Carmel, Ind. - Historic rivalries, trophy games and a win-or-go-home game with postseason bowl implications headline the final weekend of HCAC football for the 2025 regular season.
Bowl Bid on the Line: Mount St. Joseph at Rose-Hulman
The first of the weekend’s marquee matchups sends the Mount St. Joseph Lions to Terre Haute to take on the Rose-Hulman Fightin’ Engineers — with a postseason invitation on the line. The Lions are 4-1 in HCAC play this season, while the Engineers have a 3-2 conference record.
The winner of this game will secure the HCAC’s bid to the Opendorse Bowl Series, hosted at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio on Saturday, November 22.
Official bowl selections, including the confirmation of the HCAC representative, game times and all four participating teams, will be announced Sunday, November 16 at 6:30 PM. Additional information about the Opendorse Bowl Series is detailed below.
The 95th Victory Bell Game: Franklin at Hanover
One of NCAA Division III’s oldest and most storied rivalries continues on Saturday as Franklin College and Hanover College meet at Hanover for the 95th Victory Bell Game.
The matchup features a compelling storyline: Franklin Head Coach Mike Leonard - ironically a Hanover graduate - makes his return to the sideline for the rivalry, where he holds a 13 - 2 career record against his alma mater. Hanover, winners of the last three meetings, leads the all-time series 48-43-3.
Hanover, the 2025 HCAC Football Champions, has also already clinched the HCAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. Their first-round opponent will be revealed by the NCAA on Sunday. But, in a rivalry game as intense as the Victory Bell no one expects that the Panthers will be looking past this weekend's game against the Grizzlies.
The Bronze Ball Game: Anderson vs. Manchester
The annual battle for the Bronze Ball kicks off at 1:30 PM in North Manchester, Indiana. While the annual game between the Anderson Ravens and Manchester Spartans is one of the conference's most historic rivalries, this year's contest features two teams both hunting for their first HCAC football victory of the season. Anderson claimed last year’s contest by a final score of 31–17.
Bluffton Heads Out of Conference
Capping off the HCAC action, the 5-4 (3-3 HCAC) Bluffton Beavers will travel to Marietta College (OAC) for an out-of-conference matchup. Kickoff for that matchup is scheduled for 2:00 PM.
Information on the 2025 Opendorse Bowl Series
Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Opendorse Bowl Series. Ticket prices are $20 for general admission and $45 for club seats. Tickets will be good for both games in the Opendorse Bowl Series, and are available online via Ticketmaster.
The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, the North Coast Athletic Conference, the Ohio Athletic Conference, and the Presidents’ Athletic Conference will each be represented by programs who do not qualify for the NCAA playoffs in a one-day, two-game series. The four teams that have qualified for the Opendorse Bowl Series will be announced on Sunday, November 16th at 6:30 PM. For more information, check out the Opendorse Bowl Series Homepage.
In last year's inaugural Opendorse Bowl Series, Hanover College from the HCAC defeated Wabash College from the NCAC 13-10 in the ForeverLawn Bowl. In the Extra Points Bowl, Westminster College from the PAC won by a 27-13 score over the OAC's Marietta College.
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For more information on HCAC Football, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on X and Instagram and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.