SERIES

The Johnnies lead the all-time series 38-11 against the Royals. Among those 11 blemishes was a 17-10 victory for Bethel over the Johnnies at Royal Stadium last season on October 4, 2025. The Johnnies are 22-3 all-time against the Royals at Clemens Stadium.

COACHES

Bethel's Mike McElroy (3rd year at BU and as a head coach: 25-5) // Saint John's Gary Fasching (14th year at SJU and as head coach: 123-22)

QUICK HITS

• Bethel's scored a school-record 77 points in their home shutout of Hamline on September 26. It surpassed the previous school record of 76 on October 20, 2001, when they defeated Carleton 76-2 at Royal Stadium.
• After the 49-7 victory over Gustavus, and a 77-0 win over Hamline over the last two weeks, the Royals stayed at No. 8 on the Week 4 AFCA Division III Coaches Poll, then moved up from No. 9 to No. 7 on the Week 4 D3football.com Coaches Poll.
• Bethel's last victory over St. John's at Clemens Stadium was a 28-7 decision on November 16, 2013.
• Senior wide receiver Albert Rundell was among a record 206 Semifinalists for the 2026 NFF Campbell Trophy. In its 37th year, the NFF Campbell Trophy recognizes the best scholar-athlete in the nation, combined with football performance and exemplary leadership.
• Rundell made his return from injury to the Bethel lineup in last week's 77-0 rout over Hamline with six catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns.
• This will mark Bethel's second D3football.com Top 10 Game of the 2026 season. The first was No. 2 BU falling to No. 1 North Central 44-21 on September 5, and the second being a showdown between No. 8 Bethel and No. 5 Saint John's on October 3. This will also be SJU's second top-ranked match up after defeating No. 10 UW-La Crosse 24-21 in their season opener on September 5.
• The Royals are riding a 24-game win streak in the month of October. Their last loss was a 19-0 score at Saint John's on October 12, 2019.

ABOUT THE ROYALS

• Leading the BU defense is Jackson Braun, who is third in the conference with 1.33 passes defended per game, and second with 0.33 interceptions per game with Jake Borman and Nick Colyer. Borman has a team-leading 16 tackles, followed by 15 from Braun.
• BU has rebounded from their season-opening 44-21 loss at No. 1 North Central on September 5 with back-to-back wins to open MIAC play. It consisted of a 49-7 win over Gustavus on September 19, and a 77-0 victory over Hamline on September 26. both night games at Royal Stadium.
• Running back Taye Manns leads the MIAC and ranks 13th in the country with a whopping 7.58 yards per carry. Running back David Geebli's five rushing touchdowns leads the MIAC and ranks 17th nationally. Geebli also paces the conference with 30 points scored, and five total touchdowns (in addition to rushing).
• Quarterback Cooper Drews ranks second in the MIAC with 776 passing yards, while his 305.0 yards of total offense per game ranks second in the conference and 19th in NCAA Division III. Wide receiver Aiden Eckert is second in the MIAC with 360 receiving yards, and 8.33 receptions per game (10th in NCAA DIII).

ABOUT THE JOHNNIES

• The Johnnies' 3-0 season consists of a 24-21 win over No.11 (at the time) UW-La Crosse on September 5, a 77-0 decision over Hamline on September 19, and a 72-0 win over Augsburg on September 26. As a team, SJU leads the MIAC in third down percentage (.719), third down pct. defense (.220), completion percentage (.772), first down defense (27), kick off returns (33.40), net punting (43.00), interceptions (5), rushing defense (21.0), sacks allowed (0), scoring offense (57.7), tackles for loss allowed (2.33), passing efficiency (187.40), total offense (562.7), and turnovers gained (6). 
• Griffin Murray has carried the special teams on his shoulders with 37.3 kick-off return yards per game, leading the conference. Quarterback Trey Feeney paces the MIAC with 13 passing touchdowns, 956 passing yards, 78 points responsible for, 318.7 yards of total offense per game, a 74.8 completion percentage, and 29.67 completions per game (NCAA Division III leading).
• Leading the SJU defense is Andrew Molenaar's 21 tackles. He engineers a defense that ranks 11th in the country with 181.0 yard allowed per game.