CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Earlier this week, the NCAA announced that the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) automatic qualifier, No. 2/5/5 Wartburg College, will take the field in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs on Saturday, November 29 against the winner of Wheaton/Crown in the first round. The No. 24 Coe College Kohawks earned one of the at-large bids and will travel to Concordia-Wisconsin on Saturday, November 22 in the first round. Both kickoffs are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. (CT).
The Coe College Kohawks enter the 2025 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs after going 7-1 in conference play this season and 8-2 overall, falling to playoff team Wisconsin-River Falls in a high-scoring week two game. The Kohawks finished the regular season with a momentum boosting win over Central College, 13-7.
Coe only fell to Wartburg during the conference regular season placing themselves in a good spot to earn one of the at-large selections to the NCAA Playoffs. Tenth-year head coach, Tyler Staker, is leading the team to its third straight NCAA Playoff appearance. The Kohawks fell to Bethel in the opening round last season.
Concordia-Wisconsin earned a spot in the Division III Playoffs after clinching the Northern Athletics Collegaite Conference (NACC) automatic bid and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. The Falcons enter the playoffs with a 9-1 record, with their lone loss coming from Calvin in week two.
The winner of this game will advance to the second round and face Bethel on Saturday, November 29 at Noon.
A full preview of the Wartburg vs. Wheaton/Crown game will be available next week.
All games will be available on ESPN+.
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
