consisting mainly of historically black colleges & universities, or HBCU's. Two of its current members, Livingstone College and Biddle University (now Johnson C. Smith University), played the first football game between two African-American institutions. Two other current members, St. Augustine's (N.C.) and St. Pauls (Va.), had lengthy periods without football. More recently, Chowan (N.C.) was admitted to the CIAA as the conference's first non-HBCU member, in 2008. One of the conference's original members, Lincoln (Pa.), was re-admitted to the league just two years ago. Currently, the league's membership stretches from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, with schools in Maryland and Virginia sandwiched in between. Website: http://www.theciaa.com/Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected conference champion in BOLD type).1. Fayetteville State (8-4): The Broncos advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division II playoffs as the CIAA champions, losing to California (Pa.), 42-14, in the first round.
2. Shaw (8-2): Close, heartbreaking losses to Bowie State (31-24) and Fayetteville State (29-28) kept the Bears from an undefeated regular season.3. Bowie State (6-5): The Bulldogs started last season 6-2 before losing three straight games to end the 2009 season.4. Elizabeth City State (7-4): The Vikings finished an "up-and-down" season with a 21-7 loss to Tuskegee in the Pioneer Bowl.5. Virginia Union (6-4): The Panthers hope to take a giant step towards a CIAA championship in 2010.6. St. Augustine's (4-6): The Falcons won three of their last four games to finish 4-3 in CIAA action.7. St. Paul's (4-5): The Tigers downed Lincoln (Pa.), 16-6, to end an otherwise disappointing season on a high note.8. Johnson C. Smith (3-7): The Golden Bulls were outscored 140-43 during a season-ending, four-game losing streak. That included a 50-0 rout by Shaw in the 2009 finale.9. Chowan (2-8): The Hawks look to soar after a 2-5 finish in CIAA play last season.10. Lincoln (Pa.)--(3-7): The Lions look forward to their first full season of CIAA action in 2010.11. Livingstone (0-10): The Blue Bears and their faithful found themselves singing the blues after a winless season in 2009.RFC Contacts:E-mail: realfootballcentral@gmail.comTwitter: twitter.com/realfootball
What it is: The Atlantic Central Football Conference has competed at the NCAA Division III level since 1998, and is one of the few football-only conferences playing at any level, NCAA or NAIA. Wesley College of Dover, Delaware has dominated the ACFC since its inception, winning seven of the league's 12 titles, including the last five. The Wolverines have also finished unbeaten in league play in all but one of those season, going 4-1 in 2005. Additionally, Wesley has reached the national semifinals of the D-III playoffs three of the last five years, losing either to Mount Union or Wisconsin-Whitewater each time.With Frostburg State and Salisbury both leaving for the Empire 8 Conference in 2011, it appears that 2010 will be the final year for the ACFC. Don't be surprised if Wesley joins either the Centennial or Middle Atlantic Conferences, or another league with an automatic bid to the D-III playoffs.One final side note: The fourth member of the ACFC, Newport News Apprentice (Va.), is not a college or university. Nor is it affiliated with the NCAA or NAIA. Instead, it's a trade school that has played against smaller colleges and universities since its founding in 1919.Website: http://www.acfcfootball.comPredicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)1. Wesley (13-1): Will 2010 finally be the year the Wolverines break through, and advance to the Stagg Bowl?2. Salisbury (5-6): The Gulls hope to win the first ACFC title since 2004, in their final season before bolting for the Empire 8 Conference.3. Frostburg State (1-9): The Bobcats last winning season was in 2005. They finished 6-5 overall, but were a dismal 1-4 in ACFC play.4. Newport News Apprentice (1-9): The Builders struggled to a winless, last place finish in the ACFC at 0-3.RFC ContactsE-mail: realfootballcentral@gmail.comTwitter: twitter.com/realfootball
For those that haven't heard the news by now, the landscape of college football, and college sports in general, underwent significant changes this week, as Colorado has decided to leave the Big 12 for the Pac 10 Conference, while Nebraska apparently has accepted the invitation to join the Big 10. But what do those moves mean for teams and conferences in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)? College Sporting News explores such scenarios in a two-part series. Part 1 is available here, while Part 2 can be read here.
One of the oldest intercollegiate athletic conferences in the nation, with a history dating back nearly a century. the Middle Atlantic Conference currently has eight schools playing football at the NCAA Division III level. All football-playing schools are located either in New Jersey or Pennsylvania.Delaware Valley (automatic qualifier) and Albright (at-large bid) represented the MAC in the 2009 D-III playoffs. Both teams played each other in round two, where Albright eliminated Delaware Valley, 27-3. The Lions advanced to the quarterfinals the following week, where their postseason run ended with a 55-3 rout by eventual national runner-up Mount Union.Website: http://www.gomacsports.comPredicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected conference champion in BOLD type)1. Delaware Valley (10-2): With 18 starters coming back, and a preseason national ranking as high as No. 7 in two separate polls, it's hard not to bet against Del Val. But the Aggies face some tough challenges to start off the season, playing games against NCAA playoff teams Washington & Jefferson and Wesley before starting MAC play against ECAC bowl participant Lebanon Valley on October 2.2. Albright (11-2): Expect the Lions to provide the stiffest challenge to an Aggies repeat MAC championship. The two teams square off in Reading on November 6. But the Lions have to pay a visit to Lebanon Valley the following weekend.3. Lebanon Valley (9-2): A heartbreaking one-point loss to Albright (44-43) cost the Dutchmen an NCAA playoff berth, but did win the ECAC Southwest Bowl, as they defeated Salisbury, 37-21.4. Lycoming (4-6): The Warriors were 3-4 in games decided by 14 points or less last year.5. Wilkes (6-4): The Colonels were 5-1 in contests decided by seven points or less.6. King's (3-7): The Monarchs face an uphill climb after going 2-5 in conference play last season.7. Widener (3-7): The national championship seasons (1977, 1981) seem to be a distant memory for the Pride. Last year's edition finished on a six-game skid. 8. Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham (2-8): The Devils face three teams that advanced to some form of postseason play in their first six games of 2010.Contact RFCE-mail: realfootballcentral@gmail.comTwitter: twitter.com/realfootball
What it is: The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference, or ECFC, for short, begins its second year of play at the NCAA Division III level in 2010. It's made up mostly of smaller institutions in the Northeast, where the football programs have started up within the last five years. Of the eight current members, only Castleton in Vermont is a public, state-supported campus. Additionally, its membership competes other Website: http://www.easterncollegiatefootball.comPredicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)1. Norwich (8-3): After going undefeated (6-0) en route to winning the inaugural ECFC championship, the Cadets now turn their focus towards taking home back-to-back crowns.2. Gallaudet (6-4): The Bison hope to move their way to the top after finishing last season in a second place tie last season.3. Mount Ida (4-7): The Mustangs also finished 4-2 in the ECFC, like the Bison. That's despite going winless in non-conference play at 0-5.4. Husson (4-5): The Eagles hope to finish above .500 overall after a 3-3 ECFC finish in '09.5. Maritime (N.Y.)--(6-4): The Privaters enter the 2010 season looking to win a conference crown after breaking even in league play in 2009.6. Castleton (3-6): The Spartans enter their second season of play looking to improve upon last year's 1-5 conference mark.7. Becker (0-10): Nowhere to go but up for the Hawks after going winless in 2009.8. Anna Maria (0-9): The AmCats play their first full ECFC schedule in 2010.RFC Contacts:E-mail: realfootballcentral@gmail.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/realfootball
What it is: As the name suggests, the Empire 8 Conference consists mostly of institutions located in upstate New York, with six of its 12 members currently playing football. The E8 will go through some membership changes starting in 2011. Springfield (Mass.) will leave for the Liberty League after that season, while Maryland programs and current Atlantic Central Football Conference members Frostburg State and Salisbury will join around that same time. Additionally, Buffalo State will move from the New Jersey Athletic Conference prior to the 2012 season. Website: http://www.empire8.comPredicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected conference champion in BOLD type)1. St. John Fisher (7-3): The Cardinals look to win another conference title outright after missing out on an NCAA playoff berth last year.2. Alfred (8-2): The Saxons shared the E8 title with SJF, but won the automatic bid to the D-III playoffs. They fell to Albright, 35-25, in round one.3. Ithaca (7-3): Expect the Bombers to be a serious contender in the E8 after a 3-2 finish in conference play.4. Springfield (8-2): Same thing goes for the Pride.5. Hartwick (5-5): The Hawks struggled to a 1-4 mark in conference action last year.6. Utica (4-6): The Pioneers face an uphill battle after going winless in the E8 at 0-5 in '09.
What it is: The New England Small College Athletic Conference, or the NESCAC for short, begins its 40th season of competition this fall, as it was founded in 1971. A league comprised of small, but highly selective, private institutitions, the NESCAC currently has 11 full members, 10 of which play football. Of those 10 schools, three of them are from Maine, three from Massachusetts, two from Connecticut, one from Vermont, and one from New York State. Because of this academic selectivity, the NESCAC is often referred to as the "Little Ivy League".Unlike most conferences, the NESCAC chooses not to send its football teams to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Additionally, all 10 teams play an eight-game regular season schedule.The NESCAC has the longest-played rivalry in all of Division III: the "Biggest Little Game In America" between Amherst and Williams. The Lord Jeffs and Ephs have played each other 124 times since 1884, as Williams leads 70-49-5 in the all-time series. Amherst won last year's game, 26-21. Also, the NESCAC is divided into two "mini-conferences", the "Little Three", which consists of Amherst, Wesleyan, and Williams, as well as the "CBB", which is made up of the three schools in Maine: Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby. Finally, in an ironic twist, three-time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots, as well as former New York Jets turned Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini, both graduated from Wesleyan University.Website: http://www.nescac.comPredicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)1. Amherst (8-0): The Lord Jeffs hope to win back-to-back outright NESCAC title for the first time in program history this season.2. Williams (6-2): If the Ephs hope to dethrone the Lord Jeffs, they must do it under a new head coach, as Aaron Kelton takes over the reins in Williamstown. Ironically, both of the Ephs losses last year came by the same score, 26-21.3. Trinity (6-2): Both of the Bantams losses came to Middlebury (31-24) and Amherst (23-12).4. Middlebury (5-3): The Panthers are looking to win their outright NESCAC title since 2007. They finished 7-1 thast season.5. Colby (4-4): The Mules have won or shared 15 CBB championships since 1988.6. Wesleyan (3-5): Five of the eight Cardinals games in 2009 were decided by eight points or less. They were 2-2 in those contests.7. Bowdoin (3-5): The Polar Bears also played in their share of close calls, going 1-4 in games decided by five points or less.8. Tufts (2-6): The Jumbos hope to bounce back after a disappointing season. Both wins came by eight points or less.9. Hamilton (2-6): The Continentals ended a five-game losing streak with a 24-14 win over Bates to end the 2009 season.10. Bates (1-7): The Bobcats defeated Bowdoin, 28-24, for their lone win of last season.
What it is: The New England Football Conference is one of the few "football-only" conferences at any level, NCAA or NAIA. All 16 current members compete at the NCAA Division III level, and in separate conferences for other sports. 12 of those members come from the Massachusetts, with the others coming from New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.The history of the NEFC dates back to 1965, when Maine Maritime won the league's first title. 45 years later, the Mariners begin the 2010 season as defending league champions. The league has had its championship game since 2000.Success in the D-III playoffs has been hard to come by for the NEFC, as the conference has won only two games all time. Curry College has been the only team to win those games, as the Colonels crushed Hartwick, 42-21, in the first round of the 2007 playoffs, followed by a narrow 26-21 win over Ithaca in 2008.Website: http://www.newenglandfoootballconference.comPredicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected conference champion in BOLD)Boyd Division1. Curry (8-3): Despite going unbeaten (7-0) en route to winning the division crown, the Colonels lost a heartbreaker to Maine Maritime in the NEFC title game. Look for them to reach the championship game again in 2010.2. Plymouth State (8-3): Expect the Panthers to give the Colonels (6-1) a stiff challenge in the Boyd Division.3. Western New England (6-4): The Golden Bears won five straight games to end last season at 5-2 in NEFC play. They hope to notch their first-ever seven-win season this year.4. Endicott (5-5): Back-to-back wins to finish 2009 at .500 gives the Gulls a glimmer of hope going into 2010.5. Salve Regina (4-6): The Seahawks lost back-to-back games to finish the 2009 season.6. Nichols (4-6): As did the Bison.7. MIT (1-8): The Engineers haven't had a winning season since 1999. That's when they finished 6-4 overall. 8. UMass-Dartmouth (0-10): The Corsairs hope to win any game in 2010. Period. Believe it or not, though, UMD did finish 6-4 in 2008.Bogan Division1. Bridgewater State (7-3): The Bears look to climb their way to the top after a 5-2 NEFC finish in 2009.2. Maine Maritime (9-2): The Mariners come fresh off of their first-ever NCAA Division III playoff appearance. They hope to prove that 2009 was no fluke.3. Westfield State (7-3): The Owls could make it a three-way race for the Bogan title again in 2010.4. Framingham State (5-5): The Rams faded fast down the stretch after starting last season fast at 4-1. They lost four of their last five games to finish 2009.5. Coast Guard (4-5): The Bears won two of their final three games to finish 4-3 in the NEFC a year ago.6. Fitchburg State (4-6): The Falcons finished the 2009 campaign with a four-game freefall. That's after they started 4-2. Fitchburg also gave up 144 points during that four-game losing streak to end last season.7. Massachusetts Maritime (3-7): The Buccaneers lost five of their final six games of last season. The lone win in that stretch was 57-37 over Fitchburg State.8. Worcester State (1-9): A 20-10 win over, you guessed it, Fitchburg State, turned out to be lone bright spot in a long 2009 season for the Lancers.Overall Champion: Curry College
What it is: With a tradition rich in academics as well as athletics, the Ivy League has ranked among the nation's most storied conferences. The Ivy League has eight schools in communities ranging from major metropolitan areas such as Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia, to smaller cities like Hanover, N.H., and Princeton, N.J. Although it has competed at the Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision since 1982, the Ivy League does not send any of its football teams to postseason play. All teams stick to a strict 10-game schedule. None of the schools currently have athletic scholarships.The Ivy League also has one of the most storied rivalries in all of college football: "The Game" between Harvard and Yale that has traditionally ended each season. The Crimson and the Bulldogs have played against each other 126 times dating back to 1875. Yale leads the series 65-53-8.Website: http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)1. Penn (8-2): The Quakers went unbeaten in Ivy League play (7-0) last season.2. Harvard (7-3): The Crimson held off Yale, 14-10, to finish second in the Ivy at 6-1.3. Brown (6-4): The Bears hope to break the stranglehold the Quakers and Crimson have held in the Ivy League in recent years.4. Columbia (4-6): The Lions finished a respectable 3-4 in league action last season.5. Princeton (4-6): The Tigers also finished 3-4 in the Ivy a year ago, finishing in a tie with the Lions for fourth place.6. Yale (4-6): The Bulldogs look to bounce back after a disappointing 2-5 conference finish.7. Dartmouth (2-8): The Big Green struggled in 2009, with their only wins coming over Columbia (28-6), and Cornell (20-17, 2OT).8. Cornell (2-8): The Big Red started last season 2-0 before losing eight straight games to finish it. The team's lone Ivy League win came over Yale, 14-12. Contact RFC:E-mail: realfootballcentral@gmail.comTwitter: twitter.com/realfootball
Our preseason previews continue with our first foray into the NCAA Division III ranks: the New Jersey Athletic Conference.What it is: The New Jersey Athletic Conference, or NJAC, for short, currently has 10 schools playing football, with five of those members, all associate, coming from either New York State or Connecticut. Rowan has been to the D-III national title game, "aka" the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl five times (1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 1999, losing to Mount Union three times, Wisconsin-LaCrosse once, and Pacific Lutheran once. The NJAC is another one of those strong small college conferences whose football teams have never won a national championship.Website: http://www.njac.netPredicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)1. Montclair State (10-2): The Red Hawks are favored to finish on top in the NJAC, barring any serious injuries or slow starts to the season. 2. Kean (9-2): The Cougars hope to take the next step towards an NCAA playoff berth after knocking off Ursinus, 35-14, in the ECAC Southwest Bowl last season.3. Cortland (7-4): Most programs would be happy with seven-win seasons. The Red Dragons aren't among that group, though.4. Rowan (7-3): The Profs also look to return to contender status after missing out on the postseason in 2009.5. College of New Jersey (4-6): The Lions lost five straight games to finish last season.6. William Paterson (5-5): The Pioneers crushed Western Connecticut State, 34-7, to finish at .500 overall.7. Brockport (4-6): The Golden Eagles face an uphill battle after finishing 3-6 in the NJAC in '09.8. Western Connecticut (2-8): Finishing at .500 would be considered a success for the Colonials.9. Buffalo State (2-8): The Bengals face a long climb to the top after going 2-7 in conference play last season.10. Morrisville State (1-9): The Mustangs also face an uphill battle in 2010.
Our summer preseason previews roll on with an outlook on the NCAA Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.What it is: The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, or PSAC, for short, was founded in 1951, and has competed at the NCAA Division II level since 1980. As the name indicates, the PSAC consists mostly of state supported institutions throughout Pennsylvania, although it added in-state private schools such as Gannon and Mercyhurst, as well as an out-of-state associate member in C.W. Post (N.Y). Also, Mansfield dropped its football program at the end of the 2006 season, although it has currently has a sprint football team. Despite being one of the toughest conferences in all of D-II, no PSAC program has ever won a national championship. In fact, only two current PSAC members have played for a national championship. Indiana (Pa.) lost to North Dakota State, 51-11, in the 1990 title game, as well as to North Alabama, 41-34, for the 1993 championship. Bloomsburg is the only other current PSAC member to reach the title game, losing to Delta State, 63-34, in the 2000 championship game.The PSAC was one of the few D-II conferences in the nation to have at least one representative play in the Super Bowl the last two seasons. Bloomsburg alumnus Jahri Evans played for the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints last February, while Clarion product Reggie Wells suited up for the Arizona Cardinals in Super XLIII. The PSAC currently has 16 member schools playing football, including associate member C.W. Post.Website: http://www.psacsports.orgPredicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected winner in BOLD type)Eastern Division1. Bloomsburg (8-3): Huskies hope to avoid late season collapse that cost them a playoff berth.2. Shippensburg (9-3): Red Raiders have tough row to hoe in defending the PSAC title.3. C.W. Post (6-5): Expect the Pioneers to be in the thick of the division race again in 2010.4. West Chester (7-4): Same thing goes for the Golden Rams.5. East Stroudsburg (8-3): Warriors have their work cut out for them if they hope to be serious contenders for the division crown.6. Kutztown (3-8): The Golden Bears finished a dismal 1-6 in the PSAC East last season.7. Millersville (3-8): The Marauders also struggled in 2009, going 2-5 in league play.8. Cheyney (0-11). After a winless season, the Wolves have nowhere to go but up.Western Division1. California (Pa.)--(11-4): The Vulcans hope to make a fourth straight trip to the national semifinals.2. Clarion (8-3): After a 5-1 finish in PSAC West play last season, the Golden Eagles hope to make their first D-II playoff appearance since 1996.3. Edinboro (9-4): The Fighting Scots hope to make it back-to-back postseason trips in 2010.4. Slippery Rock (6-5): Can the Rock take that next step, and make their first trip to the playoffs since 1999?5. Gannon (6-5): The Golden Knights hope to break through in the PSAC West standings this season.6. Mercyhurst (4-7): The Lakers have an uphill battle to face in a tough Western Division.7. Indiana (Pa.)--(5-6): The Crimson Hawks face a long climb back to the top after struggling to a 1-6 conference finish in 2009.8. Lock Haven (0-10): The Bald Eagles hope to crack the win column in 2010.
What it is: Competing in the Football Championship Subdivision of NCAA Division I (formerly Division I-AA), the roots of the Northeast Conference go all the way back to 1981, when it didn't sponsor football. The NEC currently has nine schools taking to the gridiron, out of 12 current members overall. Central Connecticut State (9-3, 7-1) enters the 2010 season as the defending champion. The league has sponsored football since 1996, and will earn an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs starting in 2010.Website: http://www.northeastconference.orgPredicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected conference champion in BOLD type)1. Central Connecticut State (9-3)2. Albany (N.Y.)--(7-4)3. Robert Morris (5-6)4. Wagner (6-5)5. Monmouth (5-6)6. Duquesne (3-8)7. Bryant (5-6)8. Sacred Heart (2-8)9. St. Francis (Pa.)--(1-9)
What it is: As a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, the Northeast 10 Conference traces its origins back 30 years to 1980, when it started as the Northeast 7 Conference. The NE-10 currently has 16 full members in five states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, & Vermont). The league currently has nine football playing members, although football has only been added within the last decade. The NE-10 failed to place a team in the 2009 Division II playoffs, as three teams (Bentley, Merrimack, and Southern Connecticut State) all shared the conference title with identical 6-2 conference records. Also, New Haven (5-5, 4-4) made its presence felt as the school resumed its football program, finishing a respectable .500 a year ago.Website: http://www.northeast10.orgPredicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses)1. Bentley (8-2)2. Southern Connecticut (6-4)3. Merrimack (7-3)4. New Haven (5-5)5. Assumption (6-4)6. Stonehill (5-5)7. American International (5-5)8. Pace (1-9)9. Saint Anselm (2-8)RFC e-mail address: realfootballcentral@gmail.comTwitter: twitter.com/realfootball
What it is: The Patriot League consists of eight full member, and three associate member institutions in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Of those schools, only American doesn't field a football, while Army and Navy compete as independents in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly NCAA Division I-A.Of the 24 previous champions, only Colgate has managed to play for the national championship, as the Red Raiders lost to Delaware in the 2003 title game. Holy Cross won five of the first six PL between 1986 and 1991, with the Crusaders most recent crown coming in 2009. In addition to the Crusaders six titles, other teams that have won multiple Patriot League championships are Lehigh (winners of the most PL titles with eight), and Lafayette (four), Colgate (five), and Fordham (two).
Website: http://www.patriotleague.org/Predicted order of finish (Projected conference champion in BOLD type)1. Holy Cross (9-3): The defending Patriot League champs hope to go deeper into postseason play after a season-ending 38-28 to eventual national champion Villanova in the first round of last year's FCS playoffs.2. Colgate (9-2): The Red Raiders were one of three teams to finish in a three-way tie for second place in 2009, finish 4-2 in Patriot League play.3. Lafayette (8-3): The Leopards look to make a leap into the playoffs this year after missing out on the postseason last year.4. Lehigh (4-7): The Mountain Hawks were the third team to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the PL, despite going 0-5 in non-conference play.5. Bucknell (4-7): The Bison hope to bounce back after a disappointing 2-4 showing in Patriot League play last year.6. Fordham (5-6): The Rams also face an uphill battle to win in 2010.7. Georgetown (0-11): Which is something the Hoyas couldn't in 2009.
Spring is nearing its end. Summer is just around the corner. That means it's time for the start of the "Real Football Central Summer Semester". This post is the first of what will likely be a long series of preseason previews of most--if not all--of the small college football programs and conferences across the United States. So, without further ado, let's get started.Colonial Athletic AssociationWebsite: http://www.caasports.com/What it is: The CAA is a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly NCAA Division I-AA. Membership stretches from Maine to Virginia. It will field 10 teams in 2010. The CAA includes defending national champion Villanova. Since 2003, the CAA has won four of the last seven national championships (Delaware, 2003; James Madison, 2004; Richmond, 2008; and Villanova, 2009).The conference will see some changes in 2010. Both Hofstra and Northeastern dropped their football programs at the end of the 2009 season. Second-year program Old Dominion will spend another season as an independent before moving into the CAA fold for 2011. Additionally, the conference will extend its footprint into Georgia by 2012. That's when Georgia State University from Atlanta will officially join the CAA for football.Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses; projected conference champion in BOLD)1. Villanova (14-1): Defending national champion Wildcats are the team to beat until another squad proves otherwise.2. Richmond (11-2): Don't be surprised to see the 2008 national champion Spiders give the Wildcats a run for their money in the always-tough CAA.3. William & Mary (11-2): Expect the Tribe to be thick of this tough conference race, too.4. New Hampshire (10-3): The Wildcats from Northern New England finished 6-2 in CAA action last season.5. Delaware (6-5): The Blue Hens hope to bounce back after a disappointing 4-4 conference finish in 2009.6. James Madison (6-5): The Dukes also had a down year last season.7. Maine (5-6): The Black Bears hope to overcome the odds en route to a winning record in 2010.8. Massachusetts (5-6): The Minutemen struggled to a 3-5 conference finish last year.9. Towson (2-9): The Tigers have the misfortune of competing in the toughest conference in the FCS.10. Rhode Island (1-10). So do the Rams, who went winless in CAA action at 0-8.
but just to refresh a few memories, here's how the 2009 small college football season turned out, at least as far as who won the national championships in each division...NCAA Football Championship Subdivision: VillanovaNCAA Division II: Northwest Missouri StateNCAA Division III: Wisconsin-WhitewaterNAIA: Sioux Falls**-Begins transition to NCAA Division II level in 2010
Last Week: 4-1 (.800)Overall: 461-222 (.675)KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED.Friday, December 18FCS CHAMPIONSHIP--at Chattanooga, Tenn.Villanova (13-1) vs. Montana (14-0)NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP (Stagg Bowl)--at Salem, Va.Mount Union (14-0) vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater (14-0)NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP--at Rome, Ga.Sioux Falls (14-0) vs. Lindenwood (13-0)
Last 2 Weeks: 33-11 (.750)Overall: 457-221 (.674)KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED.FCS PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALSFriday, December 11William & Mary (11-2) at Villanova (12-1)Saturday, December 12 Appalachian State (11-2) at Montana (13-0)OTHER FCS GAMESPrairie View (8-1) vs. Alabama A&M (7-4)(SWAC Championship Game at Birmingham, Ala.)NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP--at Florence, Ala.Grand Valley State (13-1) vs. Northwest Missouri State (13-1)NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALSWesley (13-0) at Mount Union (13-0)Linfield (12-0) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-0)
KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED.Saturday, December 5FCS PLAYOFFS--QUARTERFINALSStephen F. Austin (10-2) at Montana (12-0)Appalachian State (10-2) at Richmond (11-1)New Hampshire (10-2) at Villanova (11-1)William & Mary (10-2) at Southern Illinois (11-1)NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALSCarson-Newman (11-2) at Grand Valley State (12-1)California (Pa.)--(11-3) at Northwest Missouri State (12-1)NCAA DIVISION II BOWL GAMESWest Texas A&M (6-5) vs. Nebraska-Omaha (7-4)(Kanza Bowl at Topeka, Kan.)Augustana (S.D.)--(8-3) vs. Missouri Western State (8-3)(Mineral Water Bowl at Excelsior Springs, Mo.)Tuskegee (9-2) vs. Elizabeth City State (7-3)(Pioneer Bowl at Columbia, S.C.)NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS--QUARTERFINALSAlbright (11-1) at Mount Union (12-0)Johns Hopkins (10-2) at Wesley (12-0)Wittenberg (12-0) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-0)St. Thomas (11-1) at Linfield (12-0)NAIA PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALSSt. Xavier (13-0) at Sioux Falls (13-0)Lindenwood (12-0) at Carroll (Mont.)--(13-0)
