Mid-States Football Association

Last updated
Mid-States Football Association
Mid-States Football Association logo.jpg
Association NAIA
Founded1993
CommissionerRon Korfmacher
Sports fielded
  • 1 (football only)
No. of teams13 (12 in 2025)
Region Midwestern United States
Official website www.mid-statesfootball.org
Locations
MSFA-USA-states.PNG

The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Member institutions are located in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The MSFA was organized in 1993, and on-field competition began in 1994. The MSFA is divided into two leagues, the Mideast and the Midwest.

Contents

MSFA member schools have won eight NAIA National Championships since the inception of the league in 1993. An MSFA team has played in each of the last seven championships, winning six of the seven, including each of the last three. The two MSFA division champions earn an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship Series.

History

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Current members

The MSFA currently has 13 member schools, all of them are private schools.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedPrimary
conference
Mideast League
Concordia University Ann Arbor, Michigan 1963 Lutheran LCMS 1,055 Cardinals 2011 Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)
Defiance College Defiance, Ohio 1850 United Church of Christ 505 Yellow Jackets 2024
Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, Indiana 1920 Wesleyan Church 15,872 Wildcats 2019 Crossroads
Lawrence Technological University Southfield, Michigan 1932 Nonsectarian 4,154 Blue Devils 2019 Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)
Madonna University Livonia, Michigan 1930 Catholic 3,250 Crusaders 2020
Siena Heights University Adrian, Michigan 1919Catholic2,274 Saints 2012
Taylor University Upland, Indiana 1846 Nondenominational 1,887 Trojans 1994 Crossroads
Midwest League
Judson University Elgin, Illinois 1963 American Baptist 1,231 Eagles 2021 Chicagoland (CCAC)
Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana 1851Catholic1,800 Knights 2007 Crossroads
University of Saint Francis (IN) Fort Wayne, Indiana 1890Catholic1,883 Cougars 1998
Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, Illinois 1907 Nazarene 4,666 Tigers 1994 Chicagoland (CCAC)
University of St. Francis (IL) Joliet, Illinois 1920Catholic3,352 Fighting Saints 1999
Saint Xavier University Chicago, Illinois 1846Catholic5,028 Cougars 1994
Notes


    Former members

    InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftPrimary
    conference
    University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio 1882 Churches of God 4,870 Oilers 19941998 Great Midwest (G-MAC) [lower-alpha 1]
    Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 1848 Reformed 1,791 Golden
    Tornadoes
    19942007 Presidents' (PAC) [lower-alpha 2]
    Grand View University Des Moines, Iowa 1896 Lutheran ELCA 1,988 Vikings 20092015 Heart of America (HAAC)
    Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Pleasant, Iowa 1842 United
    Methodist
    570 Tigers 19962012Closed in 2023
    Lindenwood University St. Charles, Missouri 1827 Presbyterian
    (PCUSA)
    4,822 Lions 19941996 Ohio Valley (OVC) [lower-alpha 3]
    Lindenwood University–Belleville Belleville, Illinois 2003Presbyterian
    (PCUSA)
    N/A Lynx 20152018Closed in 2020
    Malone University Canton, Ohio 1892 Evangelical 1,684 Pioneers 19942011 Great Midwest (G-MAC) [lower-alpha 1]
    McKendree University Lebanon, Illinois 1828United
    Methodist
    1,702 Bearcats 19982011 Great Lakes Valley (GLVC) [lower-alpha 1]
    Missouri Baptist University St. Louis, Missouri 1828 Southern Baptist 2,800 Spartans 20152023 Heart of America (HAAC)
    Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio 1911 Catholic
    (OP)
    1,716 Panthers 20042009 Great Midwest (G-MAC) [lower-alpha 1]
    Quincy University Quincy, Illinois 1860Catholic
    (Franciscan)
    1,092 Hawks 20032012 Great Lakes Valley (GLVC) [lower-alpha 1]
    Robert Morris University Chicago, Illinois 1913NonsectarianN/A Eagles 20132019N/A [lower-alpha 4]
    Roosevelt University Chicago, Illinois 1945 Nonsectarian 7,500 Lakers 20202024 Great Lakes Intercollegiate (GLIAC) [lower-alpha 1]
    St. Ambrose University Davenport, Iowa 1882Catholic3,343 Fighting Bees 1996 [lower-alpha 5] 2024 Heart of America (HAAC)
    Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio 1888Nonsectarian3,096 Dragons 19942002 Great Midwest (G-MAC) [lower-alpha 1]
    Trine University Angola, Indiana 1884Nonsectatian4,104 Thunder 19962003 Michigan (MIAA) [lower-alpha 2]
    Trinity International University Deerfield, Illinois 1897 Evangelical 2,730 Trojans 19942023Closed in 2023
    Urbana University Urbana, Ohio 1850NonsectarianN/A Blue Knights 19942008Closed in 2020
    Waldorf College Forest City, Iowa 1903 For-profit [lower-alpha 6] 580 Warriors 20092014 North Star (NSAA)
    Walsh University North Canton, Ohio 1960Catholic
    (Diocese of
    Youngstown
    )
    2,779 Cavaliers 19962011 Great Midwest (G-MAC) [lower-alpha 1]
    Westminster College New Wilmington, Pennsylvania 1852Presbyterian
    (PCUSA)
    1,482 Titans 19941998 Presidents' (PAC) [lower-alpha 2]
    William Penn University Oskaloosa, Iowa 1873 Quakers 1,550 Statesmen 20022015 Heart of America (HAAC)
    Notes
    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
    2. 1 2 3 Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
    3. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
    4. Robert Morris (Ill.) was merged into Roosevelt University.
    5. St. Ambrose didn't compete in the MSFA during the 1998 fall season (1998–99 school year).
    6. Formerly affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) until 2010.

    Membership timeline

       Mideast League        Midwest League    

    Mid-States Football Association

    National Championship appearances

    YearMSFA
    Member
    OpponentResultScore
    1995 Findlay (OH) Central Washington Tie21–21
    1997 Findlay (OH) Willamette Won14–7
    1998 Olivet Nazarene (IL) Azusa Pacific (CA) Lost17–14
    2004 Saint Francis (IN) Carroll (MT) Lost15–13 (2 OT)
    2005 Saint Francis (IN) Carroll (MT) Lost27–10
    2006 Saint Francis (IN) Sioux Falls (SD) Lost23–19
    2011 Saint Xavier (IL) Carroll (MT) Won24–20
    2012 Marian (IN) Morningside (IA) Won30–27 (OT)
    2013 Grand View (IA) Cumberlands (KY) Won35–23
    2014 Marian (IN) Southern Oregon Lost55–31
    '2015 Marian (IN) Southern Oregon Won31–14
    2016 Saint Francis (IN) Baker (KS) Won38–17
    2017 Saint Francis (IN) Reinhardt (GA) Won24–13
    2019 Marian (IN) Morningside Lost38–40

    Sports

    The MSFA sponsors teams only in football. 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.

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    References

    1. "St. Ambrose and William Woods Football to Join the Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2024" (Press release). Heart of America Athletic Conference. July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.