The 2026 Division 3 football season features another deep national title race, with perennial powers and emerging contenders aiming for the Stagg Bowl.
North Central opens as the preseason No. 1, while Bethel, defending national champion UW-River Falls, Johns Hopkins and John Carroll headline a loaded top five.
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As always, conference races across the country will shape the playoff picture, with automatic bids and at-large spots creating intense competition throughout the fall. Veteran programs and rising challengers alike will be chasing a postseason berth.
With coaching changes, key returning stars and new faces stepping into larger roles, Division 3 football is set for another compelling season. Here's 10 things to know about the Division 3 football season in 2026.
Division 3 Football Conference Realignment
- Gallaudet: Old Dominion Athletic Conference to Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
- Luther: American Rivers Conference to Midwest Conference
- McMurry: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference to American Southwest Conference
- Washington MO: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin to North Coast Athletic Conference
- Schreiner: Reviving Program in American Southwest Conference
- Azusa Pacific: Reviving Program in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
- Whittier: Reviving Program in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
- Anna Marie: WIll Close Program
- St. Francis PA: FCS NEC to Presidents’ Athletic Conference
Notable Division 3 Games To Watch
- September 5 - Bethel vs. North Central
- September 5 - Mount Union vs. Wheaton
- October 3 - Bethel vs. St. John’s
- October 10 - Wheaton vs. North Central
- October 17 - UW River Falls vs. UW Platteville
Gagliardi Trophy Candidates
- Jaxon Schreiber, QB Mt. St. Joseph
- Mike Rescigno, QB Cortland
- Caleb Romano, QB Geneva
Read the full FloCollege list of players who could win the Gagliardi Trophy in 2026.
FloCollege List of 5 Stagg Bowl Favorites.
- North Central
- Bethel
- UW-River Falls
- Johns Hopkins
- John Carroll
Division 3 Preseason FloCollege Top 25 Rankings
- North Central
- Bethel
- UW-River Falls
- Johns Hopkins
- John Carroll
- Mount Union
- Wheaton
- Saint John’s
- Berry
- UW-La Crosse
- UW-Platteville
- Wartburg
- DePauw
- Salisbury
- Susquehanna
- Christopher Newport
- Trinity
- Hope
- Monmouth
- Hardin-Simmons
- Endicott
- Coe
- Randolph-Macon
- UW-Whitewater
- Cortland
2026 Division 3 Playoffs Schedule
- First Round — November 21 (Campus sites)
- Second Round — November 28 (Campus sites)
- Third Round — December 5 (Campus sites)
- Quarterfinals — December 12 (Campus sites)
- Semifinals — December 19 (Campus sites)
- Championship (2027 Stagg Bowl) — January 9, 2027 (Salem Football Stadium, Salem, Virginia)
When Is The 2027 Stagg Bowl?
The Division 3 National Championship game is on January 9, 2027 in Salem, Virginia.
Notable Division 3 To Division 1 Transfers
- Connor Barry, QB - Christopher Newport to Penn State
- Liam Danitz, Edge - Hope to Wisconsin
- Paul Kim, CB - UW Whitewater to South Dakota State
NPI Will Shape The Division 3 Playoff Bracket
The NCAA Power Index will be important when Division III playoff teams are selected and seeded for the 2026 D3 Playoofs. NPI evaluates teams through their results and strength of schedule, meaning every opponent and nonconference matchup can influence a program’s postseason position.
Division 3 Players Who Made NFL Teams Or Minicamps
- Tyren Montgomery - John Carroll WR (Signed with Tennessee Titans)
- Kaleb Blaha - UW River Falls QB (New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp)
- Dain Walter - UW La Crosse OT (Green Bay Packers rookie minicamp)
- Reed Breckheimer - Carroll University RB (Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp)
- Bay Harvey - Johns Hopkins QB (Washington Commanders rookie minicamp)
Who Won The Each Football National Championship For The 2025-2026 Season?
- Division I FBS – Indiana def. Miami, 27-21
- Division I FCS – Montana State def. Illinois State 35-34 (OT)
- Division II – Ferris State def. Harding, 42-21
- Division III – University of Wisconsin-River Falls def. North Central (Ill.), 24-14
Archived Footage On FloCollege
Video footage from all games will be archived and stored in a video library for FloCollege subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.
Watch The 2026 College Football Season On FloCollege
FloCollege is the home of the best FCS, Division II and Division III football action all season long.
Don't miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloCollege schedule page for the latest games.
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