All Things D2 and D3 College Football 2023 Season Thread


As a UW Whitewater alum living in NW Wisconsin, I love seeing River Falls come to relevance out of almost nowhere.
 

As a UW Whitewater alum living in NW Wisconsin, I love seeing River Falls come to relevance out of almost nowhere.

From the one game I was at vs. UMHB, the whole UWRF team is solid and very physical but the QB Blaha from Coon Rapids is what sets them apart. Just checked conference stats and he's in second in both passing and rushing.
 

From the one game I was at vs. UMHB, the whole UWRF team is solid and very physical but the QB Blaha from Coon Rapids is what sets them apart. Just checked conference stats and he's in second in both passing and rushing.
He is a good athlete, he went to Winona and played Safety, he wanted to be a QB, and transferred to UWRF. He was the back up QB in HS on a traveling Potenza team, he was a WR. I remember seeing him Playing in Chicago against AK and his team.
 

He is a good athlete, he went to Winona and played Safety, he wanted to be a QB, and transferred to UWRF. He was the back up QB in HS on a traveling Potenza team, he was a WR. I remember seeing him Playing in Chicago against AK and his team.

Late bloomer?
 


Late bloomer?
No he is the same guy and size. He found the right environment and coach for his skill set. It is like PJ wanting Lance as a LB. That is why the Portal is a good thing for some athletes. Most of these coaches do not have a clue.
 

two big games today in MIAC.

Bethel vs Augsburg and Carleton vs St. John's.

can Augsburg and Carleton make the case that they belong in the same conversation as the big boys?
 

Whitewater is in control so far against river falls. Falcons can’t get their offense going
 

MIAC Football results - Sat, Oct 14 -- theme of the day - butt-whippings

Bethel 38, Augsburg 7
St. John's 63, Carleton 7
Gustavus 55, Macalester 18
St. Olaf 37, St. Scholastica 17
Concordia 58, Hamline 14

watched Augsburg-Bethel. It was not pretty. Augsburg with 6 turnovers and Bethel had 7 QB sacks. Bethel ran the ball well with 231 yds rushing. Augsburg 20 net yds rushing. yikes.

as I write this they haven't posted the stats yet for St. John's. have to bet Syverson had another big day.

Standings:
Northwoods Division:
St. John's 5-1/4-0
Carleton 5-1/3-1
St. Olaf 4-2/3-1
Gustavus 3-3/2-2
St. Scholastica 2-4/1-3

Skyline Division:
Bethel 4-2/3-1
Augsburg 4-2/2-2
Concordia 3-3/2-2
Hamline 2-4/0-4
Macalester 2-4/0-4

Next week:
Macalester at Concordia
St. John's at Gustavus
St. Scholastica at Carleton
Hamline at Bethel
Augsburg at St. Olaf
 



The Minnesota State University Dragons, at home in Moorhead, on Homecoming, finally defeated the University of Sioux Falls, outlasting them 53-40. The Cougars were the only team in the NSIC that MSUM had never beaten, although they only began playing in 2010 or so.

Regardless, it was good to get the monkey off the back. The Dragons are now at 4-3 and are playing really well right now.

Other NSIC Scores:
  • Minnesota Duluth shutout U Mary 46-0
  • Minnesota State Mankato defeated Western Oregon 45-14
  • Minot State took down Concordia 17-10
  • Bemidji State defeated Wayne State 33-23
  • Augustana ran past Winona State 48-28
Northern State is still in a battle with Southwest Minnesota State, leading 24-17. Dragons play Southwest next Saturday.
 


Coaches D2 poll is out. NSIC teams bold, Minnesota teams italics
  1. Colorado School of Mines 7-0
  2. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 7-0
  3. Minnesota St. Mankato 7-0
  4. Grand Valley St. (Mich.)
  5. Delta St. (Miss.) 7-0
  6. Harding (Ark.) 7-0
  7. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 7-0
  8. Benedict (S.C.) 7-0
  9. Ferris St. (Mich.) 4-2
  10. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 7-0
  11. Indianapolis (Ind.) 6-0
  12. Western Colorado 7-0
  13. Davenport (Mich.) 6-0
  14. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 6-1
  15. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 5-1
  16. Central Missouri 6-1
  17. Augustana (S.D.) 7-0
  18. West Florida 5-2
  19. Angelo St. (Tex.) 4-2
  20. Virginia St. 7-0
  21. Assumption (Mass.) 5-1
  22. Shepherd (W.Va.) 6-1
  23. Tiffin (Ohio) 7-0
  24. Emporia St. (Kan.) 5-2
  25. Truman St. (Mo.) 6-1
Others Receiving Votes: Virginia Union, Valdosta St. (Ga.), Texas-Permian Basin, Charleston (W.Va.), Minnesota-Duluth, Henderson St. (Ark.), Southern Arkansas, Missouri Western St., Central Washington
 

Miac is pretty boring since STU left. The rest of the teams are nothing special.
 



Miac is pretty boring since STU left. The rest of the teams are nothing special.
Other teams have the ability to beat them, but can't break through. They are not at the St. Thomas dominance level.
 

Miac is pretty boring since STU left. The rest of the teams are nothing special.
I do think it has a made for a more exciting competitive Men's Basketball conference though.
 


Beat who? St. John's? Bethel beat them last year and went farther in the playoffs.

Bethel was right up there last year with the best in the country not named North Central.
 

Bethel was right up there last year with the best in the country not named North Central.
They did, they had a 6th year QB in a 4 year private college. It would be good for that conference to field competitive teams on a consistent basis.
 

a couple of interesting notes from Chip Scoggins' column in the Strib:

Numbers to know​

  • 5: Teams in the NSIC that rank among the top 30 in scoring in Division II: Minnesota State Mankato, Minnesota Duluth, MSU Moorhead, Augustana and Bemidji State.
  • 3: MIAC quarterbacks who rank top-five nationally in passing yards per game: Aaron Syverson of St. John's, Michael Nadeau of Macalester; George Sandven of Gustavus.
 

and the D3football.com poll is out -
#1 North Central (ill) - received all 25 1st-place votes
2. Mount Union
3. Wartburg
4. UW-La Crosse (#6 last week)
5. UW-Whitewater (#7 last week)
6. Trinity TX (#5 last week)
7. St. John's (MN) #8 last week
8. UW-River Falls (#4 last week)

others receiving votes included UW-Oshkosh (30th) and Bethel (32nd)
 


Coaches D2 poll is out. NSIC teams bold, Minnesota teams italics
  1. Colorado School of Mines 7-0
  2. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 7-0
  3. Minnesota St. Mankato 7-0
  4. Grand Valley St. (Mich.)
  5. Delta St. (Miss.) 7-0
  6. Harding (Ark.) 7-0
  7. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 7-0
  8. Benedict (S.C.) 7-0
  9. Ferris St. (Mich.) 4-2
  10. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 7-0
  11. Indianapolis (Ind.) 6-0
  12. Western Colorado 7-0
  13. Davenport (Mich.) 6-0
  14. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 6-1
  15. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 5-1
  16. Central Missouri 6-1
  17. Augustana (S.D.) 7-0
  18. West Florida 5-2
  19. Angelo St. (Tex.) 4-2
  20. Virginia St. 7-0
  21. Assumption (Mass.) 5-1
  22. Shepherd (W.Va.) 6-1
  23. Tiffin (Ohio) 7-0
  24. Emporia St. (Kan.) 5-2
  25. Truman St. (Mo.) 6-1
Others Receiving Votes: Virginia Union, Valdosta St. (Ga.), Texas-Permian Basin, Charleston (W.Va.), Minnesota-Duluth, Henderson St. (Ark.), Southern Arkansas, Missouri Western St., Central Washington
10/28 does not have many marquee FBS matchups. Colorado School of Mines being mentioned as a Gameday host, along with Vermillion, SD (USD hosts #1 SDSU).
 

a couple of interesting notes from Chip Scoggins' column in the Strib:

Numbers to know​

  • 5: Teams in the NSIC that rank among the top 30 in scoring in Division II: Minnesota State Mankato, Minnesota Duluth, MSU Moorhead, Augustana and Bemidji State.
  • 3: MIAC quarterbacks who rank top-five nationally in passing yards per game: Aaron Syverson of St. John's, Michael Nadeau of Macalester; George Sandven of Gustavus.
SJU has completed two rushing TD's all year. It must be fun being one 10 RB's on the team.
 

10/28 does not have many marquee FBS matchups. Colorado School of Mines being mentioned as a Gameday host, along with Vermillion, SD (USD hosts #1 SDSU).
I heard about vermilion too
 

Gustavus beats St. John’s today. Finally. Gustavus had been on the edge of beating St. John’s and St. Thomas for quite a while and it finally happened today. They have remained a half step behind St. John’s and Bethel to join the top level of the MIAC, so perhaps GAC finally takes that final step.
 

Huge win today in D2, Augustana not only took down, but soundly beat Minnesota State-Mankato, 28-10.

Other NSIC scores:
  • Bemidji State defeated Concordia St. Paul, 38-3
  • Davenport University won over U Mary, 44-34
  • Minnesota Duluth routed Minot State, 42-7
  • Winona State took down Sioux Falls, 42-34
  • Minnesota State Moorhead ran past Southwest Minnesota State, 34-17
 

Gustavus beats St. John’s today. Finally. Gustavus had been on the edge of beating St. John’s and St. Thomas for quite a while and it finally happened today. They have remained a half step behind St. John’s and Bethel to join the top level of the MIAC, so perhaps GAC finally takes that final step.
Their defense got stop with a pick late in the game, when SJU was about to score to hold on for the victory. Something they couldn't do in their two losses to Bethel and Augsburg.
 

MIAC football results - Sat, Oct 21

Gustavus 38, St. John's 35
Augsburg 56, St. Olaf 36
Bethel 49, Hamline 7
Carleton 42, St. Scholastica 21
Concordia 49, Macalester 8

GAC beats St. John's. St. John's led 21-10 midway through 2nd quarter. GAC outscored them 28-14 rest of game. oddly enough, neither team scored in 4th qtr. GAC QB Sandven outduels Syverson of St. John's. Sandven w/353 yds and 3 TDs; WR Jake Breitbach 10 rec for 122.

other: Concordia with 548 yds total offense.

Augsburg & St. Olaf combine for over 900 yds offense. Auggies with 243 yds rushing and 3 TD's.

Bethel with 571 yds total offense.

Standings:
Northwoods Division:
Carleton 6-1/4-1
St. John's 5-2/4-1
St. Olaf 4-3/3-2
Gustavus 4-3/3-2
St. Scholastica 2-5/1-4

Skyline Division:
Bethel 5-2/4-1
Augsburg 5-2/3-2
Concordia 4-3/3-2
Hamline 2-5/0-5
Macalester 2-5/0-5

next week:
Concordia at Augsburg
Bethel at Carleton
Macalester at Hamline
St. Scholastica at St. John's
Gustavus at St. Olaf
 

The Bemidji State football team has been ranked eighth in the nation among NCAA Division II programs by Lindy's College Football Magazine.

"We are excited about being ranked highly coming into the 2023 season," head coach Brent Bolte said in a release. "It shows how people around the country view our program and the type of players we are producing here in northern Minnesota."

This year's big climb inside the top 10 is 15 spots higher than Bemidji State was ranked last year in the Lindy's Preseason Poll, when the Beavers entered the 2022 season at No. 23. The Beavers won 10 games last year, the second straight season that featured a lengthy winning streak.


Go Gophers!!
Things sure have changed at Bemidji.
 

MIAC football results - Sat, Oct 21

Gustavus 38, St. John's 35
Augsburg 56, St. Olaf 36
Bethel 49, Hamline 7
Carleton 42, St. Scholastica 21
Concordia 49, Macalester 8

GAC beats St. John's. St. John's led 21-10 midway through 2nd quarter. GAC outscored them 28-14 rest of game. oddly enough, neither team scored in 4th qtr. GAC QB Sandven outduels Syverson of St. John's. Sandven w/353 yds and 3 TDs; WR Jake Breitbach 10 rec for 122.

other: Concordia with 548 yds total offense.

Augsburg & St. Olaf combine for over 900 yds offense. Auggies with 243 yds rushing and 3 TD's.

Bethel with 571 yds total offense.

Standings:
Northwoods Division:
Carleton 6-1/4-1
St. John's 5-2/4-1
St. Olaf 4-3/3-2
Gustavus 4-3/3-2
St. Scholastica 2-5/1-4

Skyline Division:
Bethel 5-2/4-1
Augsburg 5-2/3-2
Concordia 4-3/3-2
Hamline 2-5/0-5
Macalester 2-5/0-5

next week:
Concordia at Augsburg
Bethel at Carleton
Macalester at Hamline
St. Scholastica at St. John's
Gustavus at St. Olaf
Gustavus controls their own destiny as only in division games count towards Championship week games.
Northwoods:
Gustavus: 2-0 4-3/3-2
Carleton: 2-1 6-1/4-1
St. Johns: 1-1 5-2/4-1
St. Olaf: 1-1 4-3/3-2
St. Scholastica: 0-3 2-5/1-4
 




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