Each August for the preseason Kickoff publication, D3football.com goes deep into the conference projections to determine which are the strongest conferences in the nation. They are ranked, Nos. 1 through 27, based on that perceived strength. Independent teams, as well as the NESCAC, which doesn’t play nonconference games, are not included in this ranking.
Since we’re at the midpoint of the season, I’m revisiting those conference rankings and re-evaluating them – it’s something of an Around the Nation tradition.
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#3. Empire 8
Kickoff ranking: 5
2015 nonconference record: 13-2
Most telling results: Ithaca 24, Hobart 6; Cortland State 26, Heidelberg 24; Thomas More 48, St. John Fisher 0; Ohio Northern 29, Utica 22
Verdict: We’ve seemingly talked a lot about the Empire 8’s nonconference losses only because of how unexpectedly lopsided one of them was and how close another was. Both of those losses had implications on the bigger picture of the Division III landscape, so it was easy to get caught up in them. The thing is, though: They were the E8’s only losses in nonconference play. They were notable ones, but also notable were the wins. This conference has beaten nonconference opponents 13 times this year, with more still to come as easier games against Finlandia and Alfred State are on mid- to late-season schedules. This conference is notorious for its teams beating up on each other, and the addition of Cortland State and Morrisville State this year has done little to temper that notion. Salisbury leaving took a little bit of oomph from this conference, but not enough to make us doubt its abilities top to bottom.