BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – College football has returned to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) campuses.
The 2022 regular season officially begins on Thursday, September 1 when Concordia travels to North Dakota for a non-conference matchup with Valley City State. Eight more MIAC programs will be in action on Saturday, September 3, including defending conference champion Saint John’s. The Johnnies are set to host the No. 4-ranked Warhawks from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on opening weekend.
The MIAC slate of the fall schedule will begin on Saturday, September 24 with five “crossover” games. This will be the second year of divisional play in the conference. In-division games will begin on Saturday, October 8. The MIAC champion and automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs will be determined on Saturday, November 12 when the top team from the Northwoods Division (as determined by in-division record) hosts the top team from the Skyline Division with the conference title on the line. The 2022 NCAA Division III Football Championship is scheduled to be played on December 16, 2022 at Navy Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Md.
2021 FINAL STANDINGS
Northwoods Division
*%Saint John’s (11-1, 8-0, 4-0)
Gustavus (8-2, 6-2, 3-1)
St. Olaf (5-5, 4-4, 2-2)
Carleton (7-3, 5-3, 1-3)
St. Scholastica (0-8, 0-8, 0-4) |
Skyline Division
%Bethel (8-3, 6-2, 4-0)
Concordia (4-6, 3-5, 3-1)
Augsburg (4-6, 4-4, 2-2)
Macalester (3-7, 2-6, 1-3)
Hamline (4-6, 2-6, 0-4) |
*MIAC Champion
%NCAA Playoff Participant |
|
RULE CHANGES
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) reviewed and approved eight rules changes submitted by the Football Rules Committee this past April. Among those changes were: more restrictions on blocking below the waist to make these rules simpler and more understandable; allowing a targeting penalty appeal opportunity when the foul occurs during the second half in games that include instant replay; and referring potential incidents of feigning injuries to conference offices for potential action. The NCAA also released a helpful resource for changes to contact and equipment use timelines earlier this month.
NEW MIAC WEBSITE & APP
The MIAC launched a refreshed website and new mobile app over the summer through a new multi-year partnership with SIDEARM Sports. The updated website design is intended to be more user-friendly and interactive for student-athletes, parents, alumni, and fans, featuring easy access to stories, schedules, results, standings, and championship information. The new mobile app is free to fans and can be downloaded on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android devices. The MIAC's previous "Front Row" app will be retired and no longer update as of the 2022-23 academic year.
AWARD WATCH
The 2022 MIAC Football All-Conference honors will be voted on by MIAC coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. In addition to a 60-player All-MIAC squad and any honorable mention recipients, coaches will also select individual recipients for the MIAC Offensive, Defensive, Rookie, and Coach of the Year awards.
Throughout the regular season, the MIAC will recognize top individual performances with the MIAC Football Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Players of the Week awards. Athlete of the Week awards will begin on Tuesday, September 6 and be announced each Monday after, through the end of the regular season.
LOOKING AHEAD
D3football.com Preseason Rankings: No. 5 Saint John’s, No. 13 Bethel, RV Gustavus
D3football.com Preseason All-America: Saint John’s DT Michael Wozniak (1T), Saint John’s TE Alex Larson (2T), Bethel OG Travis Sinclair (2T), Bethel S Nate Farm (2T), Augsburg WR Dominic Smith (3T), Gustavus LB Carson Dekam (3T)
First Non-Conference Game Date: Thursday, September 1
First Conference Game Date: Saturday, September 24
Championship Week: Saturday, November 12
Season Links: Standings | Schedule | News | Statistics | Athletes of the Week | Championship Week | Record Book