The Southland Conference was ranked the fifth toughest conference in the Football Championship Subdivision by a recent article on sportsnetwork.com. Coming in at the top of the list was the Missouri Valley Football Conference, with second place going to the Colonial Athletic Association. Rounding out the top three was the Big Sky Conference. 

Despite a strong run at the national championship last season by the Lions, some newly added teams to the Southland Conference caused enough hesitation to bring the division down to the fifth spot. 

Entering the Southland for the first time in the 2014 season are Incarnate Word, Abilene Christian University and Houston Baptist University. However, another strong season by the Lions and in-state rival McNeese could change the view that others have of the Southland Conference. 

“There’s a national title contender in Southeastern Louisiana, and McNeese State is a Top 10 team again,” wrote Craig Haley, FCS executive director and senior editor. 

There is little surprise that the Missouri Valley Football Conference was placed at the top spot. Residing in the conference are the North Dakota State University Bison, the defending national champion for the past three seasons. The Bison will have no easy task in taking the conference title this year. 

With several other teams ranking in the Top 10-15 preseason polls, any team coming from the Missouri Valley could be a serious contender come playoffs. 

Contending for the top spot, but falling just short, was the CAA. Headlining the conference is last season’s national championship runner-up, Towson. What the CAA has going for it is arguably the most depth in talent compared to the other conferences. 

Southeastern fans should remember the Colonial Athletic Association, as it was one of its teams that sent the Lions out of the playoffs. That team being New Hampshire looks primed for another impressive season that could see them make another run into the playoffs. Other teams that need to be watched in the CAA conference include William and Mary, Villanova and Delaware University. 

Third place belonged to the conference with the most programs competing, the Big Sky Conference. Eastern Washington University is an early favorite for the national championship. 

It was the eagles who have been involved in national semifinals in three of the last four seasons and even took home the title in 2010. Montana will also represent the Big Sky as a preseason Top-10 team.

For more news on the upcoming Lion’s season, visit lionsports.net. 

The Lions took on and defeated their fellow Southland Conference team Sam Houston State in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs on December 7, 2013. The Southland Conference was named the fifth toughest conference in the FCS by sportsnetwork.com. The Lion’s Roar / Christopher Martin