The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team is getting set to host the defending National Champions on Saturday in the Division III playoffs.
The fourth-ranked Eagles get a quarterfinal game for the first time since 1996, when top-ranked North Central (12-0) heads to town for a noon kickoff at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The game will video stream on WKTY.
HOW TO STREAM UWL GAMES
Watch on ROKU or Apple TV by searching WKTY Sports.
Or stream on the WKTY website here or watch on the WKTY App.
Video stream is sponsored by La Crosse Bierhaus and Johnson Ops Tree Care
Tickets can only be purchased at the box office on game day beginning at 10:30 a.m. General admission costs $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and $4 for youth/student.
North Central has been ranked No. 1 all season. The Cardinals beat Trinity 71-28 last weekend, and Trinity defeated Hardin Simmons 20-6 in the playoff opener. That’s interesting, because Hardin Simmons is UW-L’s only loss, which came in Week 2, 28-21.
Brad Spencer is 27-0 in two seasons as the Cardinals’ head coach.
UW-L and North Central have met three times in history, including in 2021. That’s when the Cardinals beat the Eagles 34-20 in the second round of the playoffs on their way to a National Championship berth.
They lost that year, but did win it back in 2019, along with last season.
The Eagles (11-1) picked up their 10th consecutive victory Saturday with a 56-35 win over No. 12 Aurora, which is coached by Green Bay Packers wide receiver Don Beebe.
UW-L improved to 19-11 all-time in NCAA playoff history.
UW-L’s two National Championships came in 1992 and 1995. The Eagles have been to this point in the playoffs six times in school history, including 1991-93, and 1995-96.
This year’s national semifinals are set for Dec. 9 and the championship a week later at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia, on ESPNU.
TOP PHOTO: FILE – Gabe Lynch rushed for a playoff record 175 yards on 23 carries and added a touchdown in a Round 2 playoff win for UW-La Crosse on Nov. 25, 2023 (PHOTO: Jim Lund, UWL Athletics)