(STATS) - The Southland Conference should be one of the more intriguing FCS conferences in 2018.

Sam Houston State is a lightning rod of an FCS power, seemingly always going deep in the national playoffs, then exiting in spectacular fashion.

Central Arkansas is the defending Southland champ yet has a new coach and the fewest returning starters in the 11-team conference.

Nicholls has turned its program around and boasts the talent to go where SHSU and UCA have gone.

McNeese is motivated after having more wins than any team eligible for the playoffs that didn't get in last year.

New coaches will spice up the race as well - Nathan Brown at Central Arkansas, Brad Laird at Northwestern State, Eric Morris at Incarnate Word, Frank Scelfo at Southeastern Louisiana and Jeff Byrd at Stephen F. Austin.

Following is a team-by-team breakdown of the 2018 Southland race and STATS' predicted order of finish:

1. Sam Houston State

2. Nicholls

3. McNeese

4. Central Arkansas

5. Southeastern Louisiana

6. Stephen F. Austin

7. Abilene Christian

8. Lamar

9. Northwestern State

10. Incarnate Word

11. Houston Baptist

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TEAM CAPSULES=

1. SAM HOUSTON STATE BEARKATS=

LOCATION: Huntsville, Texas

STADIUM: Bowers Stadium

HEAD COACH: K.C. Keeler (46-12, four seasons; 220-85-1 overall)

2017 RECORDS: 12-2, 8-1 Southland (2nd)

STARTERS RETURNING: 14 (7 offense/7 defense)

KEY PLAYERS: Mike Dare, QB, Jr. (Lackawanna College transfer); Remus Bulmer, RB, Sr.; Davion Davis, WR, Sr.; Nathan Stewart, WR, Jr.; Mitchell Watanabe, OL, Sr.; Eric David, OL, Jr.; Chris Stewart, DE, Sr.; Scean Mustin-Sherman, DL, Jr. (Citrus College transfer); Xavier Lofton, DL, Jr. (El Camino College transfer); Ernest Harris, S, Jr. (Bakersfield JC transfer); Adrian Contreras, S, Sr.; Jaylen Thomas, CB, So.; Zyon McCollum, CB, So.; Tre Hohnstein, PK, Sr.

THREE KEY LOSSES: Jeremiah Briscoe, QB; Corey Avery, RB; P.J. Hall, DL

OUTLOOK: A team doesn't lose the significant talent that Sam Houston did this offseason, especially Briscoe - the two-time STATS FCS Walter Payton Award winner - and Hall, without feeling it, but the Bearkats also are used to reloading. They reached the FCS semifinals last year for the fifth time in seven seasons. Dare, who started his career at Rutgers, has the strong arm to team well with first-team All-Americans Davis and Stewart (a combined 150 receptions, 2,854 receiving yards and 31 TD catches) in the high-powered passing game. After the Bearkats allowed over 31 points per game, they need to play with more discipline defensively. DE Stewart racked up 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks as a junior. The Bearkats have back-to-back games against Nicholls and Central Arkansas in late September.

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2. NICHOLLS COLONELS=

LOCATION: Thibodaux, Louisiana

STADIUM: John L. Guidry Stadium

HEAD COACH: Tim Rebowe (16-18, three seasons)

2017 RECORDS: 8-4, 7-2 Southland (Tie/3rd)

STARTERS RETURNING: 16 (8 offense/8 defense)

KEY PLAYERS: Chase Fourcade, QB, Jr.; Kyran Irvin, RB, Jr.; Dontrell Taylor, RB, Jr.; Damion Jeanpiere Jr., WR, Sr.; Dai'Jean Dixon, WR, So.; Chandler Arceneaux, OL, Sr.; Ryan Hanley, OL, Sr.; Kenny Dotson, DL, Sr.; Sully Laiche, DL, Jr.; Ronald Ollie, DL, Sr.; Allen Pittman, LB, Jr.; Corey Abraham, DB, Sr.; Lorran Fonseca, PK, Sr.

THREE KEY LOSSES: Jarrell Rogers, WR; Terrell Encalade, DL; Christian Boutte, CB

OUTLOOK: Coming off their first playoff bid in 12 years, the Colonels return 16 starters to make a run at the Southland title. They'll know where they stand quickly as they face Kansas and Tulane followed by Southland powers McNeese and Sam Houston State in a packed September schedule. All 10 Colonels who earned a form of all-conference honors are back. QB Fourcade needs improvement in his third season as the starter, but he has a bevy of returning skills position players, led by bulldozer Irvin (764 yards, 8 TDs) and NFL prospect Jeanpierre (40 receptions, 770 yards).The defense is strong up front with Dotson and Laiche, but it struggled to force turnovers, leading to the team's negative-13 margin.

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3. MCNEESE COWBOYS=

LOCATION: Lake Charles, Louisiana

STADIUM: Cowboy Stadium

HEAD COACH: Lance Guidry (15-7, two seasons; 16-8 overall)

2017 RECORDS: 9-2, 7-2 Southland (Tie/3rd)

STARTERS RETURNING: 12 (5 offense/7 defense)

KEY PLAYERS: James Tabary, QB, Sr.; David Hamm, RB, Sr.; Justin Pratt, RB, Jr.; Ryan Ross, RB, Sr.; Lawayne Ross, TE, Jr.; Grant Burguillos, OL, Jr.; Chris Livings, DL, Jr.; Cameron Peterson, DL, R-Fr.; Christian Jacobs, LB, Sr.; B.J. Blunt, LB, Sr.; Colby Burton, DB, Jr.; Gunnar Rayborn, PK, Sr.

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