Area college preview: A look at the NSIC

1 With the addition of Minot State and Sioux Falls, the NSIC has 16 members. Each team will play 11 conference games (no nonconference opponents) -- seven against members of its division and four against the other division.

2 Minnesota Duluth is 52-5 overall and 38-2 in the NSIC over the past four seasons. Can anyone stop the Bulldogs?

3 Winona State RB Rayon Simmons, a senior from University City, Mo., needs 997 rushing yards to surpass Chris Washington ( 4,216 yards from 2000-03) of Concordia (St. Paul) as the NSIC's career leader.

Listed in predicted order of finish by conference coaches:

Minnesota Duluth (11-3 in 2011): QB Chase Vogler, a senior from Inver Grove Heights, is in his fourth season as the starter. The Bulldogs have 14 returning starters -- eight on offense -- but must replace three starters on the offensive line.

St. Cloud State (9-3): The Huskies return 13 starters from a team that reached the D-II playoffs. They are led by the NSIC North Division offensive and defensive preseason players of the year -- QB Phillip Klaphake and DB Marvin Matthews.

MSU Mankato (9-3): The Mavericks will rely on RB Andy Pfeiffer, who rushed for 1,229 yards last season as a freshman. The Mavericks, who won the Mineral Bowl last season, edged out Winona State as the favorite in the NSIC South.

Augustana (6-5): Lost three games last season by three or fewer points. QB Josh Hanson, who passed for 2,640 yards and 18 TDs, returns for his third season as a starter.

Bemidji State (8-3): Coach Jeff Tesch has a veteran squad with 16 returning starters -- including preseason All-America TE Brian Leonhardt.

Wayne State (7-4): Has 15 returning starters -- including eight from a defense that shut out then-No. 1 Minnesota Duluth last year.

Sioux Falls (5-4): The Cougars, who won NAIA national championships in 2006, 2008 and 2009, return 16 starters for its first D-II season.

Mary (5-6): Has six returning starters from an offense that averaged 34 points per game.

Northern State (5-6): Won four of its final five games last season. Senior WR Chris Morton, who caught seven touchdown passes, returns.

Southwest Minnesota State (3-8): Coach Cory Sauter has 17 returning starters, including QB Tyler Peschong, who led the NSIC in passing yards (2,419) in 2011.

Upper Iowa (3-8): RB Chris Smith, who rushed for 1,212 yards last season, has been slowed by an offseason injury, but he is expected to return in Week 2.

Minot State (2-8): Will rely on a veteran defense in its first season in the NSIC as four of its top five tacklers return.

MSU Moorhead (2-9): Is young and inexperienced -- almost two-thirds of the players are making their NSIC debuts.