{"id":393945,"date":"2026-01-05T21:37:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T21:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/393945\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T21:37:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T21:37:12","slug":"uw-river-falls-clinches-first-ever-national-title-in-2025-diii-football-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/393945\/","title":{"rendered":"UW-River Falls clinches first ever national title in 2025 DIII football championship"},"content":{"rendered":"

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UW-River Falls won its first ever national title in a 24-14 victory against North Central (Illinois) in the Stagg Bowl. In their first playoff appearance since 1996, the Falcons defeated the defending champions, North Central (Illinois), to clinch the 2025 DIII football championship.<\/p>\n

2025 DIII football championship bracket<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49 Click or tap here for the interactive bracket<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

2025 DIII football championship schedule, scores<\/p>\n

All times listed in ET.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\tSelection show: 5\u00a0p.m.\u00a0on Sunday, Nov. 16\u00a0on NCAA.com<\/a>
\n\tFirst round:\u00a0Saturday, Nov. 22<\/p>\n

\tSecond round: Saturday, Nov. 29<\/p>\n

\t\tJohn Carroll 35,\u00a0Randolph-Macon 6<\/a>
\n\t\tBerry 18, LaGrange 14<\/a>
\n\t\tWisconsin-La Crosse 9, Hope 7<\/a>
\n\t\tSusquehanna 42, Chris. Newport 28<\/a>
\n\t\tMount Union 49, Muhlenburg 7<\/a>
\n\t\tEastern 28, Franklin & Marshall 24<\/a>
\n\t\tSalisbury 35,\u00a0Endicott 28<\/a>
\n\t\tJohns Hopkins 34,\u00a0Springfield 14<\/a>
\n\t\tWisconsin-Platteville 24, Alma 7<\/a>
\n\t\tBethel (Minnesota) 51,\u00a0Coe 26<\/a>
\n\t\tNorth Central (Illinois) 38,\u00a0Hanover 6<\/a>
\n\t\tTrinity (Texas) 34,\u00a0Hardin-Simmons 24<\/a>
\n\t\tWheaton (Illinois) 28, Wartburg 24<\/a>
\n\t\tDePauw 26, Wisconsin-Whitewater 23<\/a>
\n\t\tSt. John’s (MN) 49,\u00a0Monmouth (IL) 15<\/a><\/p>\n

\tThird Round:\u00a0Saturday,\u00a0Dec.\u00a06<\/p>\n

\tQuarterfinals: Saturday, Dec.\u00a013<\/p>\n

\tSemifinals: Saturday, Dec. 20\u00a0<\/p>\n

\tNational championship: 8 p.m.\u00a0on\u00a0Sunday, Jan. 4 | ESPN<\/p>\n

2025 DIII football championship history<\/p>\n

\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tChampion
\n\t\t\tCoach
\n\t\t\tScore
\n\t\t\tRunner-Up
\n\t\t\tSite<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2025
\n\t\t\tUW-River Falls<\/a>
\n\t\t\tMatt Walker
\n\t\t\t24-14
\n\t\t\tNorth Central (IL)
\n\t\t\tCanton, Ohio<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2024
\n\t\t\tNorth Central (IL)<\/a>
\n\t\t\tBrad Spencer
\n\t\t\t41-25
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tHouston, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2023
\n\t\t\tCortland<\/a>
\n\t\t\tCurt Fitzpatrick
\n\t\t\t38-37
\n\t\t\tNorth Central (IL)
\n\t\t\tSalem, Virginia<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2022
\n\t\t\tNorth Central (IL)<\/a>
\n\t\t\tBrad Spencer
\n\t\t\t28-21
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tAnnapolis, Maryland<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2021
\n\t\t\tMary Hardin-Baylor<\/a>
\n\t\t\tPete Fredenburg
\n\t\t\t57-24
\n\t\t\tNorth Central (IL)
\n\t\t\tCanton, Ohio<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2020
\n\t\t\tCanceled due to Covid-19
\n\t\t\t—
\n\t\t\t—
\n\t\t\t—
\n\t\t\t—<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2019
\n\t\t\tNorth Central (IL)<\/a>
\n\t\t\tJeff Thorne
\n\t\t\t41-14
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Whitewater
\n\t\t\tShenandoah, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2018
\n\t\t\tMary Hardin-Baylor<\/a>
\n\t\t\tPete Fredenburg
\n\t\t\t24-16
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tShenandoah, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2017
\n\t\t\tMount Union<\/a>
\n\t\t\tVince Kehres
\n\t\t\t12-0
\n\t\t\tMary Hardin-Baylor
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2016
\n\t\t\tMary Hardin-Baylor<\/a>
\n\t\t\tPete Fredenburg
\n\t\t\t10-7
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Oshkosh
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2015
\n\t\t\tMount Union<\/a>
\n\t\t\tVince Kehres
\n\t\t\t49-35
\n\t\t\tSt. Thomas (Minn.)
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2014
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Whitewater
\n\t\t\tLance Leipold
\n\t\t\t43-34
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2013
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Whitewater
\n\t\t\tLance Leipold
\n\t\t\t52-14
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2012
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t28-10
\n\t\t\tSt. Thomas (Minn.)
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2011
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Whitewater
\n\t\t\tLance Leipold
\n\t\t\t13-10
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2010
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Whitewater
\n\t\t\tLance Leipold
\n\t\t\t31-21
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2009
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Whitewater
\n\t\t\tLance Leipold
\n\t\t\t38-28
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2008
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t31-26
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Whitewater
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2007
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Whitewater
\n\t\t\tLance Leipold
\n\t\t\t31-21
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2006
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t35-16
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Whitewater
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2005
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t35-28
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-Whitewater
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2004
\n\t\t\tLinfield
\n\t\t\tJay Locey
\n\t\t\t28-21
\n\t\t\tMary Hardin-Baylor
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2003
\n\t\t\tSt. John’s (Minn.)
\n\t\t\tJohn Gagliardi
\n\t\t\t24-6
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2002
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t48-7
\n\t\t\tTrinity (Texas)
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2001
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t30-27
\n\t\t\tBridgewater (Va.)
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2000
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t10-7
\n\t\t\tSt. John’s (Minn.)
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1999
\n\t\t\tPacific Lutheran
\n\t\t\tFrosty Westering
\n\t\t\t42-13
\n\t\t\tRowan
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1998
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t44-24
\n\t\t\tRowan
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1997
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t61-12
\n\t\t\tLycoming
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1996
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t56-24
\n\t\t\tRowan
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1995
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-La Crosse
\n\t\t\tRoger Harring
\n\t\t\t36-7
\n\t\t\tRowan
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1994
\n\t\t\tAlbion
\n\t\t\tPete Schmidt
\n\t\t\t38-15
\n\t\t\tWashington & Jefferson
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1993
\n\t\t\tMount Union
\n\t\t\tLarry Kehres
\n\t\t\t34-24
\n\t\t\tRowan
\n\t\t\tSalem, Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1992
\n\t\t\tWisconsin-La Crosse
\n\t\t\tRoger Harring
\n\t\t\t16-12
\n\t\t\tWashington & Jefferson
\n\t\t\tBradenton, Fla.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1991
\n\t\t\tIthaca
\n\t\t\tJim Butterfield
\n\t\t\t34-20
\n\t\t\tDayton
\n\t\t\tBradenton, Fla.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1990
\n\t\t\tAllegheny
\n\t\t\tKen O’Keefe
\n\t\t\t21-14
\n\t\t\tLycoming
\n\t\t\tBradenton, Fla.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1989
\n\t\t\tDayton
\n\t\t\tMike Kelly
\n\t\t\t17-7
\n\t\t\tUnion (N.Y.)
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1988
\n\t\t\tIthaca
\n\t\t\tJim Butterfield
\n\t\t\t39-24
\n\t\t\tCentral (Iowa)
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1987
\n\t\t\tWagner
\n\t\t\tWalkt Hameline
\n\t\t\t19-3
\n\t\t\tDayton
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1986
\n\t\t\tAugustana (Ill.)
\n\t\t\tBob Reade
\n\t\t\t31-3
\n\t\t\tSalisbury
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1985
\n\t\t\tAugustana (Ill.)
\n\t\t\tBob Reade
\n\t\t\t20-7
\n\t\t\tIthaca
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1984
\n\t\t\tAugustana (Ill.)
\n\t\t\tBob Reade
\n\t\t\t21-12
\n\t\t\tCentral (Iowa)
\n\t\t\tKings Island, Ohio<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1983
\n\t\t\tAugustana (Ill.)
\n\t\t\tBob Reade
\n\t\t\t21-17
\n\t\t\tUnion (N.Y.)
\n\t\t\tKings Island, Ohio<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1982
\n\t\t\tWest Georgia
\n\t\t\tBobby Pate
\n\t\t\t14-0
\n\t\t\tAugustana (N.Y.)
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1981
\n\t\t\tWidener
\n\t\t\tBill Manlove
\n\t\t\t24-10
\n\t\t\tDayton
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1980
\n\t\t\tDayton
\n\t\t\tRick Carter
\n\t\t\t63-0
\n\t\t\tIthaca
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1979
\n\t\t\tIthaca
\n\t\t\tJim Butterfield
\n\t\t\t14-10
\n\t\t\tWittenberg
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1978
\n\t\t\tBaldwin-Wallace
\n\t\t\tLee Tressel
\n\t\t\t24-10
\n\t\t\tWittenberg
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1977
\n\t\t\tWidener
\n\t\t\tBill Manlove
\n\t\t\t39-36
\n\t\t\tWabash
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1976
\n\t\t\tSt.John’s (Minn.)
\n\t\t\tJohn Gagliardi
\n\t\t\t31-28
\n\t\t\tTowson
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1975
\n\t\t\tWittenberg
\n\t\t\tDave Maurer
\n\t\t\t28-0
\n\t\t\tIthaca
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1974
\n\t\t\tCentral (Iowa)
\n\t\t\tRon Schipper
\n\t\t\t10-8
\n\t\t\tIthaca
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1973
\n\t\t\tWittenberg
\n\t\t\tDave Maurer
\n\t\t\t41-0
\n\t\t\tJuniata
\n\t\t\tPhenix City, Ala.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

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