Region X - Poll 6 - October 20, 2026
Rank   School   Prev   W-L-T
1   Southwestern University   NR   11-1-1
2   Colorado College   NR   11-2-1
3   University of Redlands   NR   8-2-5
4   Pacific Lutheran University   NR   10-2-2
5   Claremont-McKenna-Harvey Mudd-Scripps Colleges   NR   8-4-3
6   Whitman College   NR   10-2-2
7   Trinity University (Texas)   NR   6-2-5
8   University of Mary Hardin-Baylor   NR   10-2-1

With Hendrix already departed for the SCAC and Southwestern and Millsaps joining them in 2027, Maryville's announced departure for the CCS (while affiliating somewhere else for football) suggests that the SAA is unraveling.  That could bring Trinity back to the SCAC

Maryville announces it is leaving SAA to go back to the CCS

QuoteCoker noted that Maryville's decision to join the SAA in 2024 was appropriate at the time, but changes across the conference have prompted the College to reassess its long-term alignment.

"While the SAA was the right conference choice for Maryville in 2024, we believe the CCS is the best option for us now and for the future," Coker said. "We were honored to join and compete amongst the SAA's institutions, and we wish the conference all the best, moving forward."

Since Maryville first committed to the SAA, the conference has experienced membership changes. Hendrix College withdrew from the conference in 2025, while Southwestern University and Millsaps College will step away at the conclusion of this academic year. These shifts have led to a geographic footprint that presents additional considerations for team travel and scheduling.

Quote from: MCScots2013 on Today at 10:17:58 AMInteresting to note "affiliate memberships for football and women's golf are being finalized..."

To stay SAA or somewhere else?

I would think a decision driven by geography and travel costs means football would be the sport they most want to get out of the SAA.

Roanoke loses 4-0 to Shenandoah. What is going on down there? Stats looked even but SU scored 4 goals on their 6 shots on target (highly efficient).

Assuming W&L beats Bridgewater, Lynchburg should finish first and W&L second. Hopefully that sets up a round 3 game between the two best ODAC teams in the final

7-10 is very tight so it will be interesting to see who makes the tournament with the off-balanced schedule of the conference.

Interesting to note "affiliate memberships for football and women's golf are being finalized..."

To stay SAA or somewhere else?

Maryville announces they are leaving the SAA and returning to the CCS in 2027.

So do we do an update to the full list or hold off until the next domino falls...?

In case you have not been paying attention to the football board, here is what Maryville says about its leaving the SAA,

https://mcscots.com/news/2026/10/20/general-maryville-college-to-depart-saa-rejoin-ccs-in-2027.aspx

 

Thanks for taking the time for the detailed write up on each CC team, I agree with your analysis. As a CMU fan these next 2 weeks will be very telling vs better quality CC opponents. CMU has been on the ascent offensively since making the QB change 3 games ago. If you compare the last 3 games with Salters at QB vs the first 3 it is a night and day difference statistically and the eyeball test is even more obvious. Unfortunately it looks like there is slim chances that CC gets more than 1 in the playoffs unlike past years. Will be a very interesting next few weeks and I think will most likely come down to the last week of the season to crown a champ. Stay tuned!!

The remaining SAA schools have to feel like a punching bag. It's just blow after blow. In my mind, it was a difficult D3 conference from the start. I get the mission and values thing, but the SAA schools just don't pack UAA budgets. And the travel was brutal.

I have to believe that Centre can find a home. Sewanee, Oglethorpe, Berry, maybe Rhodes, can all strengthen the CCS/USASAC. Trinity needs to go hat in hand to the SCAC, maybe Rhodes fits there better as well.

Strength of Schedule - Opponents Combined Record
Bates: 22-3
Colby: 21-4
Ham  : 18-7
Bow  : 15-10
Midd : 14-11
Tufts: 11-14
Trin : 8-17
Will : 7-18
Wesl : 6-19
Amher: 3-22

Strength of Remaining Schedule
Amher: 17-3
Wesl : 14-6
Will : 14-6
Trin : 12-8
Tufts: 11-9
Bow  : 10-10
Midd : 9-11
Ham  : 6-14
Colby: 4-16
Bates: 3-17


I can easily see a scenario where Amherst finished 5-4.