FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BDB]

The two churches that make up the parish I attend in the Sioux City Diocese in northwest Iowa will be locking the church doors five minutes prior to Mass starting. When that horrific school shooting in Minneapolis happened last August the parish council decided steps needed to be taken in the facilities plan to address the potential for active shooters, etc. Very sad sign of the times!

As for the return of football, what is the word about this year's St John's squad from those more in the know? Starting the season with a tough test against La Crosse!

Sounds like they're finally getting serious about people being there in time to say the Rosary before Mass.

And just try being one of those that leave right after Communion! 

[faunch]

The two churches that make up the parish I attend in the Sioux City Diocese in northwest Iowa will be locking the church doors five minutes prior to Mass starting. When that horrific school shooting in Minneapolis happened last August the parish council decided steps needed to be taken in the facilities plan to address the potential for active shooters, etc. Very sad sign of the times!

As for the return of football, what is the word about this year's St John's squad from those more in the know? Starting the season with a tough test against La Crosse!

They might want to replace the windows with bullet proof glass or something tha a bullet cannot penetrate. The Annunciation shooter shot through a window. 

[AndrewB]

NPI question here:
If both Bethel and St John's lose in week 1.  How does the Whitewater vs Carleton game work for NPI?  If Carleton finishes 3rd in the MIAC, is it important for Whitewater to run up the score as much as possible?  With only 11 at-large bids this year vs 13 last year, could the Carleton score differential determine if a 2 lose Whitewater vs (St John's/Bethel) gets the invite?

[CarollFan]

NPI question here:
If both Bethel and St John's lose in week 1.  How does the Whitewater vs Carleton game work for NPI?  If Carleton finishes 3rd in the MIAC, is it important for Whitewater to run up the score as much as possible?  With only 11 at-large bids this year vs 13 last year, could the Carleton score differential determine if a 2 lose Whitewater vs (St John's/Bethel) gets the invite?

Running up the score doesn't affect NPI.

The way NPI for a game is calculated is there are 3 components you add up and then multiply by a home or away factor.

The 3 components are:
1) 40 points for a win
2) 60% of opponents NPI a.k.a. ONPI
3) Game winning bonus. If opponents NPI greater then 54 then GWB = (ONPI - 54) * .25.

You add up these 3 components and then for a home win multiply by .9 basically reducing by 10%. For an away win you multiply by 1.1 increasing the sum of the components by 10%.

[Mister36]

5 out of  7 panelists pick Bethel to reach the Semifinals

2 out of 7 pick for them to win it all, which is probably a first for Bethel.

They are also very high on a Bethel player winning Offensive or Defensive POTY

https://d3football.com/notables/2026/08/20-questions

[hazzben]

Early returns on Top Gun offense, minus Blaha, aren't great. Drake loses 38-35 to middling D2 SD Mines.
UST almost lost to Winona, won on a wild fumble TD in the last minute.

Pioneer League had a brutal opening weekend. Davidson and MSU also lost to D2 programs.

[GoldandBlueBU]

5 out of  7 panelists pick Bethel to reach the Semifinals

2 out of 7 pick for them to win it all, which is probably a first for Bethel.

They are also very high on a Bethel player winning Offensive or Defensive POTY

https://d3football.com/notables/2026/08/20-questions

Cool to see them getting some love.

Also, I know it doesn't matter, and I don't matter, but there is part of me that liked them being under the radar more.  I'm sure Coach Mac will have them ready to go regardless of being noticed or not.

[Mister36]

5 out of  7 panelists pick Bethel to reach the Semifinals

2 out of 7 pick for them to win it all, which is probably a first for Bethel.

They are also very high on a Bethel player winning Offensive or Defensive POTY

https://d3football.com/notables/2026/08/20-questions

Cool to see them getting some love.

Also, I know it doesn't matter, and I don't matter, but there is part of me that liked them being under the radar more.  I'm sure Coach Mac will have them ready to go regardless of being noticed or not.

Understandable, on the flip side though is the increased exposure. Ranked #2, surefire #1 if they win Week 1, Deep playoff success, winning pedigree, potent offense and stuffing defense, National Champ predictions. It's gonna make recruiting even better.

[DuffMan]

What if they get double stomped?

[faunch]

Early returns on Top Gun offense, minus Blaha, aren't great. Drake loses 38-35 to middling D2 SD Mines.
UST almost lost to Winona, won on a wild fumble TD in the last minute.

Pioneer League had a brutal opening weekend. Davidson and MSU also lost to D2 programs.

Not at all surprised. Most D2 schools cost far less to attend and have lower entrance requirements than the Pioneer league schools.
U$T will get worked next week against No Dak

[hazzben]

What if they get double stomped?

They could certainly lose this game and in reality they aren't the favorite. Barring an injury to Drews, a double monkey stomp seems unlikely. And to be fair, SJU was the most recent of the two to be on the wrong end of a Monkey Stomp against a top team.

[GoldandBlueBU]

I would be pleasantly surprised if they manage to win.  Regardless of the outcome, I do think it will pay dividends in having squared up against such a good team, given the state of the MIAC, where BU and SJU will only have that one in-conference game where they are challenged.

[faunch]

What if they get double stomped?

They could certainly lose this game and in reality they aren't the favorite. Barring an injury to Drews, a double monkey stomp seems unlikely. And to be fair, SJU was the most recent of the two to be on the wrong end of a Monkey Stomp against a top team.

Based on how SJU performed against an outstanding UWRF team back in December and the number of skilled players being replaced I think the light be greater likelihood of SJU being on the wrong end of a two score beating than BU.
I hope I'm wrong but if was forced to place a wager I'd have UW-LAX by a score or two.

[hazzben]

Honestly, the best and most nerve racking parts of these great week 1 matchups is all 4 teams have a lot of talent and questions marks. Nothing tests in game coaching adjustments more than a really good week 1 opponent. Teams will have installed some wrinkles and have new guys, who has it all humming and can tweak things on the fly. It's also interesting that all 4 teams have played each other in the playoffs recently.

[DuffMan]

I feel like this is Hamline's year. MIAC champs!