College football fans, get ready—this weekend’s slate is going to be wild. Sure, Division I grabs the headlines, but honestly? D2 and D3 games often bring the chaos and heart that make this sport addictive.
There’s something about those smaller divisions—historic rivalries, unpredictable finishes, and a vibe you just can’t fake. This weekend, it’s all on display, with several classic matchups and old grudges ready to boil over.
The Charm of D2 and D3 Football
Division II and Division III football don’t have the massive crowds or TV deals, but there’s a rawness here that’s hard to resist. For these players, it’s not about NFL dreams—it’s about pride, tradition, and just loving the game for what it is.
Most of these athletes will never set foot in a pro locker room. They’re here for the competition, their schools, and maybe a little bit for the stories they’ll tell later.
Historic Rivalries
Rivalries run deep in D2 and D3, sometimes stretching back before your grandparents were born. This weekend, the Wisconsin Intercollege Athletics Conference (WIAC) is serving up three Top 25 matchups—reminds me of that wild 1982 UW-Stout vs. UW-Oshkosh game.
That one got national airtime during an NFL strike, and the “Radar” defense—defensive linemen in two-point stances—was just bizarre enough to stick in your memory. These are the kinds of quirks that make college football so much fun.
Northern Sun Rivalry Week
The Northern Sun Rivalry Week is back, which means old wounds get reopened and new legends are born. Some rivalries have faded, like those involving the St. Cloud State Huskies, but plenty still burn hot.
This year, there’s a double dose of “Beavers” showdowns, with Minot State and Bemidji State both chasing their own trophies and bragging rights.
Minot State vs. UMary
Minot State has pretty much owned their rivalry with the UMary Marauders, who only started playing in 2009. But this isn’t just another game—it’s for regional pride, and yeah, a huge wooden block that stands for the divide between Minot and Bismarck.
Lake Sakakawea splits the two, and that’s part of what makes this trophy so cool. If you’re into D2 football, this one’s a must-watch.
Bemidji State vs. Moorhead State
Then there’s the Battle for the Battle Axe—Bemidji State Beavers vs. Moorhead State Dragons. This thing goes back to 1929, and the Dragons have a slight historical edge.
But the Beavers have held onto the Axe since 2018, which makes this year’s meeting even tenser. You can feel the tradition in games like this; it’s not just about the scoreboard.
Games to Watch This Weekend
Rivalries are the heartbeat of the weekend, but there’s no shortage of high-stakes action elsewhere. Here are a few games you’ll want to keep tabs on:
- Penn State Nittany Lions at #1 Ohio State Buckeyes – Could shake up the playoff picture. [11am, B1G N00D]
- #9 Vanderbilt Commodores at #20 Texas Longhorns – Should be a good one. [11am, ABC]
- #10 Miami Hurricanes at SMU Mustangs – Miami’s only favored by 10.5—upset brewing? [11am, ESPN]
- West Virginia Mountaineers at #22 Houston Cougars – Houston’s ranking feels shaky. [11am, FS1]
- Army Black Knights at Air Force Falcons – Service academy games always deliver. [11am, CBS]
Other Notable Matchups
Don’t sleep on these either:
- #14 Findlay Oilers at #24 Northwood Timberwolves – GMAC showdown. [11am, FloSports]
- #8 UW-Whitewater Warhawks at #9 UW-River Falls Falcons – WIAC top-10 clash. [1pm, WIAC Digital Network]
- New Mexico Lobos at UNLV Rebels – Bowl hopes on the line. [2pm, Mountain West Network]
- Mississippi State Bulldogs at Arkansas Razorbacks – Could go either way. [3pm, SECN]
- Central Michigan Chippewas at Western Michigan Broncos – Victory Cannon up for grabs. [3pm, ESPNU]
Midweek MACtion Returns
And hey, if the weekend isn’t enough, Midweek MACtion is back. There’s just something about football on a Tuesday or Wednesday that hits different.
Here’s what’s on tap:
- UMass at Akron – [6pm, CBSSN]
- Miami (OH) at Ohio – [6pm, ESPN2]
- Kent State at Ball State – [6pm, ESPNU]
- Northern Illinois at Toledo – [6pm, ESPN2]
Trivia and Fun Facts
Let’s throw in a few bits of trivia and odd facts to chew on over the weekend.
- Some college teams actually use different names for their men’s and women’s athletics. Louisiana Tech, Hawai’i, and Arkansas Tech, for example, all give their women’s teams unique names. Why? Who knows, but it keeps things interesting.
- Ever heard of Yoknapatawpha County? It’s not real. William Faulkner made it up—a fictional Mississippi county that pops up in a bunch of his Southern novels.
- Gary Burghoff, who played Radar O’Reilly on M*A*S*H, ended up filling in for Charles Nelson Reilly on the classic game show Match Game. That’s a bit of TV history you probably didn’t expect.
- The second full moon in October and November gets called the “Hunter’s Moon” by deer hunters. Apparently, it marks the peak of the whitetail mating season—nature’s own calendar, I guess.
- The Republican Party? Depends who you ask, but some say it started at an antislavery meeting in Jackson, Michigan, while others point to a schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin. The real origin story’s a bit muddy.
Want to dig deeper or see the full schedule? Here’s the full article over at Off Tackle Empire.
Enjoy the games this weekend. Here’s hoping your team pulls off a win!
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