Around the Nation columns

  • Our playoff surprises, disappointments
    November 21, 2024
    Who will surprise in this year's playoff bracket? Who will disappoint? Who will advance to the semifinals? It's our team's annual take on the postseason, in Around the Nation.
  • Your guide to conference chaos
    November 14, 2024
    There are 10 automatic bids left to be awarded to the 2024 Division III playoffs. Most of the conferences will probably end up being straightforward, but in case it gets wonky, Greg Thomas has your guide to the tiebreakers in Around the Nation.
  • Bethel has offense royally humming
    November 07, 2024
    In just nine weeks, Cooper Drews has re-set the Bethel passing touchdown record and Joey Kidder looks like his 2022 All-American self at wide receiver. It's a new era for the Royals offense and Greg Thomas has more in Around the Nation.
  • Springfield running away from opponents
    October 31, 2024
    The Pride's triple option offense is running with peak efficiency, as Springfield leads Division III in rushing offense by more than 120 yards. And the Pride are on message with peak efficiency as well, as they are firmly focused on the present. Greg Thomas has more in Around the Nation.
  • Statesmen making a statement
    October 24, 2024
    Hobart hasn't been able to get through the stacked Liberty League with fewer than two conference losses in any of the past six seasons, but the Statesmen are cruising right now at 6-1 and unbeaten in league play. Greg Thomas has more.
  • Experience drives Coe's 6-0 start
    October 17, 2024
    The Kohawks check a lot of boxes you might use to identify a team ready to break out, and Greg Thomas dives in with Coe in Around the Nation.
  • Ranking the D-III football conferences for 2024
    October 10, 2024
    It's a tradition unlike any other. Since the dawn of time (OK, 2002), Around the Nation has ranked the Division III football conferences from top to bottom based on not only competitiveness at the top, but competitiveness at the bottom -- depth. With non-conference play all but done for 2024, it's time for the ranking.
  • No. 7 Hardin-Simmons vs. No. 12 Endicott, the rematch
    October 03, 2024
    A year ago, Endicott struck a blow for Division III football in New England with a resounding win against visiting Hardin-Simmons. The return game is this weekend, and Greg Thomas dives into these teams, their trajectory in the 53 weeks since they last met, and how important games like this are in the D-III landscape.
  • Cortland's Team 119 chasing its own destiny
    September 26, 2024
    The Red Dragons are the defending champions of Division III football, but that's so last year. This year's Cortland team is focused on making this year's squad the best it can be, regardless of what it did last year. Greg Thomas talks with the folks in Cortland in Around the Nation.
  • Finding a scheduling fit
    September 19, 2024
    Filling out a schedule with non-conference games, which is something almost every Division III head coach needs to do, presents a variety of challenges. Greg Thomas looks at it through the lens of one unusual non-conference game in this week's Around the Nation.
  • For openers, here's a trophy
    September 12, 2024
    A whole number of teams have new head coaches this year. Of those coaches, most are head coaches for the first time. And from that list, a few were fortunate enough to start their career with a trophy game, and bring back the hardware. Greg Thomas talks to new coaches at Castleton, Millsaps and Wilkes in Around the Nation.
  • Our playoff surprises, disappointments
    November 16, 2023
    Who will surprise in this year's playoff bracket? Who will disappoint? Who will advance to the semifinals? It's our team's annual take on the postseason, in Around the Nation.
  • Rivalries and regional rankings
    November 10, 2023
    Some of the biggest rivalries in Division III football take the field this week, plus Greg Thomas gives us a reading into the recent regional rankings.
  • Putting the regional rankings in order
    November 02, 2023
    Alphabetical regional 'rankings' don't really mean much to people, so Greg Thomas has taken the listed teams and applied some much-needed order. How we would rank them, in the latest Around the Nation.