The race will come down to Wabash Witt and OWU....Wabash goes to Wittenberg (Where they have lost their last two meetings), and Wittenberg goes to OWU. (Where they have lost their last two meetings.).  OWU and Wabash do not play each other. Whichever QB from these 3 teams steps up the most will decide who wins the conference. This could be a deciding factor, if OWU beats Witt at home which they are very capable of doing, they can easily run the table without Bash on the schedule. Gheny and Wooster will trail right behind, in 4th and 5th. Followed by Oberlin, Denison, Kenyon, Earlham, and Hiram. My predictions:

1.Wabash 7-0 (They finally beat Wittenberg on the road. Something they haven't done since the 2002 season in OT 46-43.
1. OWU 7-0 (Witt at home, and no Wabash. 18 Returning starters...including QB Hymes...weak schedule. OWU is my surprise pick.
3. Wittenberg  5-2 close losses against Wabash and at OWU. The Tigers are in desperate need of an impact player to step up.
4,5,and 6 will be too close to call between Gheny, Wooster and Oberlin
7. Denison
8. Kenyon
9.Earlham
10.Hiram

Here is my breakdown of the NCAC preseason outlook.

Allegheny - Always a team to be on the watch for, however I see them going around .500. A pretty difficuly schedule will keep them on their toes every week. They still have a ways to go.

Denison - Love having the Big Red in the conference but they are still a ways from being a contender. Very classy squad from what I have seen in the past, but I'm guessing they will be a 4-6 team.

Earlham - 2-8, 3-7, depending on how they match up with Kenyon. It's hard to say what will happen with team.

Hiram - I'd love to see Hiram win a couple games but I just don't see it happening. Their best chance is the season opener against Gaullaudet.

Kenyon - No Rafael Sanchez is a major sign that this team needs a new base offense for what they do. Their defense has struggled in the past as well which could be bad news for the Lords. Depending on how they do against Earlham will determine the 8th/9th spot in the standings.

Oberlin - After a good conference record from 07' this team will struggle early and finish strong based on their schedule. However they will not crack the top 5 this year in my opinion.

Ohio Wesleyan - If ever a year for the Bishops this is it.  No Wabash on the schedule, and Hymes returning is major for this team. If they beat Wooster and Witt early, watch out.

Wabash - In my opinion are the favorites again. The away game at Wittenberg will determine whether this team goes undefeated or not. Great matchup between QB's.

Wittenberg - Road game against OWU, and home vs Wabash will determine if this team can steal back the title from Wabash. Wittenberg always are ready to play.

Wooster - Sheppard must do big things as well as their WR. Wooster is a respectable game for anybody in the conference.

Anyone know who the top players in the NCAC are going to be this year both defensively and offensively? It seems to be wide open. What does each team have?

OWU's first 3 losses last year came at the hands of Franklin (Playoff Team) Catholic, and Wabash (Playoff Team) however, games 2 and 3 they scored a combined 14 points after their QB went down, and their defense allowed only 15 to wabash who they don't play this year. Also both games on the road last year against Wooster and Wittenberg were decided in the final minute. (13-9, 21-16). It was obvious that Hymes was missed.

OWU brings back 9 starters on offense and 9 starters on defense on a team which has 25 returning seniors. If they can win against Wooster and Witt early, both of whom which struggled last year against OWU at home, then the NCAC race can get very interesting. Their remaining games are against Oberlin, Kenyon, Hiram, Earlham and Allegheny...all games which they should win. Games against Carnegie, Washington, and Case shall also be great tests for OWU.

Wabash will be solid like always and possibly Wittenberg, but Wooster and Allegheny leave question marks.  However like we have seen in the past all four of them and OWU can make for yet another exciting race. And what is the deal with Oberlin? Good year last year or was it luck? Can someone help me on that one?

Who has some good predictions next year from 1-10?

Steve Hymes to return for 5th year at OWU....take's medical redshirt.