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New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)
2015 Football Standings - New Jersey Athletic Conference
Looking back: The major highlight of the 2015 football season in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) came on November 7. That was when the Salisbury University Sea Gulls stunned then No. 3 Wesley, 38-35, on the road. The improbable win helped propel Salisbury to a 7-1 mark in NJAC play, as well as a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs as an at-large team.
Still, the loss to the Sea Gulls didn't faze the Wolverines, as they made yet another deep postseason run last fall. Wesley advanced to the national quarterfinals of the D-III dance, where they fell to eventual national champion Mount Union, 56-35. As for Salisbury, the Sea Gulls season ended with a loss to Cortland in the first round.
Looking ahead: As they enter their second season in the NJAC, don't be surprised if Wesley is the favorite to win the conference crown again.
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. Wesley (11-2): The Wolverines head into 2016 hoping to clinch their eighth straight double-digit win season dating back to 2009.
2. Salisbury (7-3): But after last year's upset win over Wesley on the road, the Sea Gulls could prove to be a worthy challenger to the Wolverines again this year.
3. Kean (8-3): A season-ending four-game winning streak, including a 24-6 win over WPI in the ECAC President's Bowl, has the Cougars and their fans cautiously optimistic for a potential conference championship/postseason run in 2016.
4. Frostburg State (6-4): The Bobcats also hope to make a serious run at the NJAC title after losing their last three games of the 2015 season following a 6-1 start.
5. Rowan (6-4): The Profs hope to reclaim their place atop the NJAC elite after a 5-4 finish in league play last season.
6. TCNJ (4-5): Were it not for a cancelled game against Salisbury almost at midseason, the Lions very well could have finished the 2015 campaign at 5-5, thanks to a four-game winning streak to close it out. That followed an 0-5 start to the season.
7. Christopher Newport (4-6): With one season of competition in the NJAC under their belts, the Captains will look to return to their winning ways after suffering their first-ever losing season in program history in 2015.
8. Montclair State (4-6): The Red Hawks will also try to bounce back after a down 2015 season that followed a NJAC crown in 2014.
9. William Paterson (2-8): The Pioneers struggled yet again in 2015, managing one just league win while giving 60 or more points in three of their losses.
10. Southern Virginia (0-10): The Knights will come into the 2016 campaign looking to win a game, any game.
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Northeast 10 Conference (NE10)
2015 Football Standings - Northeast 10 Conference
Looking back: The Assumption College Greyhounds had their best season ever on the football field in 2015, not only winning their first-ever Northeast 10 Conference (NE10) title, but also advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time ever. They beat Bowie State in the first round, before losing a hard fought contest to Slippery Rock, 41-39, in the second round. The Greyhounds were the only NE10 team to finish the season with double-digit wins. In fact, no other team won more than seven games overall last fall.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if Assumption is the presumed favorite to win the Northeast 10 Conference championship in 2016.
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. Assumption (11-2): Can the Greyhounds repeat last year's success this year? If they can get quality contributions from players such as Rookie Of The Year Deonte Harris, as well as many other players, they could go deeper into NCAA postseason play this fall.
2. New Haven (7-4): After finishing second in the NE10 at 7-2 last season, don't sleep on the Chargers this season either.
3. LIU Post (7-4): While the Pioneers will shoot for their fourth straight winning season, they'll try to take aim at an elusive NCAA Division II playoff berth.
4. Stonehill (7-4): As this post was being produced, the Skyhawks have suddenly found themselves in the market for a new head coach, as Robert Talley stepped down in late April after nine years at the helm.
5. Merrimack (6-5): The Warriors overcame an 0-3 start to finish 6-3 in NE10 play last season, good enough for third place in the conference. It'll be interesting to see if they can make a move up in the standings this season. All five of their losses in 2015 came by seven points or less.
6. Bentley (5-6): The Falcons also had their ups and downs in 2015, finishing in a three-way tie for fourth in league play at 5-4.
7. American International (4-7): Points were hard to come by for the Yellow Jackets last season, as they were held to seven points or less in five of the seven games they lost in 2015.
8. Southern Connecticut State (4-7): The Owls will look to bounce back after a disappointing 2015 campaign that saw them finish 3-6 in NE10 games.
9. Saint Anselm (3-8): The Hawks have turned to former Syracuse assistant coach Joe Adam to lead their long-struggling program.
10. Pace (1-10): The Setters face yet another uphill battle after going winless at 0-9 in NE10 play last year.
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Liberty League (LL)
2015 Football Standings - Liberty League
Looking back: A close race for the Liberty League crown in 2015 ended with the St. Lawrence University Saints claiming the league championship. On October 10, the Saints knocked off RPI, 24-21, en route to winning the conference title, although they had to overcome a tough loss to Hobart in the next-to-last week of the regular season, before holding off Merchant Marine the following week to claim the crown.
When postseason play finally rolled around in November, it was mixed results for the LL, as the Engineers beat Buffalo State, 20-13, to win the ECAC Bushnell Bowl, while the Saints run at the NCAA Division III playoffs ended in the first round, with Mount Union stomping St. Lawrence, 55-23.
Looking ahead: Expect yet another close race in the Liberty League on the football field this fall.
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. RPI (9-2): The Engineers hope that their five-game winning streak to end 2015 will carry over into 2016. In order for them to reach the NCAA Division III playoffs this fall, though, head coach Ralph Isernia must replace the multiple seniors that helped them reach the nine-win mark last fall.
2. St. Lawrence (8-3): The Saints are looking to repeat as LL champs in 2016. However, they must pay a visit to RPI for their league opener on September 24.
3. Hobart (7-3): Usually a perennial postseason powerhouse in the Liberty League, the Statesmen took a slight step back in 2015, finishing 5-2 in conference play. But they hope to bounce back in 2016.
4. WPI (7-4): The Engineers from Massachusetts advanced to postseason play, losing to Kean in the ECAC Presidents Bowl a year ago. They hope to improve on last year's 4-3 mark in Liberty League action.
5. Rochester (5-4): The Yellow Jackets struggled to a 3-4 record in conference play last fall, losing three of their four games by double-digit margins after starting 3-0 overall.
6. Springfield (4-6): The Pride hope to put a season-ending four-game losing streak behind them in 2016, as they finished 2-5 in Liberty League games in 2015.
7. Merchant Marine (3-6): The Mariners enter the 2016 season looking for their first winning season since 2003, when they finished 6-4 overall.
8. Union (N.Y.)--(0-10): New head coach Jeff Behrman looks to rebuild a struggling Dutchmen program that has lost 11 straight games dating back to November 8, 2014, when they defeated Merchant Marine, 59-32.
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Empire 8 Conference (E8)
2015 Football Standings - E8
2016 Empire 8 Conference Schedule
Looking back: In a 2015 season that had more than its share of parity, Cortland crushed St. John Fisher, 34-17, on September 19. That result helped the Red Dragons break a two-way tie for first place the Cardinals at 6-2, and win the Empire 8 Conference championship.
But it took winning a low-scoring defensive struggle against archival Ithaca--an eventual 11-8 win on November 14--for Cortland to not only claim the Cortaca Jug, but also earn the E8 automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs in their inaugural campaign. The Red Dragons advanced to the second round before losing to eventual national semifinalist Linfield.
Looking ahead: Can Cortland make it back-to-back conference crowns in 2016? Or will another squad step, and take the title this fall? One question or the other will be the answered this season.
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. Cortland (9-3): If the Red Dragons want to make a return trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs, they must replace players such as defensive end Jake Ceresna, as well as multiple other seniors.
2. Alfred (8-3): After finishing 5-3 in E8 play a year ago, don't be surprised if the Saxons find themselves in serious contention for the conference championship this season.
Bonus Coverage: Alfred wins ECAC Bowl Championship (courtesy of gosaxons.com)
3. St. John Fisher (7-4): The Cardinals could find out a lot about themselves as a team on September 3. That's when they'll play host to an Olivet team that finished the 2015 season at 9-1 overall.
4. Buffalo State (7-4): While they've made back-to-back appearances in ECAC bowls the last years, the Bengals and head coach Jerry Boyes hope to achieve the goal they really have in mind: their first NCAA playoff appearance since 1999.
5. Morrisville (6-4): After struggling to a 4-4 mark in league play last season, the Mustangs hope to their 2014 form this season. They finished 9-2 overall just two years ago.
6. Brockport (5-5): The Golden Eagles struggled to win several close games in 2015, losing three of their five contests by a combined 11 points.
7. Ithaca (4-6): The Bombers hope to bounce back after suffering just their second losing season since 1999. It came after they lost five straight games after a 4-1 start to close out 2015.
8. Hartwick (4-6): A dramatic season-ending win over Utica has the Hawks faithful hoping for better things to come in 2016.
9. Utica (4-6): Like Ithaca, the Pioneers also ended the 2015 season on a losing streak, losing four games in a row after a 4-2 start.
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Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC)
2015 Football Standings - ECFC
Looking back: After a topsy-turvy 2015 season, the Norwich University Cadets emerged as the champions of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference. The upstart squad from Vermont overcame an 0-3 start to advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs as the automatic qualifiers after upsetting Husson 20-17 on November 7, ultimately winning the tiebreaker over the Eagles at 6-1 in ECFC play. The Cadets fell to Albright, 49-0, in the first round.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if the race for the ECFC crown comes down to final week of 2016. By 2017, however, six of the conference's current members will join the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. Husson (7-3): The Eagles will look to put the sting of last season's late slump behind this season, as they lost two of their final three games of 2015 after starting 6-1.
2. Becker (7-3): A four-game winning streak to end 2015 has the Hawks faithful cautiously optimistic going into 2016. But if they're to advance to postseason play this year, they must do it under new head coach Frank Forcucci.
3. Castleton (7-3): After back-to-back seven-win seasons, the Spartans hope to take the next step in their program's short history: advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time ever.
4. Norwich (6-5): Don't count out the Cadets in the ECFC championship chase this fall.
5. Maritime (N.Y.)--(5-5): The Privateers won back-to-back games to finish an otherwise so-so 2015 season on a winning note. They hope to carry that small surge of momentum into the 2016 season.
6. Mount Ida (2-8): The Mustangs are looking at a long rebounding/rebuilding effort after a rough 2015 campaign.
7. Anna Maria (1-9): The AmCats gave up 40 or more points in six of the games that they lost in 2015. That included a stretch where they outscored by a combined score of 178-26 in October.
8. Gallaudet (0-9): The Bison will be looking to win their first game since October 11, 2014. That was when they beat Becker, 16-12. They've lost 14 straight games since then.
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New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
2015 Football Standings - NESCAC
2016 NESCAC Schedule
Looking back: 2015 was a "tale of two divisions" for the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC): a top division, and a bottom division. Let's quickly explain. The five teams that finished the season at the top of the standings all finished with winning records, while the five teams that finished at the bottom of the standings all finished with losing records. Four of the bottom five squads all finished with 2-6 marks, while the fifth squad finished at 1-7. Weird, huh?
In the end, however, it was Amherst that finished the 2015 campaign undefeated at 8-0, outlasting Trinity (Conn.), 16-7, to claim their fifth title in the last seven years. Last fall, the Purple & White won all of their games by at least nine points or more.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if it comes down to Amherst and Trinity for the NESCAC title again in 2016.
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. Amherst (8-0): The Purple & White will not only look to make it six titles in eight years this fall, but also try for their eighth undefeated season in program history.
2. Trinity (Conn.)--(7-1): The Bantams, though, are likely to have other ideas, as they'll try to win their first NESCAC title since 2012.
3. Tufts (6-2): The Jumbos had their best season since 2001, when they also finished 6-2 overall. Now they head into the 2016 hoping to win that elusive NESCAC championship.
4. Middlebury (5-3): The Panthers have won 25 games over the past four years under veteran head coach Bob Ritter. It's a trend that they hope to build on this fall.
5. Wesleyan (5-3): After back-to-back seven-win seasons, the Cardinals will look to rebound in 2016 under second-year head coach Dan DiCenzo.
6. Bates (2-6): The Bobcats were one of four teams to finish in a four-way tie for sixth place in the NESCAC, with just two wins in 2015. However, they did sweep their respective archrivals in Bowdoin and Colby to win the "mythical" CBB title last fall.
7. Bowdoin (2-6): The Polar Bears enter their second season under head coach J.B. Wells looking for their first winning season since 2005, when they finished 6-2 overall.
8. Hamilton (2-6): The Continentals will look to put a disappointing 2015 season behind them in 2016.
9. Williams (2-6): The same situation applies for the Ephs, who are looking to rebuild under new head coach Mark Raymond.
10. Colby (1-7): The Mules face a long, tough climb out of the NESCAC cellar after yet another rough season.
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New England Football Conference (NEFC)
2015 Football Standings - NEFC
2016 NEFC Schedule
Looking back: The Western New England University Golden Bears cruised through the regular season undefeated en route to the New England Football Conference (NEFC) championship in 2015. Their run through the NCAA Division III playoffs, however, was cut short by Johns Hopkins, as the Blue Jays cruised to a convincing 52-20 win in the first round.
Looking ahead: The 2016 season will be the last for the NEFC, as the league will split into two separate conferences in time for the 2017 season, with three of its teams moving to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), while the rest will make the move to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). In the meantime, expect Western New England to be the favorite to win the final NEFC title in 2016.
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. Western New England (10-1): The Golden Bears will take aim at back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances this fall.
2. Salve Regina (8-2): If the Seahawks hope to advance to the D-III dance in 2016, they must replace a 1,000-yard receiver in Alex Hulme, as well as multiple other seniors on last year's roster.
3. Endicott (5-5): The Gulls face a tough road ahead if they hope to have a winning record in 2016, as they'll face six teams that finished 2015 with a .500 or better record. That includes three teams advanced to the D-III dance last year (Framingham State, St. Lawrence, and Western New England).
4. Coast Guard (5-5): Head Coach Bill George enters his 18th season at the Bears helm hoping they can walk away with the last-ever NEFC championship this fall.
5. Curry (4-6): The Colonels enter the 2016 campaign hoping to snap a streak of three straight losing seasons (2013-2015).
6. Maine Maritime (3-6): Speaking of snapping similar streaks, the Mariners are seeking their first winning season since 2010, when they finished 8-3 overall.
7. MIT (2-8): After a storybook 2014 season that included an unbeaten regular season, as well as the program's first-ever NCAA playoff appearance, the Engineers fell back to earth in 2015, struggling to a 2-5 mark in NEFC play. They hope that 2016 will be the "Year Of The Bounce-Back"!!!
8. Nichols (1-9): Head Coach Dale Olmsted begins his third season at the Bison helm. His main task will be to turn around a program that has won just four games combined over the past four years (2012-2015).
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Editor's Note: Welcome to the debut of the "RFC Small College Preview", now beginning its seventh season on Real Football Central! Hopefully, from now until the start of the 2016 season on September 1, Real Football Central will preview the seasons for the conferences competing at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels.
So, what are we waiting for? Let's go!
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC)
2015 Football Standings (MASCAC)
Looking back: Once again, the Framingham State University Rams carried the banner for the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) in 2015, finishing unbeaten in league play en route to yet conference crown. Their season ended in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, losing to Wesley, 42-22.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if Framingham State finishes on top of the MASCAC heap again this fall.
Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):
1. Framingham State (9-2): As mentioned above, the Rams will once again be to team to beat. That is, of course, until another team proves otherwise.
2. Fitchburg State (8-3): The Falcons will find out right away where they stand in the MASCAC standings when they face Framingham State for their conference opener on September 16.
3. Bridgewater State (7-4): The Bears hope to take the next step towards a conference crown after finishing 6-2 in MASCAC action last season, losing to Carnegie-Mellon in the ECAC Legacy Bowl.
4. Western Connecticut State (5-5): The Colonials must learn how to win the close games if they're to contend for a conference championship in 2016. They lost four of their five games by seven points or less in 2015.
5. Worcester State (4-6): The Lancers and their faithful hope that playing three of their four home games in October will help propel them to a winning record in 2016.
6. Massachusetts Maritime (4-6): The Buccaneers face an uphill battle after finishing 3-5 in MASCAC play last season.
7. UMass-Dartmouth (4-6): The Corsairs hope to clinch their first winning season since 2008, when they finished 6-4 overall.
8. Plymouth State (2-8): The Panthers have won just seven games combined overall dating back to 2012. That's a trend they hope to change in 2016.
9. Westfield State (2-8): Can anyone say "nowhere to go but up" for the Owls?
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Hey, it's a little late, but better late than never...
Anyway, here are the final numbers for the game predictions of the 2015 season.
11-7 in postseason games (.611 percentage)
Final Overall Totals: 728-304 (.705 percentage)
And now...a brief moment to recognize the 2015-2016 national champions of non-FBS college football...
FCS: North Dakota State (5th straight national championship-2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015)
NCAA Division II: Northwest Missouri State (5th national championship overall)
NCAA Division III: Mount Union (12th national championship overall)
NAIA: Marian (2nd national championship in 4 years, with the other coming in 2012)
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Last Week: 7-1 (.875)
This Year: 717-297 (.707)
FCS Playoffs--Semifinals
Friday, December 18
Richmond (10-3) at North Dakota State (11-2)
Saturday, December 19
Sam Houston State (11-3) at Jacksonville State (12-1)
NCAA Division II--Championship (at Kansas City, Kan.)
Shepherd (13-0) vs. Northwest Missouri State (14-0)
NCAA Division III--Championship (Stagg Bowl at Salem Va.)
St. Thomas (14-0) vs. Mount Union (14-0)
NAIA--Championship (at Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Southern Oregon (11-2) vs. Marian (11-2)
Bowl Games
NOTE: Only games involving teams in FBS Group Of Five (American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) and FCS conferences will be included in this post.
Saturday, December 19
Celebration Bowl--at Atlanta
Alcorn State (9-3) vs. North Carolina A&T (9-2)
Camellia Bowl--at Montgomery, Ala.
Ohio (8-4) vs. Appalachian State (10-2)
Cure Bowl--at Orlando, Fla.
San Jose State (5-7) vs. Georgia State (6-6)
New Orleans Bowl--at New Orleans
Arkansas State (9-3) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4)
Monday, December 21
Miami Beach Bowl--at Miami
Western Kentucky (11-2) vs. South Florida (8-4)
Tuesday, December 22
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl--at Boise, Idaho
Akron (7-5) vs. Utah State (6-6)
Boca Raton Bowl--at Boca Raton, Fla.
Temple (10-3) vs. Toledo (9-2)
Wednesday, December 23
Poinsettia Bowl--at San Diego
Boise State (8-4) vs. Northern Illinois (8-5)
GoDaddy Bowl--at Mobile, Ala.
Georgia Southern (8-4) vs. Bowling Green (10-3)
Thursday, December 24 (CHRISTMAS EVE)
Bahamas Bowl--at Nassau, Bahamas
Middle Tennessee State (7-5) vs. Western Michigan (7-5)
Hawaii Bowl--at Honolulu, Hawaii
San Diego State (10-3) vs. Cincinnati (7-5)
Saturday, December 26
St. Petersburg Bowl--at St. Petersburg, Fla.
Connecticut (6-6) vs. Marshall (9-3)
Tuesday, December 29
Arizona Bowl--at Tucson, Ariz.
Nevada (6-6) vs. Colorado State (7-5)
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