Week 12: Conference by Conference Breakdown
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2025 9:33 pm
Big Sky
NOCO 7-27 EWU
UMT 63-17 PORTST
IDA 20-23 SAC
WEB 3-31 IDST
CP 27-35 NAU
UCD 17-38 MTST
Southland
HCU 32-37 ETAMU
LAM 15-26 SFA
SELU 10-7 UIW
UTRGV 28-13 MCNSE
NWST 21-26 NICH
Missouri Valley
UNI 16-48 NDSU
ILST 35-21 SDKST
SDK 53-51 SIU (5OT)
INST 29-48 YSU
UND 35-17 MUR
United
UCA 21-28 SUU
UNA 0-61 TARL
UTU 0-23 UWG
ACU 17-10 EKU
SAM 16-30 AP
Pioneer
BUT 7-29 USD
PRESBY 23-9 STTHOM
STET 31-32 VALPO (OT)
DRAKE 14-6 DAY
DVDSN 10-37 MARIST
NOCO 7-27 EWU
UMT 63-17 PORTST
IDA 20-23 SAC
WEB 3-31 IDST
CP 27-35 NAU
UCD 17-38 MTST
- NConf Record: 0-0
Overall: 23-24
vs. FCS: 0-0
Overall: 19-9
Best Performance: (#2) Montana St. 38, (#9) UC Davis 17 - Bobcat SS Caden Dowler (Taco’s twin brother) had a monster game, putting up 12 tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup, and 2 interceptions returned for a total of 116 yards (1 TD).
Worst Performance: Weber St. 3, Idaho St. 31 - Not only was this the first time Weber had lost consecutive games to Idaho State since 1983-84, this was also the first time the Bengals had allowed single digits to a DI opponent since they shut out Weber 23 years ago.
Most Surprising Result: (none)
Southland
HCU 32-37 ETAMU
LAM 15-26 SFA
SELU 10-7 UIW
UTRGV 28-13 MCNSE
NWST 21-26 NICH
- NConf Record: 0-0
Overall: 16-24
vs. FCS: 0-0
Overall: 10-10
Best Performance: (#11) Stephen F. Austin 26, (#19) Lamar 15 - With QB Sam Vidlak mostly absent due to injury, the Lumberjacks still clinched the Southland title thanks to a strong defensive performance that included 17 QB hurries.
Worst Performance: Houston Christian 32, East Texas A&M 37 - The Huskies won turnovers 3-1 and narrowly won yardage and still couldn’t come away with a victory.
Most Surprising Result: Northwestern St. 21, Nicholls St. 26 - This was the Demons’ 23rd. straight conference loss (18th. if you don’t count the 2023 forfeits), but playing a not-horrible team close might be a positive sign of improvement.
Missouri Valley
UNI 16-48 NDSU
ILST 35-21 SDKST
SDK 53-51 SIU (5OT)
INST 29-48 YSU
UND 35-17 MUR
- NConf Record: 0-0
Overall: 24-15
vs. FCS: 0-0
Overall: 22-6
Best Performance: (#14) Illinois St. 35, (#20) South Dakota St. 21 - Not scoring any points over the last 40 minutes of the game wasn’t nearly enough to prevent the Redbirds from winning their 4th. in a row.
Worst Performance: (#20) South Dakota St. 21, (#14) Illinois St. 35 - Falling to a third-string QB can derail even the best of teams as Jackrabbit third stringer Jack Henry—who has played the bulk of SDSU’s 4-game losing streak—has a lousy 101.3 passing-efficiency rating (52/89, 471 yards, 2 TDs, 4 INTs).
Most Surprising Result: (#23) Southern Illinois 51, (#17) South Dakota 53 (5OT) - The Salukis blew a 17-point second-half lead and allowed their playoff hopes to come down to a two-point-conversion crapshoot.
United
UCA 21-28 SUU
UNA 0-61 TARL
UTU 0-23 UWG
ACU 17-10 EKU
SAM 16-30 AP
- NConf Record: 1-0
Overall: 17-18
vs. FCS: 1-0
Overall: 14-11
Best Performance: (#6) Tarleton St. 61, North Alabama 0 - The Texans continue to dominate as they outgain the Lions 500-150 and force 6 turnovers.
Worst Performance: Utah Tech 0, West Georgia 23 - The Blazers are shut out by an opponent that peaked in September.
Most Surprising Result: (none)
Pioneer
BUT 7-29 USD
PRESBY 23-9 STTHOM
STET 31-32 VALPO (OT)
DRAKE 14-6 DAY
DVDSN 10-37 MARIST
- NConf Record: 0-0
Overall: 20-21
vs. FCS: 0-0
Overall: 8-19
Best Performance: Presbyterian 23, St. Thomas 9 - Collin Hurst’s return at QB certainly helped, but the real story was a Blue Hose defense that forced 3 turnovers and held the Tommies to 179 total yards.
Worst Performance: Stetson 31, Valparaiso 32 (OT) - The Hatters blow a 24-0 lead and end Valpo’s 9-game losing streak.
Most Surprising Result: Drake 14, Dayton 6 - Our hopes for Pioneer League chaos are ruined as Morehead State is now the only thing standing between the Bulldogs and an outright PFL title.
Tomorrow: the rest of the playoff conferences.