GAME DETAILS

Coaches: Bethel's Mike McElroy (2nd year at BU and as a head coach: 22-3) // Platteville's Ryan Munz (4th year at UW-Platteville and as a head coach: 30-13)

Series: BU owns a 1-1 all-time record against UWP. The Royals prevailed with a 28-7 victory over the Pioneers at Royal Stadium on September 11, 2021. Bethel dropped a 10-7 road decision to UW-Platteville on September 10, 2022.

QUICK HITS

• Bethel is hosting the annual "Festive of Christmas" music concert on Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. It is requested that game spectators park in the East Lot and follow the signs to the stadium for pedestrians.
• The No. 3 Bethel University Royals qualified for their 14th NCAA Division III Championship appearance via the automatic qualifier after clinching the 2025 MIAC Football Championship with their third undefeated season in program history. They are in the midst of their fifth-straight trip to the postseason after winning their seventh MIAC Football Championship in school history.
• This is the eighth time in program history BU is among the final 16 remaining teams in the field. The Royals are 6-1 all-time in the round of 16.
• 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 560-91 through 11 games this season, while the Pioneers also have the upper hand on opponents by a 379-192 margin after 11 contests.
• Bethel is one-of-three undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division III. Joining Mount Union and North Central.
• 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, and AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year.

ABOUT THE ROYALS

BU ranks among the nation's top teams in a multitude of categories as their .500 red zone defense, 8.3 scoring defense, 50.9 scoring offense, and 320 first downs each rank second in the country. The Royals come in at No. 4 with 508.4 yards per game of total offense; while their .260 third down percentage defense and 2.82 tackles for loss allowed per game each come in at No. 5. BU's 51.3 rushing defense is good enough for sixth in the country. The Royals' 131 first down allowed, .280 fourth down defense, .554 third down conversion percentage, and 216.4 yards allowed per game are each seventh nationally. 

Albert Rundell leads all divisions of college football with 1,489 receiving yards, and 135.4 receiving yards per game. He ranks second in NCAA Division III with 21 touchdown catches while his 9.55 catches per game comes in at No. 3. Freshman running back Taye Manns leads the conference with 13 rushing touchdowns while he's third in the MIAC with 15 total touchdowns. Manns'  879 rushing yards, and 79.9 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 23rd with 0.91 sacks per game. Devin Williams, who has 62 tackles for the defense, is fourth nationally with 16.4 punt return yards per game. Quarterback Cooper Drews is second in the nation with 38 passing touchdowns, and 282 points responsible for.

ABOUT THE PIONEERS

Platteville's lone blemishes on their 2025 slate was a 31-21 loss to No. 3 UW-River Falls on October 11, and a 29-19 setback to UW-Whitewater on October 25. The Pioneers' stellar offensive line is reflected by their 0.45 sacks allowed per game, which ranks fourth nationally. Quarterback Nathan Uselding leads their offense, and paces the WIAC with a 155.5 pass efficiency. Wide receiver Trevor Syse has a lot to do with that as his 10 touchdown catches leads the WIAC. Zackary Bothun paces the rushing attack with 774 yards over 116 carries, while Elijah Krantz leads the defense with 76 tackles.