College football in Minnesota is rich with history and tradition. Rivalries here can stretch back over a century.
This weekend, fans have a lot to look forward to. Several key matchups are set to reignite old rivalries and put the spotlight on the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
From the historic clash between Macalester and St. John’s to high-stakes games for Carleton, St. Thomas, and more, Saturday’s shaping up to be a big day for Minnesota college football fans.
Macalester vs. St. John’s: A Historic Rivalry Resumes
The upcoming game between Macalester and St. John’s marks the 77th meeting between these teams. Their series goes all the way back to 1909.
It’s a special one, too—this will be the first time they’ve faced off since 2001. The Scots haven’t beaten the Johnnies since 1968, so you can bet they’re hungry for a win.
Macalester’s Recent Performance
Macalester (2-2, 1-2 MIAC) is coming off a big 29-0 win over Hamline. That shutout was their first since 2019.
It’s quite a turnaround from last season’s 0-10 finish. Their defense really stepped up, and honestly, that could make a difference against St. John’s.
St. John’s: A Formidable Opponent
St. John’s (3-1, 2-1 MIAC) is looking to regroup after a 17-10 loss to Bethel. That defeat dropped them from No. 4 to No. 13 in the D3football.com poll.
The Johnnies have owned this rivalry, leading the all-time series 55-17-4. Their fans are loud, and playing at home in Collegeville could tip the scales.
Other Key Matchups in Minnesota College Football
St. Thomas vs. Davidson
St. Thomas (2-3, 0-2 Pioneer League) heads to North Carolina for a game against Davidson. The Tommies are on a two-game skid and need a spark.
They beat Davidson in 2022 but lost to them in 2021. This one feels pretty important if they want to climb the Pioneer League standings.
Carleton vs. St. Scholastica
Carleton (3-1, 3-0 MIAC) is tied for the MIAC lead with Bethel. They’ll be on the road in Duluth to face St. Scholastica (2-2, 1-2).
Carleton just put up a strong 45-28 win over Gustavus Adolphus. St. Scholastica is coming off a rough 49-21 loss to Concordia (Moorhead), so both teams have something to prove.
Unbeaten Teams in the NSIC
Minnesota Duluth
Minnesota Duluth (6-0, 1-0 NSIC) is still unbeaten and sits at No. 8 in the D2football.com poll. The Bulldogs will take on Northern State (3-2, 1-1) this Saturday.
Last week, UMD rolled to a 63-28 win over Southwest Minnesota State. Northern State just lost a close one to Bemidji State, so they’ll have to dig deep to challenge the Bulldogs.
Augustana
Augustana (6-0, 2-0) is another NSIC team with a perfect record, ranked No. 12. They’re fresh off a wild 29-28 victory over Sioux Falls, rallying from an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
This week, they’ll host Concordia (St. Paul) (1-5, 0-1). The Vikings sure know how to handle pressure, and they’ll want to keep that unbeaten streak alive.
Other Notable Games
Crown vs. Martin Luther
Crown (2-2, 1-0 UMAC) has turned things around this season with two straight wins. They’re set to play Martin Luther (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday.
Crown’s recent win over Northwestern (St. Paul) snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Eagles and gave them back-to-back victories for the first time since 2019. Not too shabby.
Minnesota Morris vs. Westminster
Minnesota Morris (1-3, 1-0) is heading down to Fulton, Missouri, to face Westminster (2-2, 0-1). The Cougars are fresh off a 35-28 win over Martin Luther.
Senior linebacker Gregory Ohman really stood out last week. He landed a spot on the D3football.com team of the week, and honestly, his defense could make all the difference again.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
