The third round of the 2025 NCAA Division III football playoffs features a highly anticipated rematch between two Ohio powerhouses: the top-seeded Mount Union Purple Raiders (12-0) and the No. 9-ranked John Carroll Blue Streaks (10-1). This clash, set for Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET, pits the undefeated defending conference champions against a surging Blue Streaks squad seeking redemption after a lopsided loss to Mount Union in last year’s playoffs. With Mount Union hosting in the familiar confines of their home stadium, this game carries extra weight as a battle of former Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) rivals—now separated by conference realignment but united by playoff destiny. The winner advances to the quarterfinals, one step closer to a potential trip to the Stagg Bowl in late December.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Mount Union Stadium, Alliance, Ohio (Capacity: 5,600). This historic venue, the oldest continuously used college football stadium in Ohio (dating back to 1913), provides a compact, raucous atmosphere that amplifies Mount Union’s home-field advantage. The Purple Raiders have gone 6-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents by an average of 42-14.
Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET.
Broadcast/Stream: Live on ESPN+ with radio coverage on the Mount Union Sports Network (102.5 FM) and John Carroll’s JCU Radio (88.9 FM).
Weather Forecast
Alliance in early December can be unpredictable, but the forecast for game day calls for seasonably cool conditions favoring a crisp, pass-friendly afternoon. According to extended models from The Weather Channel and the National Weather Service:
High: 38°F (3°C).
Low: 28°F (-2°C).
Conditions: Mostly sunny with light winds from the northwest at 5-10 mph. Chance of precipitation: 10% (no snow or rain expected). Winds could chill feels-like temperatures to the low 20s, potentially impacting deep kicks and field goals, but clear skies should keep the turf playable without delays. Dress in layers—Raider Nation’s purple-and-white faithful are known for braving the cold.
Injury Report
Both teams enter relatively healthy after byes in the first round and strong second-round performances, but a few key absences could tilt the scales. Updates as of December 1, 2025:
Mount Union Purple Raiders:
Out: None major reported. The team has been plagued by minor dings throughout the season but enters playoffs at full strength.
Questionable: WR Cade Whalen (hamstring tweak from Week 11; limited practice this week but expected to play).
Probable: All starters, including QB Mikey Maloney (fully cleared after a minor ankle roll in the second round).
John Carroll Blue Streaks:
Out: OL Jack Foley (knee; season-ending injury from mid-November, forcing a shuffle on the line). This has been a lingering issue, with a backup stepping up effectively in the second round.
Questionable: LB Connor May (concussion protocol from the Randolph-Macon game; day-to-day but trending toward playing).
Probable: QB Evan Semptimphelter (cleared after a brief hand wrap in Week 12) and TE Nick Tanner (full go post-touchdown heroics vs. Randolph-Macon). Coaches Geoff Dartt (Mount Union) and Rick Finotti (John Carroll) emphasized depth in midweek pressers, with no major disruptions expected to alter game plans.
Key Player Matchups
This rematch will hinge on explosive individual battles, where Mount Union’s balanced attack tests John Carroll’s opportunistic defense. Here are the headliners:
| Matchup | Mount Union Player | John Carroll Player | Why It Matters |
| QB vs. Pass Rush | Mikey Maloney (Sr., QB): 2,237 pass yds, 27 TDs, 158/229 comp.; 391 rush yds, 8 TDs | Connor May (Jr., LB; if active): 89 tackles, 12 TFL, 5 sacks | Maloney’s dual-threat mobility (69% completion rate) faces May’s blitz-heavy scheme. If May sits, Maloney could exploit gaps for 250+ total yards. |
| RB vs. Front Seven | Darnell Williams (Jr., RB): 1,004 rush yds, 10 TDs on 131 carries (7.7 YPC) | Christian Dixon (Sr., LB): 112 tackles, 8.5 TFL | Williams’ breakaway speed (four 100+ yd games) vs. Dixon’s run-stuffing prowess. John Carroll allows just 98 rush yds/game but struggled vs. power backs. |
| WR vs. Secondary | Davion Grant (So., WR): 48 rec., 812 yds, 12 TDs | Devin Hemperly (Sr., CB): 5 INTs, 42 tackles | Grant’s contested-catch ability (three TDs in playoffs already) tests Hemperly’s ball-hawking (league-high INT rate). A big day from Grant could open the underneath for Maloney. |
| TE vs. Box Safety | Cade Whalen (Jr., TE; if available): 32 rec., 456 yds, 5 TDs | Jake Corrigan (Jr., S): 67 tackles, 3 INTs | Whalen’s red-zone mismatch vs. Corrigan’s sure tackling. John Carroll’s secondary ranks top-10 nationally in pass defense (162 yds allowed/game). |
These battles underscore Mount Union’s offensive firepower (38.2 PPG) against John Carroll’s bend-but-don’t-break D (18.4 PPG allowed).
Recent Team Forms
Both squads are peaking at the right time, with Mount Union extending a dominant streak and John Carroll building momentum through realignment adversity.
Mount Union Purple Raiders: On a 12-game win streak dating back to 2024, the Raiders have been a juggernaut, outscoring foes 459-168 overall (38.2-14.0 PPG). Recent highlights:
Nov. 29 (2nd Rd): 45-20 W vs. Muhlenberg—Maloney threw for 280 yds/3 TDs; Williams rushed for 142.
Nov. 16 (Reg. Season Finale): 52-7 W vs. Otterbein—Total team shutout after halftime.
Oct. 25: 41-10 W at #18 John Carroll rival (non-conference tune-up)—Snapped any complacency early. Form: WWWWW (last 5); 8-0 OAC, +24.2 point differential.
John Carroll Blue Streaks: Winners of 9 straight after a 24-21 season-opening loss to #4 Susquehanna, the Streaks have thrived in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), scoring 32.1 PPG while holding opponents to 16.8. Recent surge:
Nov. 29 (2nd Rd): 35-6 W vs. #20 Randolph-Macon—Semptimphelter: 245 pass yds/2 TDs; defense forced 3 TOs in a shutout after Q1.
Nov. 9 (Reg. Season Finale): 38-14 W vs. DePauw—Rushed for 220 yds in rainy conditions.
Oct. 26: 31-17 W at Wittenberg—Bounced back from a mid-season hiccup with balanced attack.
Form: WWWWW (last 5); 8-0 NCAC, +15.3 point differential. Their playoff run marks the first since 2018.
Conference vs. Conference: OAC vs. NCAC
This matchup symbolizes shifting rivalries. Mount Union remains the OAC’s gold standard (36 titles all-time, 4 straight entering 2025), boasting a league that produced three playoff teams this year (Mount Union, #15 Otterbein, #22 Baldwin Wallace). The OAC emphasizes run-heavy, physical play—Mount Union’s 245 rush yds/game exemplifies this grind.
John Carroll, fresh off a 2025 move to the NCAC after a storied OAC tenure (4 titles), has adapted seamlessly, going undefeated in league play and outscoring NCAC foes 32-12 on average. The NCAC leans pass-oriented, suiting the Streaks’ aerial attack (Semptimphelter: 2,800+ yds). Historically, OAC teams hold a 28-12 edge over NCAC squads in crossovers since 2010, but John Carroll’s 8-0 debut season flips the script—expect a stylistic clash of OAC power vs. NCAC precision.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Conference Record | PF/PA | National Rank (STATS) |
| Mount Union Purple Raiders | 12-0 | 8-0 (OAC Champs) | 38.2 / 14.0 | #1 (Off: #3; Def: #8) |
| John Carroll Blue Streaks | 10-1 | 8-0 (NCAC Champs) | 32.1 / 16.8 | #9 (Off: #12; Def: #15) |
Mount Union seeks a 14th national title (13 all-time); John Carroll chases its first Final Four since 2016.
Series History
These former OAC foes have met 39 times since 1923, with Mount Union dominating the ledger (34-3-2 all-time). The Purple Raiders have won the last eight encounters, including playoff thrillers. Key games:
Nov. 30, 2024 (DIII Playoffs, 2nd Rd): Mount Union 42-7—Raiders rolled with 380 total yds; Streaks managed just 189.
Nov. 4, 2023 (OAC): Mount Union 49-14—Maloney’s debut explosion (300+ yds) overwhelmed JCU’s secondary.
Nov. 12, 2016 (OAC): John Carroll 31-28—Streaks’ iconic upset ended Mount Union’s 112-game conference win streak. Mount Union is 20-1 at home vs. JCU; average score in last 5: 38-15.
Betting Trends
Mount Union: 9-3 ATS in last 12 home games; 8-2-1 O/U in playoffs (leaning over in high-scoring home wins). Public 72% on Raiders to cover.
John Carroll: 7-4 ATS as underdogs; 6-1 O/U in road wins but 0-3 ATS vs. top-5 teams. Streaks are 5-1 straight-up in playoffs historically but 1-4 ATS.
Head-to-Head: Mount Union 6-2 ATS in last 8 vs. JCU; series games hit over in 5 of last 7 (avg. total: 54 pts). Trends favor a Raiders cover but with total risk—John Carroll’s D caps explosive scores.
Historical Betting Results (Last 5 Series Games)
| Date | Result | Spread | ATS Winner | Total (O/U) |
| Nov. 30, 2024 | MU 42-7 | MU -14 | MU | 49 (Under 56) |
| Nov. 4, 2023 | MU 49-14 | MU -12.5 | MU | 63 (Over 52) |
| Nov. 11, 2017 | MU 31-27 | MU -7 | JCU | 58 (Over 54) |
| Nov. 12, 2016 | JCU 31-28 | MU -3.5 | JCU | 59 (Over 52) |
| Oct. 31, 2015 | MU 35-21 | MU -10 | MU | 56 (Over 51) |
Mount Union 4-1 ATS; 4-1 Over.
Final Prediction: Mount Union 34, John Carroll 20
Game Odds
Mount Union Purple Raiders – 10.5
John Carroll Blue Streaks 54
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 5, 2025
