FB: Centennial Conference

[FourthAndShort]

The semifinals did not disappoint. What a wild game to watch.

This was an absolute shootout and felt like a game that could have gone either way well into the fourth quarter.

Hopkins looked like Hopkins... balanced and largely in control on offense for long stretches. The usual suspects showed up, and the execution was there against an elite opponent on the biggest stage.

UWRF has one hell of a quarterback in Blaha. He took a tough hit early but quickly shook it off, settling in and making several big time throws in brutal conditions while playing with poise throughout.

River Falls looks more than capable of giving North Central a serious challenge. And based on what we saw, Hopkins belonged squarely in that same conversation.

In the end, it was a strong showing for both teams.

UWRF erased any doubt that the WIAC is the best conference in the country, and that its era of being overshadowed by others (La Crosse, Whitewater) is over.

Hopkins continues to profile as a national program with the depth and infrastructure to reload and compete for a Stagg Bowl appearance.

[emma17]

Johns Hopkins is one impressive team, all the way around.
Congratulations on a great season and best to all the seniors.

[CMU24]

5 Days out! Any thoughts as to the conf this year? Both CMU and JHU have tough week 1 opponents at home. Those 2 games will be very telling as to how the 2026 season shapes up. F&M returning a lot of talent also.

[BallGuy145]

If I had to guess this year. The Hopkins v. CMU matchup will determine the Conference Championship. CMU had them pretty early last year but struggled to finish games.

[FourthAndShort]

It's always a little difficult to judge things at the beginning of the season, particularly when there are 4-5 teams in the CC that can have an up year and make a run at the playoffs. Obviously, some of those programs reload more consistently than others, and Hopkins, CMU and Muhlenberg have been the most consistent of the bunch over the past 10 years.

The good news, as we saw last year, is that if the CC performs well in OOC play, it can get two or even three teams into the playoffs.

And there are some really good OOC games. CMU has John Carroll and Berry. Muhlenberg has Endicott. F&M has Westminster. Hopkins has Ithaca, Randolph-Macon and Susquehanna. Ursinus has Del Val.

That is a long way of saying I'll hedge until a couple standout OOC games happen.