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NOVEMBER 10, 2025 | composed by STEVE ULRICH
No publication covers NCAA Division III better. #whyD3

🏆️ Championship Monday. Congratulations to the conference champions. You’ll return to campus to celebrate these more than gathering to remember NCAA at-large berths.

🗞️ In Today’s Playbook. Presidents Council Recap. CNU Headlines Field Hockey Bracket. Soccer: Who’s In. Football Qualifiers.

📺️ What We’re Watching. The women’s soccer championship field and bracket will be unveiled at 11 a.m., while the men’s tournament will be released at 11:30 a.m.

📖 Subscribe Today. Be a star on campus and tell your president what is really going on in Division III. Subscribe to D3Playbook for as little as $0.30 per day. There’s another good reason to subscribe to DIII’s best trade publication.

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1. Presidents Council Recap

The Division III Presidents Council held its quarterly meeting on October 28.

» New Committee Members. The Council approved the following to fill immediate vacancies: Ellen O’Brien, Marymount (Infractions); Jim Hamad, Aurora (Infractions Appeals); Shana Levine, Northwest Conference (Membership); Doug Aiken, Chapman (Nominating); Jessica Brown, Westminster MO, and Marie Stroman, American Rivers Conference (PROP); McKenzie Jones, ETBU, Jameson Bloch, Maine-Farmington, Emily Alicea, Pacific Lutheran, Connor Dong, Chicago (SAAC).

» Governance Committee Appointments. Bethany Dannelly, OAC (Championship); Megan Wilson, Luther (Financial Aid); Jeremy Shepherd, McDaniel, Katie Boldvich, Landmark Conference (ILC); Dan Kane, Maine-Presque Isle (Membership); JoAnne Bullard, Rowan, Megan Valentine, St. Joseph’s LI (Nominating); Jessica Chapin, Brandeis (Strategic Planning and Finance).

» Management Council Appointments. Todd Gibson, Grove City; Christa Racine, Drew; Heather Schuyler, Adrian.

» Presidents Council Appointments. David Bushman, Bridgewater; Andrew Martin, Washington U.; Katherine Frank, UW-Stout; Andrew Mannion, Edgewood.

» Championship Bracket Enhancements. Women’s Ice Hockey from 12 to 13 teams. Men’s Volleyball from 19 to 21 teams.

» Championships Bench Limits. “The council was advised of the Championships Committee’s decision, based on feedback from sport committees, to increase the bench size to include all rostered student-athletes or the number recommended by the sport committee. The council and the committee noted the need to communicate the ability of host institutions to accommodate the bench size increase and ensure only eligible student-athletes participate in the competition.

» Exemption From Common Playing Rule in Women’s Lacrosse. “The council reviewed and supported a request from five Division III conferences to exempt Division III from a newly adopted playing rule in women’s lacrosse that requires officials to wear headsets beginning with the 2027 season. The council noted the potential long-term impact on officials within the sport, the precedent this may establish for other sports, the benefit for allowing flexibility for officials in regions where headset use is common, while providing additional time for others to acquire the necessary equipment. . The council’s action renders the new playing rule as permissive rather than mandatory.”

2. CNU Headlines Field Hockey Bracket

Christopher Newport is the No. 1 seed as the 28-team NCAA Division III field hockey championship tournament field was announced on Sunday night.

» Field Hockey Conference AQ (18). Marywood (AEC); Johns Hopkins (CC); Endicott (CNE); Geneseo (E8); Dean (GNAC); Scranton (LAND); Vassar (LL); Keene State (LEC); Westfield State (MASCAC); Stevenson (MACC); Stevens (MACF); Bates (NESCAC); Babson (NEWMAC); Rowan (NJAC); Denison (NCAC); Lynchburg (ODAC); Salisbury (SUNYAC); St. Mary’s (UEC).

» NPI At-Large (10). 1-Christopher Newport, 5-Tufts, 6-Wesleyan, 7-Middlebury, 10-Hamilton, 11-Dickinson, 12-Williams, 14-Bowdoin, 17-WPI, 18-Amherst. | Final NPI Rankings

» First Four Out. 19-Franklin & Marshall, 21-Haverford, 22-Washington and Lee, 23-Shenandoah.

3. Who’s In: Men’s Soccer

The field for the 2025 NCAA Division III men’s soccer championship will be unveiled at 11:30 a.m. ET today. Below are the 43 teams that received automatic qualification to the tournament along with the projected 21 at-large teams determined by the NPI.

» Conference AQ (43). La Roche (AMCC); Neumann (AEC); Luther (ARC); Hardin-Simmons (ASC); Christopher Newport (C2C); Dickinson (CC); Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW); Maryville (CCS); Roger Williams (CNE); Lehman (CUNYAC); Geneseo (E8); Saint Joseph CT (GNAC); Transylvania (HCAC); Catholic (LAND); UMass Boston (LEC); Hobart (LL); Bridgewater State (MASCAC); Calvin (MIAA); Messiah (MACC); Stevens (MACF); Macalester (MIAC); Lake Forest (MWC); Tufts (NESCAC); Babson (NEWMAC); Rowan (NJAC); SUNY Delhi (NAC); DePauw (NCAC); MSOE (NACC); Whitman (NWC); Otterbein (OAC); Lynchburg (ODAC); Grove City (PAC); Berry (SAA); Colorado College vs. Texas Lutheran (SCAC); St. Joseph’s, L.I. (SKY); Lyon (SLIAC); Occidental (SCIAC); Oneonta (SUNYAC); Washington U. (UAA); Penn State Harrisburg (UEC); UW-Superior (UMAC); N.C. Wesleyan (USA South); Eau Claire (WIAC)

» Probable NPI At-Large (21 spots). 2-Augsburg, 3-St. Olaf, 5-Emory, 7-Connecticut College, 8-Chicago, 9-Bowdoin, 12-Trinity TX, 13-Wesleyan, 15-Middlebury, 17-Williams, 18-Cortland, 20-Gustavus Adolphus, 21-Wheaton MA, 23-Hampden-Sydney, 24-Scranton, 26-Brandeis, 27-UW-Whitewater, 28-Amherst, 29-Washington and Lee, 30-Edgewood, 31-Denison | Final NPI Rankings

» First Four Out. 33-Virginia Wesleyan, 34-Ohio Northern, 36-Hamilton, 38-Southwestern

4. Who’s In: Women’s Soccer

The field for the 2025 NCAA Division III men’s soccer championship will be unveiled at 11 a.m. ET today. Below are the 43 teams that received automatic qualification to the tournament along with the projected 21 at-large teams determined by the NPI.

» Conference AQ (43). PSU Behrend (AMCC); Marymount (AEC); Loras (ARC); Hardin-Simmons (ASC); Christopher Newport (C2C); Johns Hopkins (CC); North Central (CCIW); Belhaven (CCS); Hartford (CNE); John Jay (CUNYAC); St. John Fisher (E8); Emmanuel (GNAC); Rose-Hulman (HCAC); Scranton (LAND); Southern Maine (LEC); Vassar (LL); Calvin (MIAA); Messiah (MACC); Stevens (MACF); Westfield State (MASCAC); Carleton (MIAC); Lake Forest (MWC); Tufts (NESCAC); MIT (NEWMAC); Lesley (NAC); John Carroll (NCAC); Illinois Tech (NACC); Montclair State (NJAC); Puget Sound (NWC); Wilmington (OAC); Washington and Lee (ODAC); Grove City (PAC); Trinity TX (SAA); McMurry (SCAC); St. Joseph’s, L.I. (SKY); Spalding (SLIAC); Cal Lutheran (SCIAC); Cortland (SUNYAC); Washington U. (UAA); UW-Superior (UMAC); PSU Harrisburg (UEC); Brevard (USA South); UW-La Crosse (WIAC)

» Probable NPI At-Large (21 spots). 2-Emory, 4-Chicago, 5-Case Western Reserve, 7-Williams, 9-Pomona-Pitzer, 14-Middlebury, 19-Rochester, 20-Swarthmore, 21-Rowan, 24-Colby, 25-Amherst, 26-Claremont-M-S, 27-Carnegie Mellon, 29-Wesleyan, 30-St. Catherine, 31-Va. Wesleyan, 33-Misericordia, 37-Bridgewater, 38-NYU, 39-Mary Washington, 41-Rhodes. | Final NPI Rankings

» First Four Out. 42-St. Olaf, 43-Hope, 44-Bowdoin, 46-Brandeis.

5. 19 Qualify for DIII Football Tourney

With one week remaining in the regular season, 19 teams have already punched their ticket to the 2025 NCAA Division III football championship.

» Clinched Playoff Berth (19). Wartburg (A-R-C), North Central (CCIW), Cortland (E8), Hanover (HCAC), Susquehanna (LAND), Eastern (MAC), Bethel (MIAC), Monmouth (MWC), Concordia WI (NACC), John Carroll (NCAC), Springfield (NEWMAC), Christopher Newport (NJAC), Whitworth (NWC), Mount Union (OAC), Randolph-Macon (ODAC), Washington & Jefferson (PAC), Berry (SAA), LaGrange (USA South), River Falls (WIAC)

» NPI Top 10. 1-Johns Hopkins, 2-Mount Union, 3-Wartburg, 4-North Central, 5-Christopher Newport, 6-UW-River Falls, 7-Bethel, 8-Berry, 9-John Carroll, 10-Hardin-Simmons.

» NPI At-Large (13 spots). 1-Johns Hopkins (CC), 10-Hardin-Simmons (ASC), 11-UW-Platteville (WIAC), 12-Salisbury (NJAC), 13-Trinity TX (SAA), 14-Hope (MIAA), 15-Central (ARC), 18-UW-Whitewater (WIAC), 19-UW-La Crosse (WIAC), 20-Saint John’s (MIAC), 21-Franklin & Marshall (CC), 24-Wabash (NCAC), 26-Endicott (CNE), 27-Wheaton (CCIW), 28-Alma (MIAA), 30-DePauw (NCAC), 33-Muhlenberg (CC), 34-Curry (CNE), 35-Grove City (PAC) | NPI Rankings

» Key Games 11/15. UMHB at Howard Payne, ETBU at Hardin-Simmons (ASC); Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall (CC); Curry at Endicott (CNE); RPI at Union (LL); Plymouth State at UMass Dartmouth (MASCAC); Adrian at Alma, Olivet at Hope (MIAA); Cal Lutheran at Chapman (SCIAC); Crown at Greenville (UMAC).

6. Lightning Round ⚡️ 

» Football. “The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) has reviewed the events that took place following the football game between Guilford College and Averett University on Saturday, November 8, 2025. After its examination and consultation with both institutions, the conference has determined that the post-game altercation between the two programs does not uphold the standards of sportsmanship, respect, and conduct expected within the ODAC. As a result, and in agreement with both institutions, Guilford College and Averett University will discontinue their football seasons effective immediately.”

» Championships. “The ongoing government shutdown may end up disrupting the NCAA fall championships. Front Office Sports viewed a memo the NCAA sent to its member schools Friday morning which said it is “monitoring the impact and risk” of the ongoing government shutdown to the fall championships.”

» Finances. “The average tuition and fees paid by students and their families after aid rose slightly for the 2025-26 academic year but remain well below historic peaks, according to the latest higher education pricing study from the College Board. At public four-year colleges, net tuition and fees for first-time, full-time students increased just 1.3% to $2,300 from last year, when adjusted for inflation. At private nonprofits, net tuition and fees for first-time, full-time students rose 3.7% annually to $16,910 in the 2025-26 year.”

» News. “Rosemont College’s enrollment fell by 45%, but many students and professors want to stay until school closes in 2028. Students who remain said despite having fewer classmates, they didn’t want to give up the small class sizes and close relationships they have with their professors.”

» Lawsuit. “In a lawsuit filed Thursday in State Supreme Court in Rensselaer County, Sadie Schreiner, a transgender woman who formerly competed for Rochester Institute of Technology, alleges that Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) violated the New York Human Rights Law when it barred her from competing in its "Under the Lights Meet" out of "fear" of reprisal from the U.S. Department of Education stemming from President Donald Trump's executive order in February banning transgender athletes from participating in women's sports.”

» News. “Aurora University football player Brook Williams says he quit the team after enduring racist slurs and comments from teammates. An investigation found two players created a hostile environment, but their punishment was reduced after an appeal; Williams later withdrew from the school, losing his $60,000 scholarship.”

7. Comings and Goings 

• NICHOLS - Dan Nagle stepped down as head women’s basketball coach. Named Ava Limoncello interim head coach

• WILLIAM SMITH - Named Rusty Virkler head flag football coach

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