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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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Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)-(NCAA Division II)
Overview: The University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs and Minnesota State University Mavericks both won their respective divisions in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in 2018. The Bulldogs won the North Division title, while the Mavericks clinched the South Division crown. Both teams finished unbeaten at 7-0 in division play, as well as undefeated in regular season action at 11-0.
In the NCAA Division II playoffs, one team managed to make a deep run, while the other team was "one and done". Minnesota State defeated and eliminated CSU-Pueblo and Tarleton State, only to fall to eventual national runner-up Ferris State in the national semifinals. The Mavericks finished the 2018 season at 13-1 overall.
On the other hand, Minnesota-Duluth's stay in postseason play didn't last long, as then-defending national champion Texas A&M-Commerce pulled off the upset over the Bulldogs in the first round of the D-II playoffs on November 17. UMD ended its 2018 campaign at 11-1 overall after the tough loss.
With both teams beginning the 2019 season ranked in the Top 10 of the College Football America Yearbook preseason poll-with Minnesota State ranked at No. 5, and Minnesota-Duluth at No. 10, don't be surprised if both squads find themselves back in the playoffs come November.
2018 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) 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
Bemidji State
Minnesota-Crookston
Minnesota-Duluth
Minot State
MSU Moorhead
Northern State
St. Cloud State
U Mary
South Division
Augustana (S.D.)
Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)
Minnesota State
Sioux Falls
Southwest Minnesota State
Upper Iowa
Wayne State (Neb.)
Winona State
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Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The St. John's University Johnnies were one of two teams that advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in 2018, finishing unbeaten in conference play at 8-0. The Johnnies cruised to a convincing win over Martin Luther in the first round, followed by a 21-point victory over Whitworth in the second round, before falling to eventual national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor in the quarterfinals. SJU finished the season at 12-1 overall after losing to UMHB.
The only other MIAC team to advance to postseason play was Bethel (Minn.). After finishing the regular season at 7-1 in the MIAC and 9-1 overall, the Royals rolled past Wartburg in the first round, then knocked out North Central in a close second round contest on the road, before being eliminated by Wisconsin-Whitewater in the quarterfinals to finish at 11-2 overall.
Finally, while being left out of postseason play after finishing 6-2 in conference play and 8-2 overall, the biggest story of the offseason came from the University of St. Thomas Tommies. In late May 2019, MIAC officials announced that UST would be "kicked out" of the MIAC for being "too competitive". The Tommies will remain a MIAC member until the spring of 2021. Otherwise, expect UST to seriously challenge SJU and Bethel for the top spot this season.
2018 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) 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.
Augsburg
Bethel (Minn.)
Carleton
Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.)
Gustavus Adolphus
Hamline
St. John's
St. Olaf
St. Thomas (Minn.)
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Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks returned to the top of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) after a one-year absence (7-3 overall in 2017), as they finished unbeaten in conference play at 7-0 en route to winning the WIAC title in 2018.
In the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Warhawks cruised to easy wins over Eureka and St. Norbert, before outlasting Bethel (Minn.) in the quarterfinals. Whitewater's season ended with a 31-14 loss to eventual national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor in the national semifinals to finish the season at 12-1 overall.
As the 2019 season approaches, expect Whitewater to get a serious challenge from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse Eagles, who finished second in the WIAC at 5-2, as well as 7-3 overall, Meanwhile, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titans hope to rebound after a disappointing 2018 campaign where they finished third in the WIAC at 4-3, and 6-4 overall.
Last year's finish for the Titans came after posting three straight double-digit win seasons in which they compiled a combined 36-5 overall record (.878 winning percentage) from 2015-2017. That three-year span also included an appearance in the 2016 Stagg Bowl for Oshkosh, who ironically, also lost to Mary Hardin-Baylor 10-7.
2018 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) 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.
Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Wisconsin-LaCrosse
Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Wisconsin-Platteville
Wisconsin-River Falls
Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Wisconsin-Stout
Wisconsin-Whitewater
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Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The Eureka College Red Devils finished 6-1 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play en route to winning the conference championship while earning the NACC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Eureka's season ended with a loss to eventual national semifinalist Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round to finish the season at 9-2 overall. The Red Devils scored at least 30 points in every regular-season game, with the lone loss coming to Lakeland in a 56-55 thriller on November 3. However, the loss to the Muskies didn't stop them, as they rolled past Rockford 38-7 the following week to advance to postseason play for just the fourth time in program history.
With the 2019 season just around the corner, expect Eureka to be the team to beat in the NACC once again.
2018 NACC 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.
Aurora
Benedictine (Ill.)
Concordia-Chicago (Ill.)
Concordia (Wis.)
Eureka
Lakeland
Rockford
Wisconsin Lutheran
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Midwest Conference (MWC)-(NCAA Division III)
Overview: The St. Norbert College Knights returned to postseason play for the first time since 2015, when they outlasted the Monmouth College Scots 10-7 on November 10 to win their 17th overall Midwest Conference championship in 2018.
In the NCAA Division III playoffs, St. Norbert upset and ousted previously undefeated Trine in the first round, but fell to eventual national semifinalist Wisconsin-Whitewater in the second round. The Green Knights finished the 2018 season at 10-2 overall after losing to Warhawks. Ironically, Whitewater also ended St. Norbert's season in the first round of the 2015 playoffs.
Looking ahead to 2019, St. Norbert is expected to be the team to beat in their quest to win another Midwest Conference this fall. Don't be surprised if the Green Knights find themselves back in the playoffs come late November.
2018 Midwest Conference (MWC) 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
Beloit
Lake Forest
Lawrence
Macalester
Ripon
St. Norbert
South Division
Chicago
Cornell (Iowa)
Grinnell
Illinois College
Knox
Monmouth (Ill.)
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