GAME DETAILS

Coaches: Bethel's Mike McElroy (2nd year at BU and as a head coach: 21-3) // Coe's Tyler Staker (10th year at Coe and as a head coach: 69-27)

Series: BU leads 1-0. The Royals won the lone match up 31-26 in the NCAA Division III Championship First Round at Royal Stadium on November 23, 2024.

ABOUT THE ROYALS

BU ranks among the nation's top teams in a multitude of categories as they sit atop NCAA Division III with a .450 red zone defense while their 6.5 scoring defense, and 50.9 scoring offense each rank second in the country. The Royals' 293 first downs, 112 first down allowed, and .190 fourth down defense are each third nationally. The Royals come in at No. 4 with a .247 third down, while their 45.4 rushing defense is fifth-best in NCAA Division III. 

Albert Rundell leads all divisions of college football with 1,354 receiving yards, and 135.4 receiving yards per game. He also leads the country with 9.90 catches per game and ranks third in Division III with 19 touchdown catches. Freshman running back Taye Manns leads the conference with 13 rushing touchdowns while he's second in the MIAC with 15 total touchdowns. Manns'  815 rushing yards, and 81.5 rushing yards per game each rank second in the conference. Junior Phil Conant highlights the rushing defense as he ranks 10th in the country with 1.85 tackles for loss per game, and 32nd with 0.80 sacks per game. Devin Williams, who has 52 tackles for the defense, is fourth nationally with 16.4 punt return yards per game. Quarterback Cooper Drews is second in the nation with 35 passing touchdowns, and is third with 246 points responsible for.

ABOUT THE KOHAWKS

Coe finished in second place in the American Rivers Conference (ARC) with a 9-2, 7-1 ARC record. Qualifying for the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship via an at-large bid, the Kohawks are coming off a 44-7 road victory over Concordia (Wis.) in the first round on November 22.

Coe's five defensive touchdowns on the season ranks third in the country, while their 193.62 passing efficiency comes in at No. 4. Junior quarterback Brady Kelly has a lot to do with that as his 198.0 passing efficiency and 16.02 passing yards per completion each rank fourth nationally. 

QUICK HITS

• The No. 3 Bethel University Royals qualified for their 13th NCAA Division III Championship appearance via the automatic qualifier after clinching the 2025 MIAC Football Championship with a 62-0 victory over St. Scholastica on November 15. This will mark their fifth-straight trip to the postseason after winning their seventh MIAC Football Championship in school history.
• The Royals moved from No. 5 to No. 4 on the D3football.com Top 25 Poll, and from No. 4 to No. 3 on the AFCA D3 Coaches Poll for Week 11.
• Bethel has outscored the opposition 509-65 through 10 games this season, while the Kohawks also have the upper hand on opponents by a 430-162 margin after 11 contests.
• Bethel is one-of-five undefeated teams in NCAA Division III. Joining Christopher Newport, Mount Union, North Central (Ill.), and Wartburg.
• The Royals had 18 individuals earn a spot on the 2025 MIAC Football All-Conference Team, while three were named honorable mention.
• Devin Williams was named MIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Taye Manns earned MIAC Rookie of the Year, while head coach Mike McElroy landed MIAC Coach of the Year.
• McElroy was also named 2025 AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year.