Titans Host Muskies In NCAA Postseason Opener

Nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh begins its third consecutive and fourth overall trip to the NCAA Division III Football Championship by hosting Lakeland University on Saturday (Nov. 18). Kickoff is set for noon at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

UW-Oshkosh (9-0), which reached the title game of last year's Division III Championship, is ranked third in the country by D3football.com.

The Titans, who earned the WIAC's automatic berth to the 32-team national tournament, will be the league's lone representative in this year's NCAA postseason. UW-Oshkosh completed the sixth perfect WIAC season in the program's 123-year history by securing the outright conference title with a 7-0 record.

The Titans own a 9-3 record in three previous Division III Championship appearances. UW-Oshkosh also advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA postseason in 2012 and to the quarterfinal round in 2015. The Titans' .750 winning percentage in Division III Championship play is third-best in history.

Lakeland University (8-2) secured an automatic berth to the national tournament by winning the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) title with a 6-0 record.

The Muskies are winless in four prior trips to the Division III Championship, suffering first-round setbacks in 2005, 2009, 2015 and 2016.

UW-Oshkosh won its last meeting with Lakeland University, 62-7, on Sept. 15, 2007, in Oshkosh.

Saturday's matchup between the teams will feature two of the most potent offenses in the country as Lakeland University ranks fifth nationally with 46.5 points per game while UW-Oshkosh is scoring at 39.7 points per contest.

The winner between the Titans and the Muskies will play in the second round on Nov. 25 against the victor of Saint John's University (Minn.) (9-1) at North Central College (Ill.) (9-1).

Division III Championship third round contests will be held Dec. 2 and the national semifinal round games will be conducted Dec. 9. The 2017 national championship game is set for Dec. 15 in Salem, Va.

The Titans fell, 10-7, to University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) in last year's national title game in Salem.

Ticket prices for Saturday's game between UW-Oshkosh and Lakeland University are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens (55 or older) and $6 for students (K-12 & College). Children under the age of 5 will be admitted free.

UW-Oshkosh's Division of Student Affairs will distribute 250 free tickets to UW-Oshkosh students. Tickets can be picked up from the UW-Oshkosh Athletics Office in Kolf Sports Center beginning at noon Monday (Nov. 12). UW-Oshkosh students must present a valid Titan ID Card to obtain a ticket.

2017 NCAA Division III Football Championship Selection Announcement