By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team will open the 2023 NCAA Football Playoffs at home in Perkins Stadium as the Bethel University Royals come to Whitewater for round one. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. on Saturday, November 18.
The winner advances to play the winner between Wheaton (IL) and Mount St. Joseph Saturday, November 25. Location of the round two contest will be announced following the completion of all round one games.
TICKETS/PARKING
Tickets are $14 for Adults, $10 Over 65 / Students and youth 5-18
Free kids under 5 (no ticket needed)
Advance Ticket Purchase: Click Here
Tickets will also be available for purchase on Saturday at Perkins Stadium.
Parking: All parking is cashless this season. To purchase in advance, click here. Fans can purchase on the day of but must go through the online purchasing portal to do so and will not be allowed into a lot until purchase is complete.
IN THE POLLS
UWW: #5 D3football.com (Prev: 5) / #5 American Football Coaches Association (Prev: 6)
BU: Receiving Votes / Receiving Votes
UWW’S PATH TO PLAYOFFS
The Warhawks wrapped up the regular season with a 9-1 record despite boasting one of the toughest schedules in Division III this season. UW-Whitewater’s lone loss came at the midway point of the season to then-No. 14 UW-La Crosse. UWW finished as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference runner-up to the now-fourth ranked Eagles. That strength of schedule was a vital piece of the Warhawks receiving an at-large bid into the playoffs this season.
UW-Whitewater is making its 16th playoff appearance since 2005. UWW is 58-12 in postseason play with six national titles in program history.
UWW’s first six games of the 2023 campaign were against ranked opponents including contests against then-top five’s Saint Johns (week two) and UW-River Falls (week six). The Warhawks picked up back-to-back wins at home over UW-Stout and UW-Platteville before wrapping up the season with shutouts over UW-Stevens Point and UW-Eau Claire.
In the final two weeks of the regular season, UWW outscored their opponents 107-0 including a 59-0 route of the Blugolds last week.
HOW BETHEL GOT HERE
The Royals claimed their sixth MIAC Championship last week to secure the league’s automatic bid into the postseason. Bethel is making its third consecutive playoff appearance and 12th overall.
Bethel enters the postseason on a seven-game win streak – the longest for the Royals since 2013. BU made a run to the quarterfinals last season and is 13-11 in postseason play in program history.
ON THE AIR
Saturday’s game will air live online on the WIAC Network. The contest can be heard on 105.9 FM The Hog in the Whitewater area, or online at www.1059thehog.com.
SERIES
The Warhawks and Royals have met just one other time in the teams’ storied histories – and it was another postseason matchup. UW-Whitewater defeated Bethel 26-12 in the NCAA Quarterfinal at Perkins Stadium on December 1, 2018.
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