A final Transfer Portal Update:

10,965 NCAA football players entered the portal.
- 3,972 FBS
- 2,771 FCS
- 4,222 D2/D3


6,671 NCAA football players are still looking for a team.
- 1,619 FBS
- 1,782 FCS
- 3,270 D2/D3

40% of FBS portal guys are still looking.
64% of FCS portal guys are still looking.
77% of D2 and D3 portal guys are still looking.

Quote from: lmitzel on January 14, 2026, 10:43:43 PMNCC overcame an eight point halftime deficit and led by ten with under nine minutes to play. As has seemed to happen a lot, the Cardinals couldn't hold it and they drop yet another single digit game 98-93 at Augustana.

Cam Atkinson: 24 pts, 5 reb
Eli Aldana: 19 pts
Jake Willems: 18 pts

Seth Cheney: 23 pts
James Bullock Jr: 17 pts, 11 reb
Tyler Surin: 15 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast

Haven't been keeping up with the bball team this year other than seeing what's been on here...what's with all the late capitulation? Young squad?

Saw this posted today:

There were 10,576 football players that had entered the portal as of Wednesday morning. Of those 10.5K who jumped in, 6,846 are still active and looking for a new team.

There aren't 6,846 open scholarships much less roster spots in Division 1.

Have to imagine it will be limited to guys who have D1 physical measurables (McAtee, Rorher, Hardy, Sullivan), but who knows. It's a whole new world!

Honestly can't blame them...may as well take a shot and see if you can get some free schooling rather than student loan debt. Worst case is you're probably welcomed back to the program since they're not giving your scholly to someone else like if you were leaving D1 or D2.

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 13, 2026, 04:54:24 PM

Quote from: NCC2010 on January 13, 2026, 10:15:28 AM

Quote from: robertgoulet on January 12, 2026, 09:26:03 PMThe portal has come for NCC, for what I believe is the 1st time (probably not the last time)

Grant McAtee announced he's entering the portal today.

Believe this is the first time a player has entered that was a contributor/starter. I anticipated Ashiru entering the portal as well but haven't seen him announce that yet.

In other news, I did get word that Jack Rummell does in fact have another year of eligibility and plans on playing next season.

UWRF is dealing with the portal a bit now...I can't imagine that NCC only loses one TE/WR...this new D3FB pretty much sucks.  Think of it as minor league baseball, we're single A

For teams with at least SOME name recognition/recent history I think you could make an argument that they should be able to reload using guys dropping down from D1 or D2. Definitely losing out on the comradery that is a big part of D3 though.

The portal has come for NCC, for what I believe is the 1st time (probably not the last time)

Grant McAtee announced he's entering the portal today.

One thing that completely missed me when I was thinking about this matchup was that Wilson is in his 1st season as starting QB, is only a true sophomore and has not really been tested for more than 1/2 a game. Should have expected some growing pains, I guess.

Going to take a look at the NCC 2 deep and see what they lose going into next year, at some point.

NCC can't win in Canton apparently!

Congrats to UWRF!

Everyone predicted a defensive battle, right?

Certainly feels like NCC would need to beat themselves in order to lose tonight. Can't have stupid giveaways like on the 2nd drive.

Will the fact that this is a nationally televised game slow down UWRF or at least buy NCC D some rest? Longer breaks?

Quote from: D3fanboy on December 31, 2025, 02:50:48 PMNCC could name the score.  The Cards are the only team that resembles the pre-portal days of prime D3FB.  People will tell you how great and deep D3FB is these days, but the top level has just dropped down (other than NCC). Unless NCC fumbles 2-4 times, the River Hawks will be physically outmanned.  UWRF are the kings of good, but NCC (and other D3FB dynasties) are just on a different level 

Kinda where my gut has led me over the last 2 weeks.

Quote from: emma17 on December 31, 2025, 11:56:41 AMIn the upcoming Stagg, UWRF probably has 2-3 guys beyond boringly better on offense.
With NCC, although the stats don't suggest more than 1 (the receiver), I get the feeling there are players, like the QB and perhaps RB and other receivers, that are sleeping giants.

Totally agree. While you could argue NCC's RB room's success is a group effort, Donovan McNeal is an absolute stud who has only gotten more healthy (has been dealing with a hammy) as the playoffs have gone on and I reckon the 2 week rest is going to make him really pop. Only a sophomore. As far as QB, Wilson is more Rutter than Lehnen and if UWRF can't get him off his spot will kill them when they come up to try and stop the run that is cutting them up.

Knowing that USee has forgotten more about football than I'll ever even know I am happy with my novice analysis when looking at his    Ultimately I think we come to the same conclusion, though his is more professional!

Prediction time!

First, some common opponents (home team listed first) and each team's next "closest" game and a comment. All of the common opponents/scores come with caveats and I don't know that they're very useful comps:

1 NCC -  45      UWO -  21 (apt to throw this UWRF result out. Different team now.)
  UWO -  14    3 UWRF - 17

1  NCC - 35    3 UWRF - 41 (NCC was up 35-14 in the 4th before pulling starters. Played in a blizzard.)
13 UWL - 27    13 UWL -  7

1 NCC -  35    3 UWRF - 46 (Wheaton were peaking when they met UWRF, not the same team NCC beat)
19 WC -  0    19  WC - 21

1 NCC - 35    3 UWRF - 48 (these two results are the most interesting to me)
4 BU -  21    8 JHU  - 41

I have been of 2 minds on this upcoming matchup. The 1st (listed 1st) is where I initially was. The 2nd (listed 2nd) is where I am now:

1 - UWRF initially had the feel of NCC in their first Stagg Bowl vs UWW, but maybe a more apt comp is Cortland when they beat NCC. Star veteran QB, multiple weapons that create problems for the defenses they face, a difficult scheme to defend. They lost a game early that seemed to have flipped a switch. They have played an astounding 8 games against Top 25 teams (NCC has only played 4, more on this in the 2nd mind) and won all but 1 by multiple scores. They are explosive.

2 - While UWRF has played 8 games against Top 25 teams, it is pretty widely agreed that in D3 not all ranked teams are created equal and there are generally gaps (sometimes large, usually showing up in the form of team speed and line play). UWRF has not had to play anyone in that top tier yet (outside of maybe St Johns in 2022,  the current group's only exposure is based on WIAC play, however you feel about that). When comping Cortland, who also didn't play a top tier team, vs NCC's D - I don't think UWRF's WRs are at the level that Cortland's were. Also, NCC was without their best defensive players (AA CB Walker, AA DT Lester, and AA DE Egbo was playing on one leg if I remember correctly) and their kicker was a liability. All of that NCC was a failed 2 pt conversion away from taking the lead with 1 min left.

The little problem for UWRF (I say "little" because I assume UWRF thinks they can just outscore anyone so probably aren't too worried about it): While NCC's offense isn't what it was in 2023 when they lost to Cortland, it is still better than any offense UWRF has faced in a season where they have given up 33 to Alma, 47 to Coe and 41 to JHU. Scoring won't be a problem for NCC.

The JP Sullivan sized problem for UWRF will be NCC's D. They've only given up over 20 pts 3 times, and 2 of those were because they had their 2nd team in and gave up late TDs. I think UWRF's line/scheme will be able to protect Blaha well enough to score but I don't think they will protect Blaha well enough to negate not being able to stop NCC's offense. They will not have seen a front 4 or defensive team speed like they're going to see this weekend. When the pocket breaks down Blaha will absolutely make some plays with his feet early, but that is ultimately going to cost him as the hits start to pile up.

Prediction - I think the NCC/Bethel and UWRF/JHU scores are most telling when trying to suss out what is to come. Bethel is likely the #3 team in the country (if we say NCC 1 and UWRF 2). The game was close at half and then all the sudden NCC was up 35-7 with 5 min left. On the other side, UWRF v JHU was an instant classic, but that means either team could have won...and JHU is not on Bethel's level, in my opinion. A regular Stagg Bowl  week would have really benefitted UWRF here, as NCC hasn't seen a dual threat QB like Blaha in a while. As it is though, NCC will have had 2 weeks to prepare/scheme.

Weather will not be a factor (cold but not COLD, no precip/wind), so we will get a Bears/49ers-esque game for 2-3 quarters, with NCC pulling away as the damn starts to break up front and the hits take a toll on Blaha.

NCC - 52
UWRF - 35