Matchups to watch during small college football rivalry week

One more week.

It’s a time of playoff races, ages-old rivalries and forgotten seasons to be salvaged.

Seniors and graduate students alike put on the pads one more time in the brisk of fall, while others fight to play another game.

Blizzards, blustery conditions and other unruly weather dominate the sky and the gridiron as teams duke it out.

It’s a land where NIL is less-than-significant, the hits hit harder and cowbells ring louder.

Call it school pride, call it ‘for the love of the game,’ call it whatever you want. Every player will have their ‘why’ this week.

The end of the NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III football regular seasons is this Saturday.

From a pair of shoes to campuses divided by a single street, here are some of the biggest games on the radar for the swan song of most small college football teams for 2025.

Division II: Henderson State at Ouachita Baptist (Battle of the Ravine)

The stadiums of these schools are visible from each other and are a quick 15-minute walk with it being separated by a patch of U.S. Highway 67.

Though there were talks of this game being this week’s College GameDay destination, it was unfortunately snubbed for the matchup between No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 24 Pittsburgh.

This rivalry still thickens in its 98th edition, however, as both squads look to be considered for a bid to the Heritage Bowl.

The bowl is played by two total representatives across the Great American Conference – the league the Reddies and the Tigers belong to – the Lone Star Conference, and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The other team tied with the two playing in the Battle of the Ravine is Arkansas Tech, who has a home date with conference champion No. 2 Harding.

Division II: No. 23 Benedict at No. 17 Albany State (SIAC Championship)

It’s the rematch that Super Region Two fans have been waiting for since October 26.

The Albany State Golden Rams charged into the AFCA Division II Top 25 for the first time since October 10, 2022, clocking in at No. 23 for the Week 10 rankings.

The Benedict Tigers are seeking their third Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in four years and their first since 2023, whereas the Golden Rams are looking for their first conference championship since 2021.

Both teams are in the Top 5 of the Super Region Two rankings, meaning this will also bode well for both teams in terms of playoff positioning.

Division III: RPI at Union (Dutchman Shoes Trophy)

The 122nd meeting between the Engineers and the Garnet Chargers has real postseason implications.

While Ithaca has finished up Liberty League play with a 6-1 record, RPI – with a 6-0 record – and Union – with a 5-1 record – would need a win to clinch the league’s automatic bid to the Division III playoffs.

The Garnet Chargers were the last team to use a win in this rivalry to propel them to the playoffs, which was in 2023 as an at-large bid.

Neither team is in a position to make the 40-team field without winning the conference, which means it’s all on the line at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.

Division III: Cal Lutheran at Chapman (SCIAC Championship)

The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title comes down to a cross-divisional clash at Ernie Chapman Stadium.

The Chapman Panthers are on the hunt for their first championship win since 2023 and their second since 2019.

On the other hand, the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen are seeking their first time hoisting the SCIAC trophy since 2012, when they won every year from 2009 until then.

The Panthers have not lost a conference game since last year’s SCIAC Championship game against Pomona-Pitzer.

With limited consideration for an at-large bid, it’s now or never for the Kingsmen and the Panthers.

Bryan Portney is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bep5295@psu.edu.