As are many D3 schools, I would imagine Wartburg is very much a tuition-dependent institution. I was just pursuing the NCC/Wartburg Game Notes and noticed that Wartburg has 175 players listed on its roster! Accordingly, their 🏈 team certainly seems to be doing it's part in bringing in a sizable chunk of tuition revenue.

Quote from: Gotberg on September 10, 2026, 05:19:34 PM

Quote from: GusD on September 10, 2026, 04:49:27 PM

Quote from: Gotberg on September 10, 2026, 03:57:33 PMAre d3 football players getting paid to play on their teams? 

I was with a friend last night whose son could end up playing college ball, and he made the comment: "Even D3 players are getting 40-60k per year".  I'd think not.

Maybe at the NESCAC schools as a means of recouping the tuition money parents had to pay out for the kids prep school year(s)? 

Was your friend drinking last night? 

Old Fashioneds

Bingo!

Quote from: Gotberg on September 10, 2026, 03:57:33 PMAre d3 football players getting paid to play on their teams? 

I was with a friend last night whose son could end up playing college ball, and he made the comment: "Even D3 players are getting 40-60k per year".  I'd think not.

Maybe at the NESCAC schools as a means of recouping the tuition money parents had to pay out for the kids prep school year(s)? 

Was your friend drinking last night? 

Quote from: wally_wabash on September 10, 2026, 01:41:46 PM

Quote from: Cardinal773 on September 09, 2026, 08:40:40 PMI know I'm just daydreaming here, but how cool would it be if we could talk ESPN into hosting College GameDay in Naperville on October 10th? They went to Amherst/Williams for the Biggest Little Game back in 2007, why not the Battle for the Little Brass Bell?

If anyone knows anyone who could make this happen, let's get that ball rolling! The tailgating scene is solid for homecoming and it would look good on TV.  Let's do this!

10/10 has Georgia @ Alabama and ESPN is almost definitely going to be in Tuscaloosa.  And if they aren't there, they're at the Red River game in Dallas.  This would be cool for sure, but there is no business reason why ESPN would be in Naperville. 

As Cardinal773 said, he (and undoubtedly the rest of us) was just daydreaming. But how could ESPN come up with a better matchup than the Battle for the Little Brass Bell in the city named the #1 Best City to Live in America (   ) by Niche.com, and the #1 Safest City in America (👮👮👮) by MoneyGeek?? And, speaking of money/business, it's recognized as one of the top 10 best cities in the U.S. for small business by B2B Reviews! And ESPN is going to pass on such an opportunity? 😏

Quote from: bleedpurple on September 05, 2026, 07:29:18 AMSolid win last night for UW-River Falls. Not surprising at all, but a good win.If anyone thought they wouldn't be any good, they were a little naive.

What we learned nothing about is whether they are 2024 good or 2025 elite. We won't get a hint of that until Wartburg in two weeks.

In 2024 they beat Greenville 66-7, Mt. St. Joseph 68-9, and Eau Claire 71-14 before proceeding to lose three of their next four WIAC games. They might be that again.

In 2025 we all know how they dominated. They might be that again.

Yesterday was what it was always going to be. A fun home game after winning the natty that told us virtually nothing.

A solid win??
First you get a historically terrible team that some high school teams could probably beat. Secondly that terrible team has to fly half way across the country. Then, you basically obliterate them by halftime before sending them packing. And that's a good win? I don't think so. I think the absolute best that W could be classified as is an expected win. Too early to tell, but it's possible there may be 3-4 better teams in the conference this year than UWRF.

Quote from: CarollFan on September 06, 2026, 06:36:51 PM

Quote from: NCC2010 on September 06, 2026, 06:28:41 PMCCIW with the top 2 teams in the latest D3 poll. Will be pretty fun if both are undefeated heading into the Little Brass Bell game on 10/10.

https://d3football.com/top25/2026/week1

NCC has a bye, I think 9/26. Wheaton would come into it with 1 more win if both undefeated.

I think that means technically Wheaton would be in first place coming into the game.

Finally there is one other team that has a possibility of being 5-0 at this time and that's Carroll.
If they beat UWEC their next 3 games are Elmhurst, Carthage and Millikin.

So on the possibility there are two 5-0 teams and NCC 4-0 would NCC be in 3rd place going into the game?😁

The guys in the white coats are just pulling up in front of your house now CarollFan! 🤯 😉

Quote from: faunch on September 05, 2026, 08:04:02 AMDoes anyone know if livestream access will have a pay per game option? The way it looks now they're only offering a season pass for $60. I'm not sure many UW-Lax fans that can't make the trip to Collegeville will be terribly happy paying $60 for an SJU season pass just to watch one game. Maybe the single game option will go live as game time gets closer? If the only option is a season pass I will be officially be embarrassed by SJU. What a cheap way to gouge the fans of our guest opponent.

https://fan.hudl.com/purchase/broadcast/QnJvYWRjYXN0NDEwMTI1OQ==?returnto=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.miacsportsnetwork.com%2Fsaintjohns%2F

I was planning to attend today but had a long week and am not feeling great this morning. Sat down and did a little math'in and am leaning toward buying the season pass. I figure just driving up to Collegeville and back will cost me $40 plus my $15 ticket and other incidentals and I'm up to about $80...then add in the 3 hours on the road. I also know I won't be able to attend other home games so why not just pay the $60 so I can watch those too. I can be at home doing laundry, watch a couple other games at the same time and use the time I would have been on the road to mow the lawn or something. God I'm turning into an old fart!

Also when you click on the Buy Tickets link and hover over the seating sections it shows "General Admission From $7.00." Then you click on it and it shows "Adult $15" and "Student/Youth (ages 6-17)." Kind of BS setting in my opinion. The $15 is about in line with other schools as UWRF charges $13.95 and UW-Lax charges $11.

EDIT
The $15 single game option is now available.
FYI:
Single Event Access
✕
Price: $15.00

Saint John's vs. UW-La Crosse
Grants access to this specific individual broadcast from Saint John's University for the 2024 season

The Season pass allows access for 6 months...so if you've got a Saturday wedding or go hunting this fall you can get caught up.

You have to pay to watch a SJU game?? 😳  And they charge $15 for a game ticket?? 🤬
This is beyond outrageous!! You might even say cheap-ass.
The CCIW has a broadcast network where teams home games are streamed free, and no subscriptions are required. This even includes the other sports besides football. And I believe adult tickets at #1 North Central vs Bethel today were $8.00

Quote from: Wildcat on September 02, 2026, 02:08:19 PMAnyone know why Chris Ketchum went from transferring from Millikin to Elmhurst and back to Millikin?

Homesickness? 😏
Or perhaps one of MU's big NIL contributors/boosters kicked in a sufficient amount of 💵 to make it worthwhile for Ketchum to reverse his reversal??   

In an era when athletes can seem to magically gain an inch, ten pounds, or both overnight, it's unusually strange that Bethel QB Cooper Drews has actually shrunk an inch since last season. 🤗

Quote from: gobigred425 on September 02, 2026, 08:22:39 PMAm I missing something as to why a lot of Midwest schools are moving their game times? Is 90 degree heat really too much for football?

Playing in 90 degree heat can easily cause heat cramps, heat syncope, rhabdomyolysis, or heat stroke. Factor in any humidity and the "feel like" temp can easily approach 100.
And while such conditions are brutal for players, fans can certainly also be effected, especially elderly ones.
So the sensible answer to your question is yes!

We're not all as tough as you gobig. 😏

In an era where athletes seem to be able to magically either grow an inch, add 10 pounds, or both almost overnight, it seems unusually odd that Bethel QB Cooper Drews has actually shrunk an inch since last season. 🤗

Quote from: Patrick Coleman on September 01, 2026, 04:51:08 PMFor a noon start on the first weekend in September, I don't think anyone looks directly into the sun.

Well, more directly than the visitors. And, a lot more directly later in the game.

By the end of the game if you're sitting in the home stands and extend your arm straight out in front of you, by standard astronomical rule of thumb, the sun will be about 243.7 degrees or two and a half fist-widths to your left, and about 35.8 degrees or three and a half fist-widths above the horizon which is pretty much right in your eyes. 😎

It really won't matter much because with the expected "feel like" temp you'll be broiling no matter where you're sitting! 🌞 🔥

Quote from: NCC2010 on September 01, 2026, 10:33:56 AMWhile Bethel definitely has more production returning, NCC is only starting 6 out of 22 players that are true sophomore's or younger. 

Whichever team's revamped offensive line plays the best may win the game.  I believe Bethel has 4 new starters and NCC has 3, all of which are pretty young.

Of note, Jarod Thornton has joined the coaching staff. He started 59 games at center for NCC from 2019-2023 and won the Rimington Award for best center in D3 in 2023.  I'm assuming he is mentoring the young guys on the interior offensive line.

The weather could definitely be a factor as well with the up tempo offense Bethel plays.  Currently forecasted for high 80s temp at kickoff and throughout the duration of the game.

Not only is Naperville broiling under scorching temps, but the humidity has reached astronomical numbers lately. Right now, the actual temp in downtown Naperville is 93 degrees. However, the "feel like" temp is 109!

It's supposed to be a little cooler Saturday with an actual temp of about 85 and a feel like of 89 during the game. Still, certainly not ideal 🏈 weather.
We'll undoubtedly see multiple substitutions during the game with medical personnel on full alert. With the expected conditions, DEPTH might well be even more important than usual, and be one of the primary determinants as to the eventual NCC/Bethel victor.

* Bethel fans should know there's NO shade whatsoever at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The consolation is the home fans look directly into the sun whereas the sun is slightly off to the side of the visiting stands.

Quote from: Patrick Coleman on September 01, 2026, 02:38:15 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on September 01, 2026, 02:37:40 PM

Quote from: NCC2010 on September 01, 2026, 02:05:36 PM

Quote from: Marmac on September 01, 2026, 12:53:51 PMIs Zeb Rashid healthy? If so, I expect him to emerge as RB1 as the season progresses.

They will rotate a bunch but Zeb was clearly the 3rd back in the rotation during the scrimmage against Chicago. If I had a bet, I think Duke Guenther ends up with the most carries on the season, followed by Jordan Williams, and then Zeb.  I could definitely be wrong though.

nothing more "D3" than a 5'7" RB...love it! Even Pat could run behind the NCC line and get 1k yards.

Not sure how many carries that would require! I'm a distance runner, not a sprinter.

Quote from: Patrick Coleman on September 01, 2026, 02:38:15 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on September 01, 2026, 02:37:40 PM

Quote from: NCC2010 on September 01, 2026, 02:05:36 PM

Quote from: Marmac on September 01, 2026, 12:53:51 PMIs Zeb Rashid healthy? If so, I expect him to emerge as RB1 as the season progresses.

They will rotate a bunch but Zeb was clearly the 3rd back in the rotation during the scrimmage against Chicago. If I had a bet, I think Duke Guenther ends up with the most carries on the season, followed by Jordan Williams, and then Zeb.  I could definitely be wrong though.

nothing more "D3" than a 5'7" RB...love it! Even Pat could run behind the NCC line and get 1k yards.

Not sure how many carries that would require! I'm a distance runner, not a sprinter.

Well then, not really that many carries as being a distance runner you'd undoubtedly break off several long gainers! 

Quote from: USee on September 01, 2026, 09:13:31 AM

Quote from: GusD on August 31, 2026, 06:28:32 PM

Quote from: USee on August 31, 2026, 12:14:48 PMI would put NCC as a 2-3pt favorite specifically because of home field advantage. NCC has a lot to replace (which they have done consistently in the past) vs Bethel who has a lot returning. Bethel has more experience in this game (80% of Off/Def production returning vs NCC at 62%).

For Mt Union @Wheaton I don't know what to make of Wheaton as a 6.5 pt favorite vs a team they have NEVER defeated and it hasn't been particularly close. This is the first time they play at McCully Stadium but that's a small difference in spread. The Raiders are replacing 15 starters and have 2 new coordinators but like NCC, they have typically had no problem reloading and Mt Union's QB, Mikey Maloney (2nd team preseason AA), crushed the Thunder last September in Alliance. The Thunder do bring back 7 starters on offense including their Gagliardi semifinalist QB but are replacing 2-3 OL and will be starting 3 new players in the defensive backfield while trying to replace one of the nations best in TFL on the DL (Johanik). I would have Mt Union as a single digit favorite in this game.

A single digit such as 1, or a single digit like 9 or close to it? 🤗 😉

Yes! 

Considering your intelligence, knowledge of the game, and analytic ability, the fans, as I believe you're aware, are looking for a specific number. 🤩