Around the Nation columns
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2025 season in review
February 04, 2026No matter how long you’ve been around it, no matter how much history you’ve absorbed or how confident you feel in your preseason convictions, the division has a way of refreshing itself. Assumptions get tested. Familiar storylines give way to new ones. As Greg Thomas writes: Division III football, for all its continuity, is never boring. -
Playoff picks, surprises and disappointments
November 20, 2025Who will surprise in this year's playoff bracket? Who will disappoint? Who will advance to the semifinals? It's our team's annual take on the postseason, in Around the Nation.
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When football is literally family
November 13, 2025Sometimes the toughest task is balancing “Coach” and “Dad.” From missed first snaps to unforgettable touchdowns, these dads and sons navigate the unique challenges — and joys — of sharing a football sideline. Greg Thomas has more in Around the Nation.
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Polars' crowning achievement comes one win at a time
November 06, 2025Crown has five wins under its belt and a real chance to clinch a playoff spot from the UMAC over the next two weeks, which is a long way from where the program was a few years ago. Greg Thomas has more in Around the Nation.
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New faces get a chance to shine
October 30, 2025All over Division III, teams came into the season with less familiar names all over their depth charts. And at Muhlenberg, like a host of other programs, those new key contributors have made the most of it. Greg Thomas talks to the Mules who are making the most of their chances in Around the Nation.
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Cardiac Concordia keeps coming back
October 23, 2025It's rarely a calm Saturday when Concordia Wisconsin takes the field, when you consider double overtime vs. Benedictine, a 21-point comeback to force overtime vs. Lakeland and rallying from down 10 in the fourth vs. Aurora. Greg Thomas dives in in Around the Nation.
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They showed up, and so did Maryville
October 16, 2025In front of a huge home crowd, Maryville rose to the occasion and improved to 5-0, which is a far cry from the last time we wrote about them in Around the Nation. Greg Thomas visits with the Scots once again, when they are in much better spirits.
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Ranking the conferences for 2025
October 09, 2025It's a tradition unlike any other. For 19 seasons, Around the Nation has ranked the Division III football conferences from top to bottom based on not only competitiveness at the top, but competitiveness at the bottom — depth. With non-conference play all but done for 2025, it's time for the ranking.
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No longer dreaming: UNE looks like CNE contender
October 02, 2025The Nor'easters have entered the chat, as University of New England began play less than a decade ago and has established itself as a contender in the Conference of New England. Is UNE the next New England contender? Too soon to say, but Greg Thomas dives in in Around the Nation.
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Beginning of a resurgence?
September 25, 2025Hampden-Sydney has quickly gone from a preseason curiosity to one of the most intriguing early-season stories in Division III. The Tigers’ start feels like the beginning of something more, and Greg Thomas has more in Around the Nation.
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How do you follow greatness?
September 18, 2025Division III's top programs remain at the top by making reloading look simple. But following Luke Lehnen at quarterback at North Central means following, simply, one of the all-time greats. Greg Thomas talks to both the coach and the quarterbacks for the Cardinals in Around the Nation.
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D-III fun in the valley of the sun
September 11, 2025Division III football had never been played in Arizona before Lake Forest had the idea to bring a game to the Phoenix area, and although Claremont-Mudd-Scripps came away with the win, the Foresters were more than satisfied with the rest. Greg Thomas has more, from Chandler, Arizona.
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2024 D3football.com features columns
December 31, 2024An archive of nearly two dozen feature stories on D3football.com in 2024.
