THE RFC MYC: Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC)-(NAIA)

Mid-South Conference (MSC)-(NAIA)

Overview: The Reinhardt University Eagles out of Waleska, Georgia finished 8-2 overall, as well as undefeated in league action at 5-0 in winning the inaugural Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) championship in 2022. The Eagles season ended in the first round of the NAIA playoffs, as they fell at Lindsey Wilson, 23-22.

One team that could provide a serious challenge to Reinhardt's place at the top of the AAC going into 2023 is the Bluefield University Rams from Bluefield, Virginia. The Rams finished 2022 at 8-3 overall, and 4-1 in AAC action. Their lone AAC loss came to Reinhardt in a 45-21 setback on October 15. 

The AAC's membership will grow by one team, from six to seven, this season, with the University of Pikeville Bears out of Pikeville, Kentucky making the move from the Mid-South Conference. The Bears hope to build on the 6-4 overall and 5-3 finish that they had in M-SC play last fall. 

Other teams to watch in the AAC this fall are Point (4-7, 3-2) and Kentucky Christian (3-8, 2-3).

2022 Appalachian Athletic Conference Football Final Standings

2023 Schedules (Teams are 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 2023 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.


Bluefield

Kentucky Christian

Pikeville

Point

Reinhardt

St. Andrews

Union (Ky.) 

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THE RFC MYC: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: The Benedict College Tigers from Columbia, South Carolina had what was their best season in program history last fall, as they cruised to an unbeaten regular  season en route to winning their first-ever Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship. The Tigers finished SIAC play undefeated at 7-0, as well as at 11-0 overall after crushing the Tuskegee University Tigers (8-3 overall, 7-0 in the SIAC in 2022) in the title game on November 12.

In the NCAA Division II playoffs, Benedict's season came to a sudden stop in the second round, as Wingate stopped the Tigers in a 23-6 final score on November 26. Benedict finished the 2022 season at 11-1 overall after the stunning loss to the Bulldogs. 

Looking ahead to 2023, Benedict will enter the upcoming season as the favorite to win another SIAC title. However, expect the likes of Albany State (Ga.)-(7-3, 5-2), Fort Valley State (8-2, 5-2), and Tuskegee, among other teams, to have a say as to who comes out on top this fall.

2022 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Football Final Standings

2023 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 2023 season, the link (s) will appear in each post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.

East Division

Albany State (Ga.)

Allen

Benedict

Clark Atlanta

Edward Waters

Fort Valley State

Morehouse

Savannah State

West Division

Central State

Kentucky State

Lane

Miles

Tuskegee

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THE RFC MYC: USA South Athletic Conference (USAC)-(NCAA Division III)

USA South Athletic Conference (USAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The Huntingdon College Hawks overcame a tough 41-34 season-opening loss to Linfield on September 3, to reel off nine straight wins and take home another USA South Athletic Conference (USAC) title in 2022. Huntingdon finished the regular season unbeaten in USAC action at 7-0, as well as at 9-1 overall.

In the NCAA Division III playoffs, however, Huntingdon's campaign would come to a close in the first round, as Mary Hardin-Baylor cruised to a convincing 54-0 win on November 19. The Hawks finished their season at 9-2 overall after losing to UMHB.

Looking ahead to 2023, Huntingdon hopes to win their fifth straight USAC championship. But there are multiple other squads that want to shoot down the Hawks hopes for another conference title, as Belhaven hopes to build on the success of their inaugural season in the USAC after finishing at 8-2 overall and 5-2 in conference play in 2022.

Other teams to keep an eye on in the USAC this fall include Brevard (5-5, 5-2), Maryville (5-5, 5-2) and Methodist (5-5, 4-3).

2022 USA South Football Final Standings

2023 Schedules (Teams are 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, the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2023 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.

Belhaven

Brevard 

Greensboro

Huntingdon

LaGrange

Maryville

Methodist

North Carolina Wesleyan

Southern Virginia

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THE RFC MYC: South Atlantic Conference (SAC)-(NCAA Division II)

South Atlantic Conference (SAC)-(NCAA Division II)

Overview: If you were looking for a conference that not only didn't have a clear cut favorite to even advance to the conference championship game, much less win the conference championship, the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) was the conference for you in 2022.

The first case in point was the inaugural SAC championship game that was played on November 12. The Piedmont Division champion Newberry College Wolves held off the Mountain Division champion Mars Hill University Lions 27-24 to win their second straight SAC title. 

However, despite finishing the season at 9-2 overall, the Wolves found themselves on the outside looking in when postseason play arrived, as Wingate and Limestone advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs instead. As for the Lions, they finished their 2022 campaign at 7-4 overall after losing to Newberry.

In the D-II playoffs, the Bulldogs ousted Virginia Union in the first round, as well as previously unbeaten Benedict in the second round, before losing to West Florida in the quarterfinals to finish their season at 11-3 overall, while the Saints' season ended at 8-4 overall after losing to that same aforementioned UWF squad in the first round.

Looking ahead to 2023, expect another competitive season from top to bottom in the SAC, as all 12 teams lost at least two games in conference play last season, with Mars Hill being the lone team to go undefeated in division play at 5-0 in the Mountain Division.

But in 2024 and beyond, there will be some changes, as the Anderson University Trojans from Anderson, South Carolina will start their first football season, while both Barton and Erskine will move to Conference Carolinas starting in 2025. That will give the SAC 10 football-playing schools by then.

2022 South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Football Final Standings

2023 Schedules (Teams are 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, the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2023 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.

Barton

Carson-Newman

Catawba

Emory & Henry*

Erskine

Lenoir-Rhyne

Limestone

Mars Hill

Newberry

Tusculum

Virginia-Wise

Wingate

*-Ineligible for the South Atlantic Conference title, transitioning from the NCAA Division III level.

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THE RFC MYC: Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The Randolph-Macon College Yellow Jackets from Ashland, Virginia cruised to an unbeaten record during the regular season en route to winning the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship in 2022. R-MC finished the regular season at 10-0 for the first time in program history, thanks to a 38-17 over longtime rival Hampden-Sydney in the finale on November 12.

In the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Yellow Jackets outlasted SUNY-Cortland in a high-scoring 35-28 contest in the first round, only to lose a late lead in the second half in an eventual 39-32 loss at Delaware Valley in the second round the following week. Randolph-Macon's season ended at 11-1 overall after losing to the Aggies, as the Yellow Jackets scored at 32 points in each of the 12 games they played last fall.

Moving forward towards the start of the 2023 season, R-MC will look to build on its success in the 2022 season, with the Yellow Jackets being ranked at #21 in the College Football Network preseason rankings. However, several other squads, including Bridgewater (9-2 overall, 6-1 in the ODAC in 2022), Shenandoah (8-2, 5-2), Hampden-Sydney (5-5, 4-3), and Washington & Lee (5-5, 3-4) could give the Yellow Jackets a serious run before all is said and done.  

2022 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Football Final Standings

2023 Schedules (Teams are 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 2023 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.

Averett

Bridgewater (Va.)

Ferrum

Guilford

Hampden-Sydney

Randolph-Macon

Shenandoah

Washington & Lee

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THE RFC MYC: Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: After losing its' opportunity to participate in postseason play due to COVID-19 protocols imposed in 2021, the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans made the most of their opportunity in 2022, as they finished the regular season undefeated en route to winning another Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) championship.

During the regular season, the Tartans won several close contests, winning four games by seven points or less. Additionally, they pitched a low-scoring shutout over Westminster (Pa.) in an eventual 10-0 win on October 1. Carnegie Mellon entered postseason play at 8-0 in PAC play, as well as at 10-0 overall.

In the NCAA Division III playoffs, Carnegie Mellon cruised past DePauw 45-14 in the first round, only to run into the buzz saw known as North Central in the second round. The eventual national champion Cardinals ended the Tartans season with a 28-7 win on November 26. Carnegie Mellon's 2022 campaign finished at 11-1 overall following the loss to North Central.

The 2023 season will bring a major change to the PAC, as Allegheny (3-7 overall in 2022) begins its second season of its second stint in the league after spending multiple seasons as a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Allegheny was previously a member of the PAC from 1958 to 1984.

As a result of Allegheny returning to the PAC, all 11 teams will play conference games only effective this season, with a 10-game round-robin schedule starting on September 2, and continuing until November 11. That means no non-conference games will be played until the playoffs start the following week, November 18.

Even so, expect Carnegie Mellon to lead the "PAC" once again in 2023.   

2022 Presidents Athletic Conference Football Final Standings

2023 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 2023 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.

Allegheny

Bethany (W. Va.)

Carnegie Mellon

Case Western Reserve

Geneva

Grove City

Saint Vincent

Thiel

Washington & Jefferson

Waynesburg

Westminster (Pa.)

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THE RFC MYC: Centennial Conference (CC)-(NCAA Division III)

Centennial Conference (CC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: For fans of the current football-playing members of the Centennial Conference (CC), they're probably pleased that there are three fewer members of their league going into this fall.

That especially turned out to be the situation for fans of the Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays from Baltimore, as well as the Ursinus College Bears from Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

Despite finishing at 10-1 and 9-2 overall, respectively, both Johns Hopkins and Ursinus had to settle for berths in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series, while eventual CC champion turned inaugural Landmark Conference member Susquehanna advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs after finishing the regular season unbeaten at 9-0 in CC action, as well as 10-0 overall. Susquehanna's season ended at the hands of an upstart Utica program in a stunning 17-10 first round upset loss, with the River Hawks finishing their 2022 season at 10-1 overall.

In addition to Susquehanna, two other fellow longtime members in Moravian and Juniata have also left the Centennial Conference for the new Landmark Conference. The departures of those three aforementioned institutions leaves the CC with just seven schools to take the field for 2023.

As for potential favorites to win this season's CC crown, expect Johns Hopkins and Ursinus to do battle for the title this fall, with Muhlenberg (7-4, 6-3) not far behind.

2022 Centennial Conference Football Standings

2023 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, the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2023 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.

Dickinson

Franklin & Marshall

Gettysburg

Johns Hopkins

McDaniel

Muhlenberg

Ursinus

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THE RFC MYC: New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)-(NCAA Division III)

New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The Salisbury University Sea Gulls from Salisbury, Maryland won their fourth straight New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championship in 2022, as they finished 6-0 in conference play en route to a final record of 9-1 overall. 

Once again, however, the Sea Gulls season ended in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, as eventual national runner-up Mount Union cruised to a convincing 51-0 win on November 19. Salisbury's season finished at 9-2 overall following the loss to the Purple Raiders.

With the 2023 season just around the corner, Salisbury hopes to win its fifth straight NJAC championship. But at least two teams in Christopher Newport (7-3 overall, 5-1 in the NJAC in 2022) and Rowan (7-3, 4-2) hope to have a say in ultimately finishes on top in this seven-team conference this fall.

Both aforementioned teams played the Salisbury close last fall, but fell short, with Rowan losing 28-23 on October 29, while Christopher Newport succumbed to the Sea Gulls 36-33 two weeks later on November 12. The latter win over the Captains that gave Salisbury their fourth straight NJAC title.

Expect another tight race for the NJAC championship this season.

 

2022 NJAC Football Final Standings

2023 Schedules (Teams are 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, the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2023 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.

Christopher Newport

Kean

Montclair State

Rowan 

Salisbury

The College of New Jersey 

William Paterson

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THE RFC MYC: New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC)-(NCAA Division III)

New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC)-(NCAA Division III)

2022 NEWMAC Final Standings

Overview: The Springfield College Pride overcame a slow start in non-conference action to take home another New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) championship in 2022.

After starting their season at 1-2 overall, Springfield reeled off seven straight wins, including a perfect 6-0 mark in NEWMAC play, to win the NEWMAC title for the second straight season, as well as finish the regular season at 8-2 overall. That win streak included a close win over MIT on November 5, followed by a 35-21 win over now-former member Catholic the following week to secure the conference crown.

In the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Pride extended its' winning streak to eight straight games, pulling off the road upset over a previously undefeated Endicott squad, 17-14, in the first round, before losing to Ithaca, 31-20, in the second round. Springfield's season ended at 9-3 overall with the loss to Ithaca. 

As the 2023 season approaches, there will be a new-look to the NEWMAC, as Catholic has left for the Landmark Conference, while Salve Regina (6-4 overall in 2022) and SUNY-Maritime (3-7) have both joined the league from the Commonwealth Coast and Eastern Collegiate Football Conferences, respectively. 

Both of these aforementioned teams, as well as the other five remaining squads, will look to deny Springfield in its quest to win a third-straight NEWMAC title this fall.

2023 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, the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2023 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.



Coast Guard

Merchant Marine

MIT

Norwich

Salve Regina

Springfield

SUNY Maritime

WPI

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THE RFC MYC: New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)-(NCAA Division III)

New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)-(NCAA Division III)

Overview: The Trinity University Bantams made history in 2022, as they finished the regular season undefeated for the first time in their program's long history. The Bantams outscored their opponents 301-98 in finishing their campaign at 9-0, as well as clinching the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title outright last fall.

Meanwhile, in Middlebury, Vermont, the Middlebury College Panthers could very well be the team to dethrone the Panthers, as they finished 7-2 overall last fall. One of those two losses last season came to Trinity, with the Bantams holding off the Panthers for a 27-21 win in what was then a battle of unbeaten teams on October 15. Both teams entered the game at 4-0 at the time.

Other squads that could mount a serious challenge to the NESCAC crown this season include Tufts and Wesleyan, both of whom finished their 2022 season at 6-3 overall. Tufts lost all three of its games by a combined 10 points, with the Cardinals getting by the Jumbos, 26-22, in their meeting on October 15.

Meanwhile, Colby hopes to a build on a 4-5 campaign, while Williams will look to bounce back after a disappointing 3-6 showing from a year ago. The Ephs finished won the NESCAC title in 2021 after finishing unbeaten at 9-0. 

2022 NESCAC Football Final Standings

2023 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, the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2023 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.

Amherst 

Bates 

Bowdoin 

Colby 

Hamilton 

Middlebury 

Trinity (Conn.) 

Tufts 

Wesleyan 

Williams 

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