The Pioneer Football League Report: Week 3

Another 10 game slate in the PFL with 4 games against Top 25 FCS Teams

9/8/2025 7:32:09 PM

By: Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations Director

This Week's Schedule

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Kickoff (ET) Series History Streak Last Meeting
Davidson at #15/16 Tennessee Tech Noon 1st Meeting
Marist at Wagner 1 PM WC, 8-7 WC, W3 Wagner def. Marist, 21-14 (9/19/08)
St. Thomas at Northern Michigan 1 PM 1st Meeting
Butler at Hanover 1:30 PM BU, 22-1-1 BU, W10 Butler def. Hanover, 53-0 (9/14/24)
San Diego at #4/6 Montana State 3 PM MSU, 1-0 MSU, W1 Montana State def. San Diego, 52-10 (9/18/21)
Stetson at Chattanooga 6 PM 1st Meeting
Morehead State at #22/23 Austin Peay 7 PM MSU, 27-19 APSU, W4  Austin Peay def. Morehead State, 59-35 (9/18/21)
Erskine at Presbyterian 7 PM PC, 30-2-1 PC, W11 Presbyterian def. Erskine, 31-14 (9/7/24)
Drake at #2/2 South Dakota State 7 PM SDSU, 4-0 SDSU, W4 South Dakota def. Drake, 70-7 (9/16/23)
Valparaiso at Western Illinois 7 PM WIU, 2-0 WIU, W2 Western Illinois def. Valparaiso, 45-6 (8/28/14)

PFL Notes

  • For a second straight week, 10 of the league's teams will be in action, with only Dayton taking Week 3 off. The slate features four games against ranked opponents with Davidson, San Diego, Morehead State, and Drake all on the road against Top 25 teams.
  • With Presbyterian and San Diego's victories in Week 2, the PFL now has five wins against FCS opposition in 2025 with two weeks plus remaining in nonconference play. The five wins are the league's most since 2019 and a sixth win would be the league's most sine 2009. The league record for most wins against FCS teams in a season since 2000 is 10 set during the 2001 season.
  • Presbyterian's victory against nationally-ranked Mercer in Week 1 was the PFL's first win against a ranked FCS opponent since 2018, when Butler defeated Youngstown State to begin the season. San Diego's victory against Southern utah in Week 1 was the league's second against a Top 25 FCS foe. It is the first time the league has two wins against nationally-ranked opponents in the same season.
  • Four of the league's five new head coaches have recorded a win in their new home through two weeks. First, it was Drake's Joe Woodley and Valparaiso's Andy Waddle who picked up wins in their Week 1 debuts. Week 2 action saw Butler's Kevin Lynch and Stetson's Mike Jasper pick up their first victories.
  • Folowing a vote by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors in June,  St. Thomas has officially completed the reclassification process, making it an active member of NCAA Division I and eligible to compete in NCAA championships. The Tommies will compete for the PFL automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs for the first time this season.
  • Davidson senior running back Mari Adams and Drake senior linebacker Sean Allison are the PFL's representatives on the 2025 Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch Lists, respectively. Drake senior long snapper Brett Welsing joined Adams on the 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Teams.
  • Last season, PFL teams claimed four wins against their FCS scholarship counterparts. Butler (at Murray State), Dayton (vs. Saint Francis), Drake (at Eastern Washington), and San Diego (vs. Cal Poly). Those victories helped the league post its most wins against FCS nonconference teams since 2019.
  • Seven PFL alumni were on NFL 53-man rosters during Week 1. In addition, PFL alumni were on the rosters of the Canadian Football League and the United Football League during their respective 2025 seasons.