What began as an Around the Nation every-other-year tradition
became a Kickoff '05 staple. For conference previews in Kickoff
'06, Pat Coleman and I reprised our rankings of Division III's
conferences, 1-25, excluding a 26th conference, the NESCAC, because
of its policy of not playing out-of-conference opponents.
Fifteen conferences remained in the same spot as last year, with
only four moving three or more spots in either direction. The
comments are new, and are mine.
1. Wisconsin (WIAC): Still the country's toughest
top-to-bottom group; Helped by Whitewater's Stagg Bowl run through
the West Region.
2. Ohio (OAC): Mount Union, Ohio Northern and
Capital lead a powerful top half, but bottom-half Heidelberg hasn't
won since October 2003, a span of 26 games.
3. Northwest (NWC): Linfield carries the banner
here, but NWC is usually good for a second playoff-worthy team.
4. American Southwest (ASC): Playoffs were a
disappointment in '05, but league's top half can play with
anyone.
5. Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW): Deep conference
might have put a team in Stagg Bowl by now if Mount Union wasn't
always in the way.
6. Minnesota (MIAC): St. John's always strong, but
league performs well against out-of-conference competition.
7. New Jersey (NJAC): Cortland accompanied Rowan
to playoffs last year, and didn't embarrass itself in one-point
loss.
8. Middle Atlantic (MAC): Move to East Region has
actually coincided with a league-strength swoon, Delaware Valley
aside.
9. Empire 8 (E8): Off year for New York power
league left it with two fewer playoff participants than Liberty
League by round of 16.
10. Liberty (LL): Biggest mover surged nine spots
from previous ranking, largely because of '05 playoff
performance.
11. Atlantic Central (ACFC): No bum teams, and
Wesley's semifinal run keep ACFC high.
12. Iowa (IIAC): Teams beat on each other too much
to produce a good playoff run the past few years.
13. USA South (USAC): Primed to make a power move
this year.
14. Old Dominion (ODAC): Perennial champ
Bridgewater knocked both PAC teams
from '05 playoffs.
15. Presidents (PAC): Middle teams are improving,
and conference no longer just W&J playhouse. Dropped five
slots.
16. Southern (SCAC): DePauw not rising fast
enough, Trinity (Texas) still the king. Dropped three spots.
17. North Coast (NCAC): Playoff record is nice,
but five teams rank in bottom 100, one in top 65.
18. Southern California (SCIAC): Recent Occidental
success brought conference this far.
19. Centennial (CC): Dropped four slots after weak
non-conference and playoff follow-up to five-way title tie.
20. Michigan (MIAA): Last lower-half conference to
produce a national champion (Albion, 1994), but champions are
0-for-6 in expanded playoff era.
21. Midwest (MWC): Champion was bounced from
postseason 62-3 last season.
22. Heartland (HCAC): Last playoff win came in
2000; teams were 13-16 non-conference last year.
23. University (UAA): No outstanding — or
horrible — teams among foursome.
24. Illini-Badger (IBFC): Teams were 5-20
out-of-conference last season.
25. New England (NEFC): Curry’s performance
against Delaware Valley in 2005's first round was step in right
direction.
2006 preseason conference rankings
Aug 30, 2006