All but just seven Division III NCAA football games have been cancelled for 2020. It’s a statistic I couldn’t believe at first. The first time I saw it, the number was pushed out by “In the Huddle – NCAA D3FB East Region Podcast.”
Before writing this article, I decided to verify that statistic. What an incredible number. How could that be possible? But d3football.com proved it to be true. You can look for yourself, but I break it down below.
247 NCAA DIII Teams; Seven Total Games
As I scoured through the weeks of “scores,” and results, I found that the first game to not be postponed or cancelled in all of the United States for NCAA D3 was indeed Trine University at Adrian College. It’s a Week 5 game.
Week 6 has no games scheduled. Week 7 features Adrian at Manchester and Bluffton at Trine. For Week 8, Adrian will travel to Bluffton. Both Week 9 and 10 are empty. Week 11 features Coast Guard at Merchant Marine.
Check out @D3FBHuddle's fall schedule for #D3FB games. Pretty short list, highlighted by @AdrianBulldogs and @TrineAthletics #godawgs #thunder #football @AdrianCollege @TrineUniversity pic.twitter.com/Ng9sCba648
— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) September 22, 2020
When I tell you that’s incredible, I mean it. It is quite literally unbelievable to me that this is happening. It’s a moment in my life that I will never forget. There are a few reasons for that.
It’s amazing to me that the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, and Western Michigan University have yet to take a snap, but the Thunder and Bulldogs will on Saturday.
THUNDER / BULLDOGS BROADCAST INFO:
Non-Conference Regular Season Game
Trine University Thunder @ Adrian College Bulldogs
Date: Saturday, October 3rd | Time: 1:00 pm ET
Location: Kapnick Field – Adrian, Michigan
TV: Adrian College Television | Radio: 107.9 WVAC-FM, 103.9 WLEN-FM
According to ESPN, the last college football game to be played in Michigan was on December 30th, when Western Michigan University hosted Western Kentucky.
I believe the most recent game played by a Michigan college or university was played by the University of Michigan. They played a neutral site bowl game on January 1st against the Crimson Tide of Alabama.
This will be the first college football game in Michigan since 2019
The countdown is on. Out of 247 #NCAA D3 teams, the first two to play in a #CFB contest this year will be @TrineThunderFB at @AdrianCollegeFB #godawgs #football #d3fb @AdrianBulldogs @D3Football @TrineUniversity @ESPNStatsInfo @FOXSportsDet @BCSNsports pic.twitter.com/vsnPOM4cWW
— Adrian College TV (@AdrianCollegeTV) September 29, 2020
D2football.com has no competitors listed for the state of Michigan this season. A few schools are playing, but almost all D2 and D3 teams have dropped their seasons.
Trine University in Angola, Indiana, and Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan are pushing forward. I think some people will throw stones. Others will cheer. I can’t wait to tell the story.
For permission to republish this article, please DM @schrayguy on Twitter. Image courtesy of Adrian College. For more sports, news and entertainment, follow the Midwest Sports Network on Twitter @MWSNsports or like the MWSN page on Facebook.
