Venue & Game Details
Location: Kehres Stadium, Alliance, Ohio
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: FloSports (video), WRMU 91.1 FM & 1310 AM WDPN (radio), live stats via Mount Union Athletics
Capacity: ~5,600
Weather Forecast (Alliance, OH – Kickoff)
Conditions: Morning thunderstorms possible, clearing into partly cloudy skies by afternoon
Temperature: ~70°F (21°C)
Wind: W at 5–10 mph
Precipitation Chance: ~60% early, dropping through the day
Impact: Wet turf early could affect footing and ball security; wind light enough for minimal kicking impact
Injury Report
Wheaton (Ill.)
No major injuries reported from preseason; full roster expected
Mount Union
No significant absences; returning core from 2024 Stagg Bowl runner-up squad
Team Records & Standings
Wheaton Thunder: 0‑0 (2024: 9‑2, CCIW runner-up; losses to UW‑Oshkosh and North Central)
Mount Union Purple Raiders: 0‑0 (2024: 14‑1, OAC champion, national runner-up to North Central)
Recent Form (Last 5 Games – 2024 Season)
Wheaton
W vs. North Park 66‑14
W @ Millikin 64‑10
W vs. Elmhurst 65‑17
W @ WashU (St. Louis) 27‑20
W @ Carthage 50‑13
Mount Union
L vs. North Central 25‑41 (Stagg Bowl)
W vs. Johns Hopkins 45‑37 (Semifinal)
W @ Salisbury 38‑17 (Quarterfinal)
W vs. Carnegie Mellon 24‑19 (Second Round)
W vs. Johns Hopkins 42‑7 (First Round)
Key Player Matchups
QB Parker Navarro (Wheaton) vs. LB Mason McMillen (Mount Union)
Navarro’s dual-threat ability will test McMillen’s range and tackling in space.
RB Giovanni Weeks (Wheaton) vs. Mount Union Front Seven
Weeks’ vision and cutback ability against a defense that allowed under 80 rush yds/game in 2024.
WR Tyler Holte (Wheaton) vs. CB Dom Davis (Mount Union)
Holte’s route precision vs. Davis’ ball skills in man coverage.
QB Braxton Plunk (Mount Union) vs. Wheaton Secondary
Plunk, a multi-year starter, thrives on timing routes; Wheaton’s DBs must disrupt rhythm.
WRs Wayne Ruby & Edwin Reed (Mount Union) vs. Wheaton CBs
Ruby, the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy winner, is a matchup nightmare in the slot and deep.
Series History
All-Time: Mount Union leads 6‑0
All Meetings: NCAA Playoffs (1995–2008)
Last Meeting: Dec. 13, 2008 — Mount Union 45, Wheaton 24 (NCAA Semifinal)
Average Margin: Mount Union +23.5 points
Betting Trends
Mount Union: 31 OAC titles in last 32 years; 6‑0 ATS in last six vs. Wheaton (playoffs)
Wheaton: 4‑1 ATS in last five as double-digit underdog vs. non-conference ranked opponents
Under has hit in 4 of last 6 meetings (playoffs)
Mount Union 8‑0 at home in 2024; average margin +27.4
Game Outlook
This is a statement opportunity for both programs: Wheaton can prove it belongs in the national title conversation, while Mount Union aims to show it’s still the gold standard after last year’s runner-up finish. Expect the Purple Raiders to lean on Plunk-to-Ruby early, forcing Wheaton to open up offensively. The Thunder’s best chance is controlling tempo with Weeks on the ground and hitting chunk plays off play-action. History, depth, and home-field advantage tilt heavily toward Mount Union, but the first-half chess match could be closer than the final score suggests.
Game Odds
Wheaton (Ill.) Thunder 55.5
Mount Union Purple Raiders – 17.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
