The Mid-States Football Association, which has captured the last three NAIA championships, begins its 21st season this fall with 13 schools in four midwestern states. Grand View University of Des Moines, Iowa is the defending NAIA champion and joined Marian University (Indianapolis) and Saint Xavier University (Chicago) as the two previous gridiron kingpins in NAIA football. Ambrose University of
Davenport, Iowa; William Penn University of Oskaloosa, Iowa; Olivet Nazarene University of Bourbonnais, Illinois; and Trinity International University of Deerfield, Illinois. Meanwhile, the Mideast League will include the seven other schools … Chicago-based Robert Morris University, Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Marian; the University of Saint Francis of Fort Wayne, Indiana; the University of St. Francis of Joliet, Illinois; Siena Heights University of Adrian, Michigan; and Taylor University of Upland, Indiana. Lindenwood University-Belleville, located in Belleville, Illinois, and Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, Missouri, were added as associate members in 2013 and will not play a full MSFA schedule until 2015. Both schools will be aligned in the Mideast League. Each MSFA team plays the other teams within its league plus crossover games against the other league. The champions of the two leagues receive automatic berths into the NAIA Championship Series. The Chairman of the MSFA during the 2014-2015 school year will be Dave Laketa, Athletics Director, University of St. Gary Newsome, athletics director at Olivet Nazarene, has replaced James D. Houdeshell as the MSFA Commissioner and Larry Alter of Findlay, Ohio is the MSFA Information Director. Weekly statistical reports, players of the week, news items and highlights are available on the MSFA website at www.mid-statesfootball.org.
