Black Hills State at nationally ranked Colorado School of Mines highlights RMAC’s second weekend
An early matchup of unbeaten teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings highlights the league’s Week 4 slate. Nationally ranked and overall unbeaten Colorado School of Mines, which survived a scare at Chadron State, hosts a Black Hills State squad that won its conference opener at Adams State last weekend.
Also leading the storylines in Week 4 are nationally ranked Western Colorado and CSU Pueblo, who are both on the road this Saturday. The Mountaineers travel to face New Mexico Highlands, while the ThunderWolves head west to face Adams State.
Elsewhere in the RMAC, Chadron State and Colorado Mesa square off, with each team seeking its first league win. South Dakota Mines and Fort Lewis wrap up the weekend as the Hardrockers seek to keep pace with the league-leading pace.
Week 4 Schedule
All games available on the RMAC Network!
| Saturday, Sept. 28 | |
| #14/13 Western Colorado (3-0, 1-0) at New Mexico Highlands (0-3, 0-1) | Noon |
| #22/24 CSU Pueblo (3-1, 2-0) at Adams State (0-3, 0-1) | 1 PM |
| Black Hills State (2-1, 1-0) at #4/7 Colorado School of Mines (3-0, 1-0) | 1 PM |
| Chadron State (1-2, 0-1) at Colorado Mesa (1-2, 0-1) | 1 PM |
| South Dakota Mines (2-2, 1-1) at Fort Lewis (1-2, 0-1) | 2 PM |
Rankings: AFCA Coaches
Lead Stories
Orediggers, ThunderWolves RMAC Win Streaks
- The Colorado School of Mines brings a 23-game RMAC win streak into Saturday’s tilt against Black Hills State – the longest conference win streak in Division II. Mines’ last RMAC loss was to Colorado Mesa, 26-21, on Oct. 23, 2021.
- Meanwhile, CSU Pueblo boasts a nine-game RMAC win streak, Division II’s fifth-longest conference win streak. The ThunderWolves’ last loss was to the Orediggers in Week 4 of the 2023 season – a 55-14 loss on Sept. 23.
- The two teams won’t meet until Nov. 9, when CSU Pueblo hosts Colorado School of Mines.
Other Streaky Notes
- Colorado School of Mines also owns Division II’s longest active home (17 games) and road winning streaks (13 games). However, the Orediggers needed an Evan Foster touchdown early in the third quarter and then a pair of defensive stands in the fourth to secure a 13-12 win at Chadron State last weekend.
- Black Hills State’s three-game home win streak is the second-longest in the RMAC. On the road, CSU Pueblo’s five-game streak is the second-longest.
Colorado School of Mines, Western Colorado, & CSU Pueblo in National Polls
- The AFCA Coaches Poll continued to have three RMAC teams among the Top 25 after Week 3. Western Colorado moved up to No. 14 this week while Colorado School of Mines (No. 4) and CSU Pueblo (No. 22) held steady.
- Over in the D2Football.com poll, CSU Pueblo rejoined the poll at No. 24 after dropping out the previous week, while Western Colorado moved up to No. 13. The Colorado School of Mines fell two spots to No. 7 after its narrow win at Chadron State.
Colorado School of Mines Tabbed as RMAC Preseason Favorite
- Colorado School of Mines received seven first-place votes and 79 points from the league’s 10 head coaches. Western Colorado was picked second with the remaining three first-place votes and 74 points.
Eight RMAC Student-Athletes on D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List
- Colorado School of Mines (4), CSU Pueblo (2), Western Colorado (1), and Chadron State (1) each had a representative on the list.
- Colorado School of Mines wide receiver Max McLeod, punter Blake Doud, and CSU Pueblo defensive back Daniel Bone III were first-team selections. Western Colorado linebacker Kendall Lightfoot was a second-team pick.
- CSU Pueblo wide receiver Reggie Ratzlaff, Colorado School of Mines offensive lineman Nic Van De Graaf, Chadron State defensive lineman Hunter O’Conner, and Colorado School of Mines defensive back Jackson Zimmerman were also listed in the organization’s Top 100.
