FB: Southern Athletic Association

[Ron Boerger]

Trust me, I take absolutely no pleasure in doing this, but let's look back at last week's predictions:

Hansen Ratings:

• @Trinity 35.2, Maryville 13.2 (TU 92.2% to win)
• @Berry 36.3, Southwestern 12.1 (BC 93.7% to win)
• @Sewanee 15.7, Millsaps 43.1 (MC 95.9% to win)
• @Centre 36.9, Rhodes 4.1 (CC 98.1% to win)

SP +:

• @Trinity 35.8, Maryville 10.2
• @Berry 39.8, Southwestern 5.5
• @Sewanee 12.7, Millsaps 39.2
• @Centre 38.7, Rhodes 4.0

I think Maryville-Trinity will be closer, Berry-Southwestern less so.  But if these guys are right, it's a pretty mundane week in the SAA.

And here we go:

• Maryville 16, @Trinity 12
• @Berry 34, Southwestern 6
• Millsaps 62, @Sewanee 14
• @Centre 63, Rhodes 20

Not sure much needs to be said, though Southwestern holding Berry to a single score after half was a surprise.  Both badly missed the Scots' upset, greatly underweighing recent performance in favor of historical. And sometimes **** just happens.

Let's look at this week's predictions, FWIW:

Hansen Ratings:

• @Maryville 20.6, Berry 25.2 (BC 62.0% to win)
• @Millsaps 20.1, Trinity 29.5 (TU 72.8%)
• @Centre 38.8, Sewanee 9.1 (CC 97.0%)
• @Southwestern 42.9, Rhodes 18.8 (SU 93.4%)

SP +:

• @Maryville 15.1, Berry 33.4
• @Millsaps 17.7, Trinity 30.6
• @Centre 39.1, Sewanee 9.0
• @Southwestern 35.7, Rhodes 15.7

Here, it looks like Hansen is reacting more quickly to recent results and IMO the top two games on the schedule will be closer than SP+ predicts.  The potential is there for both home teams to upset their opponents.

According to the D3FB podcast, Millsaps QB Grant Bizjack, injured early in the season, returned for the first time in mop-up time against Sewanee so you'd expect him to be available against Trinity.  Then again, Carl Reed Jr. (33-50-0 for 599 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs)  and Quez Goss (28-52-1, 465/6 TDs) have done pretty well in his absence so that may not be needed.

[MCScots2013]

We'll have to keep competing and give you more reasons to shout out MC on the podcast. Practice makes perfect!

As far as this Saturday, I'm hoping we get close to 10k. Got a little over 9k last year with Centre; Centre and Berry are equidistant to Maravul and Berry has historically travelled well up I-75.

Tents are staked out for the tailgate. Looking forward to enjoying time in "The Little Grove" (not officially the name of the tailgating area, but sounds good)

[wally_wabash]

Pat is a man of the people! 7.2/10 on  his attempt at saying Maryville. 

Acceptable:
Murvul
Maraville
Maravul (this is most common)

Unacceptable and downright unholy:
Mary-ville
Kills me that our PA and broadcast say it this way to appease Yankees with unrefined auditory skills.

The bolded is probably where I land most often. Occasionally I might let slip a Murvul. 

Hope you all get about 5 deep in a ring around that field on Saturday.  Should be a tremendous college football game. 

[Hawks88]

I'm looking forward to getting Murvul back on our schedule. We always enjoy those trips to eastern Tennessee.

[Ron Boerger]

I'm looking forward to getting Murvul back on our schedule. We always enjoy those trips to eastern Tennessee.

Have fond memories of my trip there last season.  Lovely campus, friendly people, some really good grub.

[Ron Boerger]

*** Maryville LEAVING THE SAA FOR THE CCS ***

https://x.com/d3hoops/status/2112534422356410836

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

[crufootball]

*** Maryville LEAVING THE SAA FOR THE CCS ***

https://x.com/d3hoops/status/2112534422356410836

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

But is this statement going to save SAA football, at least for a bit?

"Affiliate memberships for football and women's golf are being finalized ahead of this transition."

[Ron Boerger]

*** Maryville LEAVING THE SAA FOR THE CCS ***

https://x.com/d3hoops/status/2112534422356410836

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

But is this statement going to save SAA football, at least for a bit?

"Affiliate memberships for football and women's golf are being finalized ahead of this transition."

My guess is they will stay with the SAA for a year since they don't have to travel to SA for football next season.  But this might also encourage other SAA schools like Centre and Oglethorpe to abandon the conference as has been rumored since Southwestern and Millsaps announced their departure.

[Ralph Turner]

Might Maryville's departure from SAA be another ripple from a Dwayne Hanberry pebble thrown into the pond of D3 conference membership?
...

Good thought!

Remaining as a SAA Affiliate for football makes more sense than being a USAC South affiliate.

[jknezek]

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.

[scottiedoug]

Any of the SAA schools would raise the profile of the CCS....

[Ron Boerger]

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.

I didn't quote it but the travel didn't get brutal until the SAA accepted Trinity and Southwestern.  They obviously forgot why they broke away in the first place.

Centre has already widely been seen as considering the HCAC and Oglethorpe too has been rumored to have been looking.

While it would help the SCAC (and Trinity) by providing Millsaps a decentish travel partner I can't see Rhodes wanting to spend nearly half its time in Texas/Colorado.

Regardless the phone lines / emails have to be going fast and furious today.   

[d3boardssearcher]

Centre more likely for NCAC than HCAC.

[tigerguy]

Unsurprisingly, Maryville's upset of Trinity is the second game featured in this week's D3football.com Around the Nation podcast.

Sorry for the tardy game-reaction. First game of the season I was unable to watch and sounds like I would have been yelling at the screen the majority of the game. From what I can glean from the box score, looks like the inconsistent offense finally caught up to them and the running game wasn't able to do anything, even though they outgained Maryville by almost 100 yards overall. This team reminds me of my senior 2011 team when we had a spectacular defense, but couldn't do anything consistently on offense.

As I've noted previously, special teams is another confusing problem area for this team and I do not understand why the staff has not figured out the holes that are leading to blocked/tipped FG/PATs. Urban needs to get this team reoriented, because if the same team shows up against Millsaps this week, they can kiss the playoffs goodbye.

[MCScots2013]

Trinity to the SCAC could put the USA South in a pickle and give the CCS a reason to sponsor football.

Hear me out:

Football...
Maryville
Centre
Sewanee
Berry
Rhodes
Belhaven
Huntingdon
LaGrange

Non-football...
Oglethorpe
Asbury
Piedmont
Covenant
Agnes Scott (2027)