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Mid-States Football Association

U.S. college athletic conference


Summary

U.S. college athletic conference

FieldValue
nameMid-States Football Association
logoMidstates football assoc logo.png
logo_size200
founded
associationNAIA
teams12
sports1 (football only)
regionMidwestern United States
commissionerRon Korfmacher
website
mapMSFA-USA-states.PNG
map_size250
color#222222; border: 2px solid #C50505
font_colorwhite

The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference sponsors only football. Member institutions are located in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The MSFA was organized in 1993, and on-field competition began in 1994. The conference is divided into two leagues, the Mideast League and the Midwest League. The two MSFA league champions each earn an automatic bid to the NAIA football national championship playoffs. MSFA member schools have won eight NAIA football national championships.

For other sports, MSFA-member schools are affiliated with a variety of other conferences including the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, the Crossroads League, and the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference.

History

| mark-coord = |mark-size=10 |label=Judson |label-pos = top | mark = Yellow dddd00 pog.svg | label-color = black | mark-coord1 = |mark-size1=10 |label1=Olivet Nazarene |label-pos1 = bottom | mark1 = Yellow dddd00 pog.svg | label-color1 = black | mark-coord2 = |mark-size2=10 |label2=St. Francis (IL) |label-pos2 = right | mark2 = Yellow dddd00 pog.svg | label-color2 = black | mark-coord3 = |mark-size3=10 |label3=Saint Xavier |label-pos3 = top | mark3 = Yellow dddd00 pog.svg | label-color3 = black | mark-coord4 = |mark-size4=10 |label4=Marian |label-pos4= top |mark4= Yellow dddd00 pog.svg | label-color4 = black | mark-coord5 = |mark-size5=10 |label5=Saint Francis (IN) |label-pos5= left |mark5= Yellow dddd00 pog.svg | label-color5 = black | mark-coord6 = |mark-size6=10 |label6=Indiana Wesleyan |label-pos6= top |mark6= Orange pog.svg | label-color6 = black | mark-coord7 = |mark-size7=10 |label7=Taylor |label-pos7= bottom |mark7= Orange pog.svg | label-color7 = black | mark-coord8 = |mark-size8=10 |label8=Defiance |label-pos8 = top | mark8 = Orange pog.svg | label-color8 = black | mark-coord9 = |mark-size9=10 |label9=Lawrence Tech |label-pos9 = top | mark9 = Orange pog.svg | label-color9 = black | mark-coord10 = |mark-size10=10 |label10=Madonna |label-pos10 = left | mark10 = Orange pog.svg | label-color10 = black | mark-coord11 = |mark-size11=10 |label11=Siena Heights|label-pos11 = left | mark11 = red pog.svg | label-color11 = black | mark-coord12 = |mark-size12=10 |label12=Saint Mary-of-the-Woods |label-pos12 = top | mark12 = Green pog.svg | label-color12 = black

Chronological timeline

  • 1994 – The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) was founded. Charter members included the following, beginning the 1994 fall season (1994–95 academic year):
    • Geneva College, Malone College (now Malone University), Tiffin University, Urbana University, and Westminster College representing the Mideast League
    • and the University of Findlay, Lindenwood College (now Lindenwood University), Olivet Nazarene University, Saint Xavier University, Taylor University and Trinity International University representing the Midwest League
  • 1996 – Lindenwood left the MSFA to move its football program with its other sports when it joined the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) after the 1995 fall season (1995–96 academic year).
  • 1996 – Tri-State University (now Trine University) and Walsh University joined the MSFA to represent the Mideast League, while Iowa Wesleyan College (later Iowa Wesleyan University) and St. Ambrose University joined the MSFA to represent the Midwest League, all effective in the 1996 fall season (1996–97 academic year).
  • 1998 – Findlay and Westminster (Pa.) left the MSFA to move their football programs to the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC), along with their other sports when both joined the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) after the 1997 fall season (1997–98 academic year).
  • 1998 – The University of Saint Francis of Indiana joined the MSFA to represent the Mideast League, while McKendree College (now McKendree University) joined the MSFA to represent the Midwest League, both effective in the 1998 fall season (1998–99 academic year).
  • 1999 – St. Ambrose opted to not compete in the MSFA for the 1999 fall season (1999–2000 academic year).
  • 1999 – The University of St. Francis of Illinois joined the MSFA to represent the Mideast League in the 1999 fall season (1999–2000 academic year).
  • 2000 – St. Ambrose returned to the MSFA in the 2000 fall season (2000–01 academic year).
  • 2002 – Tiffin left the MSFA to join the Independent Football Alliance (IFA) after the 2001 fall season (2001–02 academic year).
  • 2002 – William Penn University joined the MSFA to represent the Midwest League in the 2002 fall season (2002–03 academic year).
  • 2003 – Trine left the MSFA to move its football program with its other sports when it joined the NCAA Division III ranks after the 2002 fall season (2002–03 academic year).
  • 2003 – Quincy University joined the MSFA to represent the Mideast League in the 2003 fall season (2003–04 academic year).
  • 2004 – Ohio Dominican University joined the MSFA to represent the Mideast League in the 2004 fall season (2004–05 academic year).
  • 2006 – Quincy moved to the Midwest League in the 2006 fall season (2006–07 academic year).
  • 2007 – Geneva left the MSFA to move its football program with its other sports when it joined the NCAA Division III ranks and the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) after the 2006 fall season (2006–07 academic year).
  • 2007 – Marian University joined the MSFA to represent the Mideast League in the 2007 fall season (2007–08 academic year).
  • 2007 – Saint Xavier (Ill.) moved to the Mideast League in the 2007 fall season (2007–08 academic year).
  • 2008 – Urbana left the MSFA to move its football program with its other sports when it joined the NCAA Division II ranks after the 2007 fall season (2007–08 academic year).
  • 2009 – Ohio Dominican left the MSFA to move its football program with its other sports when it joined the NCAA Division II ranks after the 2008 fall season (2008–09 academic year).
  • 2009 – Grand View University and Waldorf University joined the MSFA to represent the Midwest League in the 2009 fall season (2009–10 academic year).
  • 2009 – Olivet Nazarene and Trinity International moved to the Mideast League in the 2009 fall season (2009–10 academic year).
  • 2011 – Three institutions left the MSFA to move their football programs with their other sports when they joined the NCAA Division II ranks, all effective after the 2010 fall season (2010–11 academic year):
    • Malone and Walsh to the GLIAC
    • and McKendree to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)
  • 2011 – Concordia University Ann Arbor joined the MSFA to represent in the Mideast League in the 2011 fall season (2011–12 academic year).
  • 2011 – Quincy returned to the Mideast League, while Olivet Nazarene and Trinity International went back to the Midwest League in the 2011 fall season (2011–12 academic year).
  • 2012 – Two institutions left the MSFA to move their football programs with their other sports when they joined the NCAA ranks, both effective after the 2011 fall season (2011–12 academic year):
    • Quincy to D-II and the GLVC
    • and Iowa Wesleyan to D-III and eventually to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC)
  • 2012 – Siena Heights University joined the MSFA to represent in the Mideast League in the 2012 fall season (2012–13 academic year).
  • 2013 – Robert Morris University Illinois joined the MSFA to represent in the Mideast League in the 2013 fall season (2013–14 academic year).
  • 2013 – Saint Xavier (Ill.) returned to the Mideast League, while Saint Francis (Ill.) moved to the Midwest League, both effective in the 2013 fall season (2013–14 academic year).
  • 2014 – Waldorf left the MSFA to join the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) as an affiliate member for football after the 2013 fall season (2013–14 academic year).
  • 2015 – Grand View and William Penn left the MSFA to move their football programs with their other sports when both joined the HAAC after the 2014 fall season (2014–15 academic year).
  • 2015 – Lindenwood University – Belleville and Missouri Baptist University joined the MSFA to represent the Mideast League in the 2015 fall season (2015–16 academic year).
  • 2015 – Saint Francis (Ill.) went back to the Mideast League in the 2015 fall season (2015–16 academic year).
  • 2019 – Lindenwood–Belleville left the MSFA after the 2018 fall season (2018–19 academic year).
  • 2019 – Indiana Wesleyan University and Lawrence Technological University joined the MSFA to represent the Mideast League in the 2019 fall season (2019–20 academic year).
  • 2019 – Missouri Baptist moved to the Midwest League in the 2019 fall season (2019–20 academic year).
  • 2020 – Robert Morris (Ill.) left the MSFA after the 2019 fall season (2019–20 academic year).
  • 2020 – Madonna University joined the MSFA to represent the Mideast League, while Roosevelt University joined the MSFA to represent the Midwest League, both effective in the 2020 fall season (2020–21 academic year).
  • 2021 – Judson University joined the MSFA to represent the Midwest League in the 2021 fall season (2021–22 academic year).
  • 2023 – Missouri Baptist left the MSFA to move their football program to the HAAC as a football associate after the 2022 fall season (2022–23 academic year).
  • 2023 – Trinity International left the MSFA, coinciding with the closure of its residential campus at the end of the spring semester in favor of online undergraduate programs.
  • 2024 – Two institutions left the MSFA to move their football programs, both effective after the 2023 fall season (2023–24 academic year):
    • Roosevelt to join the NCAA D-II ranks and the GLIAC
    • and St. Ambrose to join the HAAC as a football associate
  • 2024 – Defiance College joined the MSFA to represent in the Mideast League in the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).
  • 2024 – Marian and Saint Francis (Ind.) moved to the Midwest League in the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).
  • 2025 – Concordia–Ann Arbor will leave the MSFA after the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).
  • 2026 – Siena Heights will leave the MSFA upon the closure of the university after the 2025–26 academic year.
  • 2026 – Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will join the MSFA to represent the Midwest League in the 2026 fall season (2026–27 academic year).
  • 2026 – Saint Francis (Ind.) will move to the Mideast League in the 2026 fall season (2026–27 academic year).

Member schools

Current members

The MSFA currently has 12 member schools, all of them are private schools.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedPrimary
conferenceMideast LeagueMidwest League
Defiance CollegeDefiance, Ohio1850United Church of Christ511Yellow Jackets2024Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)
Indiana Wesleyan UniversityMarion, Indiana1920Wesleyan Church14,957Wildcats2019Crossroads
Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield, Michigan1932Nonsectarian3,260Blue Devils2019Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)
Madonna UniversityLivonia, Michigan1930Catholic2,054Crusaders2020Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)
Siena Heights UniversityAdrian, Michigan1919Catholic1,832Saints2012Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)
Taylor UniversityUpland, Indiana1846Nondenominational2,398Trojans1994Crossroads
Judson UniversityElgin, Illinois1963American Baptist1,058Eagles2021Chicagoland (CCAC)
Marian UniversityIndianapolis, Indiana1851Catholic3,586Knights2007Crossroads
Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais, Illinois1907Nazarene3,275Tigers1994Chicagoland (CCAC)
Joliet, Illinois1920Catholic3,185Fighting Saints1999Chicagoland (CCAC)
Fort Wayne, Indiana1890Catholic1,852Cougars1998Crossroads
Saint Xavier UniversityChicago, Illinois1846Catholic3,457Cougars1994Chicagoland (CCAC)

;Notes:

Future member

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoiningPrimary
conference
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeSaint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana1840Catholic
(Sisters of Providence)1,227Pomeroys2026River States (RSC)

;Notes:

Former members

The MSFA has 22 former member schools, all of them were private schools.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftPrimaryconference
when
joining
the MSFAPrimary
conference
Concordia University (Mich.)Ann Arbor, Michigan1963Lutheran LCMS1,351Cardinals20112025Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)Discontinued athletics in 2025
Findlay, Ohio1882Churches of God5,057Oilers19941998Great Lakes (GLIAC)Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Geneva CollegeBeaver Falls, Pennsylvania1848Reformed1,258Golden
Tornadoes19942007Keystone–Empire (KECC)Presidents' (PAC)
Grand View UniversityDes Moines, Iowa1896Lutheran ELCA1,796Vikings20092015Midwest (MCC)Heart of America (HAAC)
Iowa Wesleyan CollegeMount Pleasant, Iowa1842United
MethodistN/ATigers19962012Midwest (MCC)Closed in 2023
Lindenwood University1827Presbyterian
(PCUSA)7,288Lions19941996Heart of America (HAAC)Ohio Valley (OVC)
Lindenwood University–BellevilleBelleville, Illinois2003Presbyterian
(PCUSA)N/ALynx20152019American MidwestClosed in 2020
Malone UniversityCanton, Ohio1892Evangelical1,205Pioneers19942011American MideastGreat Midwest (G-MAC)
McKendree UniversityLebanon, Illinois1828United
Methodist2,075Bearcats19982011American MidwestGreat Lakes Valley (GLVC)
Missouri Baptist University1828Southern Baptist5,641Spartans20152023American MidwestHeart of America (HAAC)
Ohio Dominican UniversityColumbus, Ohio1911Catholic
(OP)1,258Panthers20042009American MideastGreat Midwest (G-MAC)
Quincy UniversityQuincy, Illinois1860Catholic
(Franciscan)1,280Hawks20032012Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)
Robert Morris UniversityChicago, Illinois1913NonsectarianN/AEagles20132020Chicagoland (CCAC)N/A
Roosevelt UniversityChicago, Illinois1945Nonsectarian4,015Lakers20202024Chicagoland (CCAC)Great Lakes (GLIAC)
Davenport, Iowa1882Catholic2,703Fighting Bees19962024Midwest (MCC)Chicagoland (CCAC)
Tiffin UniversityTiffin, Ohio1888Nonsectarian3,598Dragons19942002American MideastGreat Midwest (G-MAC)
Trine UniversityAngola, Indiana1884Nonsectatian4,471Thunder19962003Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)Michigan (MIAA)
Trinity International UniversityDeerfield, Illinois1897Evangelical852Trojans19942023Chicagoland (CCAC)N/A
Urbana UniversityUrbana, Ohio1850NonsectarianN/ABlue Knights19942008American MideastClosed in 2020
Waldorf CollegeForest City, Iowa1903For-profit2,657Warriors20092014Midwest (MCC)Great Plains (GPAC)
Walsh UniversityNorth Canton, Ohio1960Catholic
(Diocese of
Youngstown)2,160Cavaliers19962011American MideastGreat Midwest (G-MAC)
Westminster CollegeNew Wilmington, Pennsylvania1852Presbyterian
(PCUSA)1,203Titans19941998Keystone–Empire (KECC)Presidents' (PAC)
William Penn UniversityOskaloosa, Iowa1873Quakers1,536Statesmen20022015Midwest (MCC)Heart of America (HAAC)

;Notes:

Membership timeline

DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:1994 till:2030 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5

Colors = id:line value:black

PlotData = width:15 textcolor:darkblue shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:yelloworange from:1994 till:1998 text:Findlay (1994–1998)

bar:2 color:redorange from:1994 till:2007 text:Geneva (1994–2007)

bar:3 color:yelloworange from:1994 till:1996 text:Lindenwood (1994–1996)

bar:4 color:redorange from:1994 till:2011 text:Malone (1994–2011)

bar:5 color:yelloworange from:1994 till:2009 text:Olivet Nazarene (1994–2009) bar:5 color:redorange from:2009 till:2011 text:(2009–2011) bar:5 shift:(20) color:yelloworange from:2011 till:end text:(2011–present)

bar:6 color:yelloworange from:1994 till:2007 text:Saint Xavier (Ill.) (1994–2007) bar:6 color:redorange from:2007 till:2013 text:(2007–2013) bar:6 color:yelloworange from:2013 till:end text:(2013–present)

bar:7 color:yelloworange from:1994 till:2002 text:Taylor (1994–2002) bar:7 color:redorange from:2002 till:end text:(2002–present)

bar:8 color:redorange from:1994 till:2002 text:Tiffin (1994–2002)

bar:9 color:yelloworange from:1994 till:2009 text:Trinity International (1994–2009) bar:9 color:redorange from:2009 till:2011 text:(2009–2011) bar:9 shift:(20) color:yelloworange from:2011 till:2023 text:(2011–2023)

bar:10 color:redorange from:1994 till:2008 text:Urbana (1994–2008)

bar:11 color:redorange from:1994 till:1998 text:Westminster (Pa.) (1994–1998)

bar:12 color:yelloworange from:1996 till:2012 text:Iowa Wesleyan (1996–2012)

bar:13 color:yelloworange from:1996 till:1999 text:St. Ambrose (1996–1999) bar:13 shift:(30) color:yelloworange from:2000 till:2024 text:(2000–2024)

bar:14 color:redorange from:1996 till:2003 text:Trine (1996–2003)

bar:15 color:redorange from:1996 till:2011 text:Walsh (1996–2011)

bar:16 color:yelloworange from:1998 till:2011 text:McKendree (1998–2011)

bar:17 color:redorange from:1998 till:2024 text:Saint Francis (Ind.) (1998–2024) bar:17 shift:(-10) color:yelloworange from:2024 till:2026 text:(2024–2026) bar:17 color:redorange from:2026 till:end text:(2026–present)

bar:18 color:yelloworange from:1999 till:2013 text:St. Francis (Ill.) (1999–2013) bar:18 color:redorange from:2013 till:2015 text:(2013–2015) bar:18 shift:(20) color:yelloworange from:2015 till:end text:(2015–present)

bar:19 color:yelloworange from:2002 till:2015 text:William Penn (2002–2015)

bar:20 color:redorange from:2003 till:2006 text:Quincy (2003–2006) bar:20 shift:(30) color:yelloworange from:2006 till:2011 text:(2006–2011) bar:20 color:redorange from:2011 till:2012 text:(2011–2012)

bar:21 color:redorange from:2004 till:2009 text:Ohio Dominican (2004–2009)

bar:22 color:redorange from:2007 till:2024 text:Marian (2007–2024) bar:22 color:yelloworange from:2024 till:end text:(2024–present)

bar:23 color:yelloworange from:2009 till:2014 text:Waldorf (2009–2014)

bar:24 color:yelloworange from:2009 till:2015 text:Grand View (2009–2015)

bar:25 color:redorange from:2011 till:2025 text:Concordia–Michigan (2011–2025)

bar:26 color:redorange from:2012 till:2026 text:Siena Heights (2012–2026)

bar:27 color:redorange from:2013 till:2015 text:Robert Morris (2013–2015) bar:27 shift:(90) color:yelloworange from:2015 till:2020 text:(2015–2020)

bar:28 color:redorange from:2015 till:2019 text:Lindenwood–Belleville (2015–2019)

bar:29 color:redorange from:2015 till:2019 text:Missouri Baptist (2015–2019) bar:29 shift:(50) color:yelloworange from:2019 till:2023 text:(2019–2023)

bar:30 color:redorange from:2019 till:end text:Indiana Wesleyan (2019–present)

bar:31 color:redorange from:2019 till:end text:Lawrence Tech (2019–present)

bar:32 color:redorange from:2020 till:end text:Madonna (2020–present)

bar:33 color:yelloworange from:2020 till:2024 text:Roosevelt (2020–2024)

bar:34 color:yelloworange from:2021 till:end text:Judson (2021–present)

bar:35 color:redorange from:2024 till:end text:Defiance (2024–present)

bar:36 shift:(-80) color:yelloworange from:2026 till:end text:Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2026–future)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:1994

TextData = fontsize:M textcolor:black pos:(0,20) tabs:(400-center) text:^"Mid-States Football Association membership history"

National Championship appearances

YearMSFA
memberOpponentResultScore
**1995**Findlay (OH)Central WashingtonTie21–21
**1997**Findlay (OH)WillametteWon14–7
1998Olivet Nazarene (IL)Azusa Pacific (CA)Lost14–17
2004Saint Francis (IN)Carroll (MT)Lost13–15
2005Saint Francis (IN)Carroll (MT)Lost10–27
2006Saint Francis (IN)Sioux Falls (SD)Lost19–23
**2011**Saint Xavier (IL)Carroll (MT)Won24–20
**2012**Marian (IN)Morningside (IA)Won30–27
**2013**Grand View (IA)Cumberlands (KY)Won35–23
2014Marian (IN)Southern OregonLost31–55
**2015**Marian (IN)Southern OregonWon31–14
**2016**Saint Francis (IN)Baker (KS)Won38–17
**2017**Saint Francis (IN)Reinhardt (GA)Won24–13
2019Marian (IN)MorningsideLost38–40

References

References

  1. (July 24, 2023). "St. Ambrose and William Woods Football to Join the Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2024". Heart of America Athletic Conference.
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