10 questions worth following as the 2018 season unfolds in the Mountain East Conference

1. Will Shepherd close out its tenure in the Mountain East Conference with one more championship? The Rams won the inaugural MEC championship; and four-out-of-five altogether.

2. Can Notre Dame College finally make its first post-season birth as a member of the MEC? They are a top-tier team who is coming off of two seasons (8-3, 9-2) where the playoffs were within reach.

3. Will WV State begin to pick off the conference's top tier teams as they become one themselves? Sporting one of the conference's best offenses, the Yellow Jackets closed out their final 2017 seven-game stretch with a 5-2 record.

4. Will the Golden Eagles' offense step up to compliment their defense which has quietly become one of the toughest in the conference? Four of the University of Charleston's six losses were by 5 points or less.

5. How will Shepherd's defense rebound in 2018? The Rams' offense continued to dominate in 2017, maintaining its rank but still ascending the charts by statistical measurements; while the defense statistically dropped in many key categories.

6. Can Urbana find consistency in 2018? The Blue Knights' seemed to be either hot or cold in 2017. Their record break down goes like this: 0-2, 3-0, 0-4, 2-0.

7. Will the Hilltoppers finish the season 2-9? Since 2014's 6-5 mark, West Liberty has finished each of the following seasons with one less win and correspondingly, one more loss. (2015 - 5-6 / 2016 - 4-7 / 2017 - 3-8)

8. How strong will Wheeling Jesuit look during their first season of competitive football as they prepare for their first season of MEC play?

9. What will the conference landscape look like prior the start of next season? Shepherd and UVA-Wise are out. Wheeling Jesuit and Frostburg State are in. Does anyone else leave, does anyone else join?

10. Who will win the D2Football.com Message Board's MEC Pick 'Em for 2018? Games begin Thursday evening, so hurry up and submit your picks here.


I reserve the right to acknowledge this list is not inclusive of burning questions throughout the conference; comment below with a few of your own questions about the upcoming season.