Austin Swenson leads the Rose-Hulman offense, a unit which earned the privilege of being labeled a juggernaut in 2014. Rose-Hulman athletics photo

Welcome to another season of Division III football and a look at the 10 games to watch in the Midwest this season.

Now, I have received some feedback throughout the years and I try to be sensitive to it. Some have complained that the same teams and sometimes even the same games appear in this first column year after year. Yes that is true (Little Brass Bell game), but it's tough to ignore rivals that are ranked in the top 15 year after year with playoff implications.

Some have complained that their teams have not shown up in this first column annually. I try to pick the most intriguing matchups as they stand of today the beginning of the season. But I love to hear from you about games I've missed our games that turn into big games down the road, so don't be shy.

This year, we have some new teams to talk about by virtue of their favorite status in their conferences and mentions in the rankings (Wisconsin Lutheran and Rose-Hulman). There are perennial conference favorites who will have the target on their backs all season (Franklin). Then there is always the big nationally ranked contest that will have not only conference championship implications, but playoff status as well.

The great thing about this is that depending on how well your team plays, EVERYTHING is subject to change. One of the things I've learned covering Division III is that except for UW-Whitewater and Mount Union, nothing is written in stone.

So here are the top 10 games to watch this year in the Midwest.

Illinois Wesleyan at Franklin, 1:30 p.m., Sept. 5: This is a great matchup right off the bat, with Franklin as the five-time winner of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and Illinois Wesleyan trailing only nationally ranked Wheaton and North Central as the predicted top three teams in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. While the game is a good measuring stick for both teams, one cannot ever forget that you need quality wins stashed away if you don't win your conference and you're looking for one of those few at-large playoff bids at the end of the season.

Adrian at No. 7 Wheaton, 2 p.m. Sept. 12: Adrian, favorites in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, would love to steal one for themselves and the MIAA by beating perennial power Wheaton. You can expect Adrian to play this game like the Super Bowl. On the other side of the coin, these are the type of games where Wheaton has traditionally risen to the occasion, sensing a threat. Don't expect the Thunder to be caught off guard by a very good Adrian team, but it should be interesting to watch.

Rose-Hulman at Illinois College, 7 p.m., Sept. 12: It was good thing Rose-Hulman is a renowned engineering school or last year's stats for their 74-68 victory in Terre Haute, Indiana over Illinois College would have been difficult to calculate. Both teams combined for more than 1,500 yards in total offense that game. Rose-Hulman returns quarterback Austin Swenson from that powder keg. While Illinois College graduated quarterback Michael Bates, they believe the Blueboys will be in very capable hands in senior Brady Huber. Be prepared to break out your calculator this one.

No. 11 North Central at UW-Platteville, 2 p.m., Sept. 19: UW-Platteville is lurking right outside of the Top 25 rankings and would love have a win over North Central as a trophy come playoff selection time if they can't upset No. 1 UW-Whitewater and No. 18 UW-Oshkosh for the WIAA title. North Central, for the same reasons, really needs this game against a quality opponent to have in its pocket come playoff selection time. Expect this contest to pretty much be played like a conference tilt.

Carroll at Monmouth, 2 p.m., Sept. 26: Because of the split division format in the Midwest Conference, this matchup will not be for the MWC title, but it may as well be a preview for the championship game on Nov. 14. Both are favorites in their divisions, both have tons of key players back, such as running back Trent Rains for Monmouth and quarterback Kyle Burlingame for Carroll. Best of all, they have incentive with both teams just missing the title game a year ago.

No. 22 Centre at Chicago, 2 p.m. Sept. 26: The Chicago Maroons went 8-1 last season, losing only to nationally ranked Bethel but didn't make the Division III playoffs. As a new member of the Southern Athletic Association, they will get a chance to prove themselves against powerful Centre, the defending SAA champs. A Maroon win could catapult them in the tough SAA and maybe even the national rankings.

Wisconsin Lutheran at Benedictine, 2 p.m., Oct. 10: This is the battle between the two favorites in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. The Benedictine Eagles turned its 2014 season around after a 1-4 start – including a 17-6 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran – to force a three-way tie in the NACC and nab the league's playoff spot. While Wisconsin Lutheran marked a turnaround the Benedictine, the Warriors saw its best shot at winning its first ever conference football title slip away and could be hunger for this one.

Mount St. Joseph at Franklin, 1:30 p.m., Oct. 17: Mount St. Joseph will be standing in the way of Franklin's attempt to win a sixth straight HCAC crown. The Grizzlies have pretty much owned the league, but the Lions are coming off an 8-2 record a year ago and will be looking to return to the Division III playoffs for the first time since 2009. Franklin's fortunes will depend on if they can find a suitable replacement for quarterback Grant Welp to lead its throw-first offensive juggernaut.

No. 7 Wheaton at No. 11 North Central, 3 p.m., Oct. 24: Yes, this is the game that pops up in this column year after year, but the Little Brass Game almost always has national ranking and playoff implications because of two outstanding programs. Besides, this game is always a grudge match between two of the best programs in Division III. I'm predicting this contest will be no different with both teams likely being ranked within the top 15 again.

Benedictine at Lakeland, 1 p.m. Nov. 14: This game often seems to have NACC title implications. Benedictine's 16-0 victory left Lakeland out of the playoffs by one point, according to the conference's tiebreaker system. While coaches would never admit to revenge being a factor in games, rest assured that one-point difference hasn't been forgotten by the Muskies as they battle the favorites in the NACC for another shot at the Division III playoffs.

What games did I forget? Big rivalries? Possible upset specials? Email me clyde.hughes@d3sports.com or on Twitter at @clydehughes. I want to hear from you. Now, let's get the season started!