2023 UW-La Crosse bracket previews
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UW-La Crosse Eagles
| Seed: | No. 1, UW-La Crosse bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 4, Week 11 2023 |
| Location: | La Crosse, Wis. |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 9055 |
| Stadium: | Veterans Memorial Field at Roger Harring Stadium (6200) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | WIAC |
| Head coach: | Matt Janus (UW-Platteville '10) |
| Career record: | 36-8 (.818) |
| Base offense: | Zone read |
| Base defense: | 4-3 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 17-11 (1983, 1991-93, 1995-96, 1999, 2002-04, 2006, 2021-22) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | 1992, 1995 |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 351 | 205 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, WIAC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | Keyser Helterbrand is able to do basically whatever he wants to on offense. Wants to throw more? Great. Wants to run? Sure, let's do that. For kicks, they could put him out there as a running back and have Zach Weier take the snaps. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | Jack Studer isn't given room and can't manufacture room to make amazing circus catches, or there are issues with the center-quarterback exchange. The defense can't keep the opposing run game in check, whether it's from a traditional running back or a running quarterback. |
| This season's turning point: | Michael Stack's 51-yard field goal snuck over the crossbar at the final gun at UW-Whitewater, giving the Eagles a three-point win and ensuring that they didn't cough up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .605 (8) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 175.4/276.9 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 113.2/211.2 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 6.7/5.2 |
| Leading passer: | Keyser Helterbrand, 218.8 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Keyser Helterbrand, 67.6 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Jack Studer, 120.2 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Tanner Newlin, 49 (29 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Jack Kelly, 3.5 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Eight tied with 1 |
| How far can they go? | As far as Keyser Helterbrand can carry them, but capped at the quarterfinals because it's not clear they, or anyone, has the horses to keep the North Central offense in check. |
North Central (Ill.) Cardinals
| Seed: | Apparently No. 2, UW-La Crosse bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 1, Week 11 2023 |
| Location: | Naperville, Illinois |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 2348 |
| Stadium: | Bendetti-Wehrli Stadium (5500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | CCIW |
| Head coach: | Brad Spencer (North Central '04) |
| Career record: | 25-0 (1.000) |
| Base offense: | Shotgun multiple |
| Base defense: | Pro 4-3 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 27-12 (2005-08, 2010-13, 2016-19, 2021-22) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | 2019, 2022 |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 617 | 121 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, CCIW champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | They are scoring quickly via big plays and keeping their opponent out of the redzone. North Central QB Luke Lehnen has almost as many TDs (34) this season as incompletions (35), a 76% completion rate. The Cardinal offense has scored almost half its TDs this year on plays over 20 yds (42 of 89). The NCC defense is top 20 in keeping teams out of the red zone and in getting off the field on third down. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | Opponents are running the ball against them and forcing a lot of second- and third-and-long for the Cardinal offense. This defense is ranked No. 14 nationally but the only top 20 offense they have faced scored 35 points. The Cardinal offensive line is one of the very best in D3 and a key to beating them is having a defensive front that can slow this run game, forcing longer yardage situations and avoiding single coverage on DeAngelo Hardy. |
| This season's turning point: | Not that a turning point was needed, but the NCAA committee may have given the No. 1 team in the country even more motivation. By not giving them a top seed, they may well have thrown fuel on the fire. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .517 (72) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 333.1/258.7 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 59.5/183.0 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 10.2/4.1 |
| Leading passer: | Luke Lehnen, 245.7 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Joe Sacco, 112.5 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | DeAngelo Hardy, 94.7 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | BJ Adamchik, 52 (31 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Martin Egbo, 7.0 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Angelo Cusumano, 3 |
| How far can they go? | Anything less than a repeat performance is probably a disappointment. |
Trinity (Texas) Tigers
| Seed: | Likely No. 3, UW-La Crosse bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 6, Week 11 2023 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 2457 |
| Stadium: | Trinity Multi-Sport Stadium (3500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | SAA |
| Head coach: | Jerheme Urban (Trinity, Texas '03) |
| Career record: | 70-26 (.729) |
| Base offense: | Pro spread |
| Base defense: | Multiple 4-2-5 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 13-14 (1994, 1997-2005, 2007, 2011, 2021-22) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 464 | 127 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, SAA champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | When things are going well, it all looks super easy for quarterback Tucker Horn. Guys are open all over the field and he hits them easily. He's capable of making even somewhat above average defenses look foolish. The kicking game is also an asset, as Tyler Huettel has made eight of 12 field goals this season, 2-for-3 from 50 and beyond. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | The defense is letting receivers get behind them and a quarterback has enough time to hit them in stride for huge gains. |
| This season's turning point: | Getting Caleb Harmel back early after he was improperly ejected from the season opener at St. John's for targeting, and Harmel picking off two passes as he and his Tiger teammates beat UMHB 35-16 in Week 2. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .519 (70) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 159.4/326.0 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 74.4/200.6 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 7.2/4.5 |
| Leading passer: | Tucker Horn, 260.0 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Legendy Grigbsy, 38.6 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Ryan Merrifield, 90.1 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Caleb Harmel, 57 (34) |
| Leader in sacks: | Carson Byrd, 5.0 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Caleb Harmel, 3 |
| How far can they go? | The committee turned this into a no-fly zone so, to Chicago and back, if they get past Hardin-Simmons. Imagine if they'd put this matchup against the Johns Hopkins first-round winner, and moved Del Val/Union to play Mount Union, and Alma/DePauw to play North Central. |
Aurora Spartans
| Seed: | Likely No. 4, UW-La Crosse bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 12, Week 11 2023 |
| Location: | Aurora, Ill. |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 3766 |
| Stadium: | Spartan Athletic Park (1,000) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | NACC |
| Head coach: | Don Beebe (Chadron State '89) |
| Career record: | 41-8 (.837) |
| Base offense: | Pro spread |
| Base defense: | 4-2-5 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 2-7 (1992, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2019, 2021-22) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 584 | 104 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, NACC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | Ian Luyando is making plays with his arm and his feet. Aurora is No. 2 in the nation in scoring offense and Jhe'Quay Chretin rightfully gets most of the headlines with 7.9 yds per rush and 1,241 rush yds. But Aurora's QB is the team's second leading rusher and has multiple big plays on designed runs. He also completes 66% of his passes and has 39 TDs with just 6 INTs throwing to a trio of veteran WRs led by 5th year Trey Madsen (43 Rec; 14 TD). |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | They are giving up big plays for TDs. The Spartans have the No. 8 scoring defense but have also had some lapses this year, giving up eight of their 13 TDs on plays of more than 20 yards. |
| This season's turning point: | They shook off a shaky first quarter against Franklin and basically dominated the rest of an overmatched schedule. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .510 (89) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 268.7/253.5 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 82.5/168.0 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 7.6/3.7 |
| Leading passer: | Ian Luyando, 249.2 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Jhe'Quay Chretin, 152.4 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Trey Madsen, 72.0 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Marcellus Romious, 73 (40 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Otis Watts, 7.5 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Robbie Peterson Jr, 4 |
| How far can they go? | Now there are expectations, and the cleat could be on the other foot with less-heralded Coe coming to town. But a trip to the second round and a classic game once there seems more likely. |
Hardin-Simmons Cowboys
| Seed: | Likely No. 5, UW-La Crosse bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 15, Week 11 2023 |
| Location: | Abilene, Texas |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1411 |
| Stadium: | Shelton Stadium (4000) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | ASC |
| Head coach: | Jesse Burleson (Hardin-Simmons) |
| Career record: | 97-32 (.752) |
| Base offense: | One-back spread |
| Base defense: | 4-2-5 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 4-11 (1999-2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2015-18, 2022) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 351 | 199 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, ASC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | The defense is stout in the back seven, Gaylon Glynn can buy time with his legs at quarterback, Noah Garcia is effective taking the big load of carries and Colton Marshall is effective in short-yardage situations taking direct snaps. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | The offense can't maintain its balance and opponents can take advantage of spots in the secondary or elsewhere on the field. |
| This season's turning point: | Getting everyone back and healthy in time to be ready for the key conference game against Mary Hardin-Baylor. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .512 (86) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 213.6/212.8 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 140.4/197.9 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 6.4/5.1 |
| Leading passer: | Gaylon Glynn, 187.9 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Noah Garcia, 84.4 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Tailon Garrett, 75.4 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Cade Michna, 54 (32) |
| Leader in sacks: | Cade Michna, 5.5 |
| Leader in interceptions: | DeMarcus Coleman, 3 |
| How far can they go? | This is kind of an unknown, but the ceiling is really one win regardless. |
Coe Kohawks
| Seed: | Likely No. 6 seed, UW-La Crosse |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 25, Week 10 2023 |
| Location: | Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1336 |
| Stadium: | Clark (1200) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | ARC |
| Head coach: | Tyler Staker (Coe '06) |
| Career record: | 51-22 (.699) |
| Base offense: | Spread |
| Base defense: | 3-4 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 3-9 (1985, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2005, 2009-10, 2012, 2016) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 417 | 107 |
| How they got here: | Pool C, at-large |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | Ray Seidel and the other ball-carriers are the change of pace rather than the focus in a tight game. When the game is tight, Coe and Carter Maske will be throwing the ball. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | Breakdowns lead to big plays for opposing offenses, whether through the air or on the ground, and the offensive line can't give Maske enough time to find receivers, especially downfield. |
| This season's turning point: | The Region 5 committee finding room for Central in the Region 5 rankings, bolstering Coe's at-large candidacy. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .503 (104) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 191.5/283.4 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 56.9/174.9 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 6.1/3.6 |
| Leading passer: | Carter Maske, 212.8 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Ray Seidel, 50.9 |
| Leading receiver: | Dominic Shepardson, 87.4 |
| Leading tackler: | Ben Adelsberger, 69 (41 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Mitchel Helmkamp, 4.5 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Jack Shaw, 5 |
| How far can they go? | Coe played Wartburg well earlier this season. One can extrapolate that into winning as many as two games in this bracket. |
Belhaven Blazers
| Seed: | Likely No. 7, UW-La Crosse bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | Never ranked |
| Location: | Jackson, MS |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1104 |
| Stadium: | H.T. Newell Field (7500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | USAC |
| Head coach: | Blaine McCorkle (LSU '99) |
| Career record: | 31-24 (.564) |
| Base offense: | Pro style |
| Base defense: | 3-3 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | First trip |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 394 | 115 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, USAC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | Nobody touches Kolbe Blunt until he's at least at the second level and the Blazers offense can break off long scores. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | Blunt has to run more than his season-high 20 times, and opponents have success in the red zone |
| This season's turning point: | Being able to still win the USA South Athletic Conference title despite being completely shut down in a Week 9 game at Maryville. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .410 (220) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 290.0/169.9 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 65.6/184.2 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 7.1/4.0 |
| Leading passer: | Tim Johnson, 155.4 |
| Leading rusher: | Kolbe Blunt, 123.0 |
| Leading receiver: | Cooper Tulio, 34.7 |
| Leading tackler: | Wyatt Beck, 49 (30 solo) |
| Leader in sacks: | Carlton Brown, 6.5 |
| Leader in interceptions: | Landry Huddleston, Tyler Miller, Dee Gray, 2 |
| How far can they go? | They might bust loose for a score or two but will not be a threat against a team motivated to repeat. |
Minnesota-Morris Cougars
| Seed: | Likely No. 8, UW-La Crosse bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | Never ranked |
| Location: | Morris, Minn. |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1114 |
| Stadium: | Big Cat Stadium (3500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | UMAC |
| Head coach: | Marty Hoffmann (Minnesota-Morris '04) |
| Career record: | 21-31 (.404) |
| Base offense: | Shotgun/2-back |
| Base defense: | 4-3 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 3-5 (1977-81) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news
| Points for | Points against |
| 339 | 265 |
| How they got here: | Pool A, UMAC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | Marcus Reeb is efficient behind center and is able to use both of those backs to keep the opposing defense off balance as well as run the clock. Isayah Boss and Blake Johnson bring a dimension to the offense that few D-III teams employ in having two competent runners both on the field at once, in addition to the quarterback. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | Opposing receivers are ripping off big gains, the front four can't pressure the quarterback, and the offense has to throw more than it runs. |
| This season's turning point: | Juan Garza intercepted a Northwestern (Minn.) pass on the goal line with seven seconds left in the game and the Cougars held on to win the UMAC title on the final day by a 42-39 score. |
| Strength of schedule (rank): | .366 (266) |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 205.6/152.3 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 125.1/239.6 |
| Yards per play/allowed per play: | 5.5/5.4 |
| Leading passer: | Marcus Reeb, 140.6 ypg |
| Leading rusher: | Izayah Boss, 89.2 ypg |
| Leading receiver: | Ethan Tang, 56 ypg |
| Leading tackler: | Alex Emmrich, 101 (49) |
| Leader in sacks: | Chayce Meyer, 7.0 |
| Leader in interceptions: | 4 tied with 2 |
| How far can they go? | It's the Cougars' first trip to the D-III playoffs since 1981 and the Morris program, and the Division III playoffs, have changed a lot since then. |