FB: Southern Athletic Association

[tigerguy]

Was not expecting to see Trinity as a predicted semifinalist on any of the D3football panelist's selections: https://d3football.com/notables/2026/08/20-questions

Would be curious to hear Greg's thoughts on the team.

[scottiedoug]

There is talk in Future of D3 board that Centre is thinking about leaving the SAA. Anybody here know anything?

[Ron Boerger]

It was mentioned when SW and Millsaps made their announcements by people better connected than me. With the increased travel situation for most team sports with only one school in Texas (e.g. fly to San Antonio for Trinity, then get back to one of the other eastern schools, then back home) combined with the future loss of any one school impacting the football AQ, you have to consider it a serious possibility. 

The total silence from the SAA front office also is not encouraging.

And speaking of things like this, the SCAC Xitter account just posted this (emphasis mine): 

As we start a new season, give @SCACcommish a follow!

Who knows, there might be more fun announcements coming soon... :eyes:

I can't see another SAA school leaving for the SCAC unless it would be Trinity, which I was told wasn't being considered.  Commissioner Hanberry said they were happy with 12 schools.  But things do change; Southwestern didn't contact the SCAC until immediately after the Millsaps announcement (again, according to the Commissioner).

[Ron Boerger]

Logan Hansen has taken @Etchglow's analysis of returnees and has put it an easy-to-read table that shows returning production percentages, and made it possible to search by team, region, or conference.  He breaks it down further, but here's the high level for teams in the SAA:

Rank*	School	Total %	Offense %	Defense %
42	Trinity	73.4%	69.6%	78.1%
51	Southwestern	72.0%	94.4%	44.0%
65	Millsaps	67.1%	58.7%	77.5%
90	Rhodes	63.6%	72.9%	52.1%
174	Centre	49.3%	43.8%	56.1%
196	Sewanee	44.3%	50.9%	36.1%
201	Maryville	42.5%	30.8%	57.1%
233	Berry	31.7%	34.7%	28.0%

* - national rank (of 240 teams)

To say this will be a rebuilding year for Berry is an understatement, as only seven teams in the country return less.

[scottiedoug]

Grant Henderson's "little" brother has transferred to Maryville, and maybe he is similar to Grant. That could help....

[MCScots2013]

Yeah "little"'is right. 3 inches taller!

News out of camp has been tough to come by. Have you heard anything? Mostly interested in the quarterback race to fill in for Bryson.

[Ron Boerger]

Logan Hansen has posted his conference previews on his site; here's the SAA (more details at the site):

School	|	Win-Loss	|	Conf W-L	|
Trinity	|	9.2-0.8	|	6.4-0.6	|
Berry	|	7.8-2.2	|	5.4-1.6	|
Maryville	|	4.9-5.1	|	3.9-3.1	|
Centre	|	5.2-4.8	|	3.7-3.3	|
Millsaps	|	6.2-3.8	|	3.6-3.4	|
Southwestern	|	4.4-5.6	|	2.9-4.1	|
Sewanee	|	2.6-7.4	|	1.1-5.8	|
Rhodes	|	2.0-8.0	|	1.0-6.0	|

He gives Trinity an 88% chance of making the playoffs (70% AQ, 18% at-large), Berry a 54% chance (19% AQ, 35% at large).  Nobody else has a 10% chance per his model. 

[scottiedoug]

Crickets from Scots but I am not in a loop that would help.

[Ron Boerger]

Titans apparently waived Berry ex Mason Kinsey after six years.  https://atozsports.com/nfl/tennessee-titans-news/mason-kinsey-signals-end-titans-era-statement-simpsons-meme/