GRR: Great Midwest
The men's DII college season was marked by the emergence and growth of several varsity and school-supported programs, and that emergence might obscure the accomplishments of some of the more traditional club teams.
In a tight, hugely physical match that lived up to expectations, Illinois State held off a determined Northern Iowa team 27-23 to win the Great Midwest.
Both teams move on to the national playoffs and both will take Round of 16 berths. but ISU gets the bigger trophy.
Marquette defeated Wisconsin-Whitewater in relatively emphatic fashion 54-22 to finish 3rd in the Great Midwest and book a spot in the NCR D2 playoffs.
The South division of the Great Midwest Conference shook things up with Northern Iowa and Illinois State both winning semifinals Saturday.
That sets up a championship final November 6 in Cottage Grove, Wisc., while Wisconsin-Whitewater and Marquette will battle for this.
Marquette kept up their winning ways with a comprehensive defeat of UW-Milwaukee (59-12) to finish the regular season 4-0.
Also winning were Northern Iowa, 55-16 over Loyola, Northwestern 43-0 over Illinois-Chicago, and UW-Whitewater, 43-0 over Northern Michigan.