GAME DETAILS

Coaches: Bethel's Mike McElroy (2nd year at BU and as a head coach: 23-3) // North Central's Brad Spencer (4th year at North Central and as a head coach: 56-1)

QUICK HITS

• The No. 3 Bethel University Royals will be making their second-straight, and seventh overall appearance in the NCAA Division III Quarterfinal. The Royals hold a 2-4 all-time record in the NCAA Quarterfinal. Their two victories were a 12-7 decision over St. Thomas on December 4, 2010, and a 27-13 advantage over Central (Iowa) on December 1, 2007.
• Bethel and North Central are the only two undefeated squads left standing in NCAA Division III.
• Bethel University Department of Business will host a watch party for the game at the Robertson Center Lounge, located on the third floor, at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, December 13.
• The Royals sit at No. 4 on the D3football.com Top 25 Poll, and at No. 3 on the AFCA D3 Coaches Top 25 Poll for week 11, the most recent ones.
• Bethel has outscored the opposition 595-115 through 12 games this season, while the Cardinals also have the upper hand on opponents by a 615-99 margin after 12 contests.
• The Royals landed nine individuals on the 2025 D3football.com All-Region squad, while the Cardinals had 12. Junior wide receiver Albert Rundell, junior defensive tackle Phil Conant, and senior safety Devin Williams were named to the first team. Junior quarterback Cooper Drews, junior center Jaegar Ash, and sophomore Nick Colyer landed second team honors. Freshman Running back Taye Manns, junior running back David Geebli, and senior tackle Isaiah Ward earned a spot on the third team.
• Senior safety Devin Williams and junior wide receiver Albert Rundell, a 2025 Gagliardi Trophy Finalist, were named to the 2025 AFCA All-America Team. North Central had three AFCA All-Americans in wide receiver Thomas Skokna, defensive lineman John Sullivan, and place kicker Aidan Ellison.
• Junior wide receiver Albert Rundell was named a 2025 Gagliardi Trophy Finalist. Rundell is among four wide receivers on the list, along with North Central senior wide receiver Thomas Skokna. This is the second-straight season a Royal was named a Gagliardi Trophy Finalist after Matt Jung in 2024.

ABOUT THE ROYALS

BU ranks among the nation's top teams in a multitude of categories as their .552 red zone defense, 9.6 scoring defense, 49.6 scoring offense, and 346 first downs each rank second in the country. Bethel's 29 turnovers gained puts them at No. 4 nationally. The Royals come in at No. 5 with 503.0 yards per game of total offense, and a .559 third down percentage; while their .266 third down percentage defense and 56.1 rushing defense each stand at No. 6. The Royals' .280 fourth down defense and 232.3 yards allowed per game each rank eighth in the country.

Gagliardi Trophy finalist Albert Rundell leads all divisions of college football with 1,551 receiving yards, and 129.3 receiving yards per game. He ranks second in NCAA Division III with 21 touchdown catches while his 9.33 catches per game comes in at No. 3. Freshman running back Taye Manns leads the conference with 14 rushing touchdowns while he's third in the MIAC with 17 total touchdowns. Manns'  940 rushing yards, and 78.3 rushing yards per game rank second in the conference. Junior Phil Conant highlights the rushing defense as he ranks ninth in the country with 1.86 tackles for loss per game, and 21st with 0.91 sacks per game. Devin Williams, who has 73 tackles for the defense, is fifth nationally with 15.6 punt return yards per game. Quarterback Cooper Drews is second in the nation with 41 passing touchdowns, and leads all of NCAA Division III with 300 points responsible for.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS

A 27-game win streak is on the line for the defending national champion Cardinals, who are gunning for their sixth-straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Football National Championship Game. North Central won the 2019, 2022, and 2024 national titles. Their 8.3 scoring defense, 51.3 scoring offense, 208.55 passing efficiency, and .500 red zone defense currently leads NCAA Division III. Gagliardi Trophy trophy finalist, senior wide receiver Thomas Skokna, leads the country with 23 touchdown receptions and is among the top five with 144 points scored and 24 total touchdowns.. His quarterback, sophomore Garret Wilson, paces the country with a 212.0 passing efficiency and ranks among the nation's top five in passing touchdowns (39) and points responsible for (252). Wilson was the D3football.com Region 5 Offensive Player of the Year. John Sullivan, who had 61 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 19.5 TFL's, was the D3football.com Region 5 Defensive Player of the Year.

North Central's last loss was a narrow 38-37 decision to Cortland in the 2023 NCAA Division III National Championship Game on Friday, December 15, 2023.