The third round of the 2025 NCAA Division III football playoffs delivers a compelling rematch between two undefeated conference champions: the No. 5-seeded Trinity (TX) Tigers (10-1, SCAC champions in their final season before realignment) and the No. 12-ranked Berry Vikings (10-1, SAA champions). Scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 1:00 PM CT, this home game for Trinity in San Antonio promises a clash of Texas grit and Georgia resilience. The Tigers, fresh off a hard-fought second-round win, host the Vikings, who advanced via a defensive masterclass. With Trinity’s high-powered offense facing Berry’s opportunistic defense, the winner secures a quarterfinal berth and a shot at the Stagg Bowl on January 4, 2026, in Canton, OH.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Trinity Football Stadium (formerly Steinke Field), San Antonio, Texas (Capacity: 6,200). This renovated facility, completed in 2023, sits on the Trinity University campus and has been a Tiger stronghold, boasting a 5-0 home record this season with opponents outscored 180-72 (36-14.4 PPG). Known for its intimate setup and vocal student section, “The Jungle,” it features artificial turf and LED lighting, creating an electric atmosphere under the Texas sun.
Kickoff: 1:00 PM CT (2:00 PM ET).
Broadcast/Stream: Live on ESPN+ with radio coverage on KTSA 550 AM (San Antonio) and local Berry affiliate WCLP 91.7 FM. Pre-game tailgates start at 10:00 AM CT, featuring food trucks and the Trinity Fightin’ Tigers Band.
Weather Forecast
San Antonio’s early December weather typically offers mild conditions ideal for football, and long-range models for game day align with historical norms. Drawing from AccuWeather, World-Weather.info, and National Weather Service projections (as of December 1, 2025):
High: 64°F (18°C).
Low: 42°F (6°C).
Conditions: Mostly sunny with light southwesterly winds at 5-8 mph. Chance of precipitation: 15% (brief afternoon shower possible, but dry overall). Feels-like temperatures in the low 60s will keep it comfortable for passing games, with no impact on footing or visibility. Perfect for Tiger fans in purple jerseys—minimal chill factor expected.
Injury Report
Both teams avoided major setbacks in the second round, entering with deep rotations. Updates from official team reports and press conferences (as of December 1, 2025):
Trinity (TX) Tigers:
Out: None reported; full health after the Hardin-Simmons win.
Questionable: RB Isaiah Branch (minor ankle sprain from Week 11; limited practice but cleared for contact Wednesday).
Probable: QB Hayden Randolph (full go after 280-yard performance last week) and all defensive starters.
Berry Vikings:
Out: OL Ethan Hayes (knee; sidelined since mid-October, but backups held firm vs. LaGrange).
Questionable: CB Marcus Lee (shoulder; day-to-day after a Q2 hit in the second round, 50/50 for kickoff).
Probable: QB Luke Stockseth (cleared post-200+ yd game) and LB Will Johnson (full participation despite a brief hand wrap). Coaches Michael Perron (Trinity) and Wayne Waldrop (Berry) stressed versatility in weekly updates, with no changes anticipated to starting lineups.
Key Player Matchups
Trinity’s pass-heavy attack (top-10 nationally at 290 yds/game) will probe Berry’s secondary, while the Vikings’ ground game tests the Tigers’ front. Pivotal one-on-one battles:
| Matchup | Trinity Player | Berry Player | Why It Matters |
| QB vs. Pass Rush | Hayden Randolph (Jr., QB): 2,650 pass yds, 24 TDs, 62% comp.; 320 rush yds, 4 TDs | Will Johnson (Sr., LB): 105 tackles, 11 TFL, 6 sacks | Randolph’s pocket presence (5 INTs all season) vs. Johnson’s blitzes (3 sacks in playoffs). If Johnson pressures, Berry could force TOs (+6 season margin). |
| RB vs. Front Seven | Isaiah Branch (So., RB): 950 rush yds, 12 TDs on 140 carries (6.8 YPC) | Nateiatto Wright (Jr., DE): 8 sacks, 15 TFL | Branch’s elusiveness (three 100+ yd games) challenges Wright’s edge speed. Berry allows 110 rush yds/game but excels in run defense (top-20 nationally). |
| WR vs. Secondary | Houston Hawkins (Jr., WR): 55 rec., 920 yds, 10 TDs | Marcus Lee (Jr., CB; if active): 4 INTs, 38 tackles | Hawkins’ route-running (four TDs in last five) vs. Lee’s ball skills (2 INTs in Oct. vs. Trinity). Berry’s secondary ranks top-15 in pass efficiency defense. |
| TE vs. LB | Cade Saxton (Sr., TE): 28 rec., 410 yds, 5 TDs | Caleb Haynes (So., LB): 92 tackles, 4 FF | Saxton’s red-zone reliability vs. Haynes’ coverage drops. Trinity’s TE usage could exploit Berry’s underneath zones. |
These duels spotlight Trinity’s scoring prowess (35.2 PPG) against Berry’s stingy D (16.9 PPG allowed).
Recent Team Forms
Trinity rides a seven-game win streak into the playoffs, while Berry has won six straight, blending offense and defense for late-season surge.
Trinity (TX) Tigers: Perfect in SCAC play (7-0), the Tigers tallied 386-178 (35.2-16.2 PPG), with playoff poise shining through. Recent highlights:
Nov. 29 (2nd Rd): 34-24 W vs. Hardin-Simmons—Randolph: 285 pass yds/2 TDs; defense held late with 2 INTs.
Nov. 15 (Reg. Finale): 42-17 W at Schreiner—Branch rushed for 120 yds/2 TDs in conference clincher.
Oct. 25: 38-21 W vs. Southwestern—Bounced from lone loss (to Berry) with 400+ total yds.
Form: WWWWW (last 5); +19 point differential; 6-1 in close games.
Berry Vikings: Undefeated in SAA (7-0) after a Week 3 stumble to Birmingham-Southern, scoring 28.4 PPG while limiting foes to 16.9. Road warriors in playoffs:
Nov. 29 (2nd Rd): 18-14 W at LaGrange—Stockseth: 210 pass yds/1 TD; defense forced 3 TOs in low-scoring grinder.
Nov. 8 (Reg. Finale): 31-10 W vs. Sewanee—Rushed for 160 yds, shutout after halftime.
Oct. 18: 27-20 W at Rhodes—Overcame early deficit with special teams plays.
Form: WWWWW (last 5); +11.5 point differential; 5-0 on the road.
Conference vs. Conference: SCAC vs. SAA
This matchup bridges the physical, Texas-centric Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) with the balanced, Southern Athletic Association (SAA). The SCAC, wrapping its football era before Trinity/Southwestern’s 2026 SAA move, sent two playoff teams (Trinity, #20 Texas Lutheran) and favors run-first schemes—Trinity’s 210 rush yds/game exemplifies the grind. Historically, SCAC squads hold a 22-15 edge over SAA teams since 2015, with a +8.2 margin in crossovers.
The SAA, rising to No. 5 in 2025 D3 rankings post-realignment, features Berry’s versatile attack (250 total yds/game) and top-tier defenses (conference-low 16 PPG allowed). It produced three playoff qualifiers (Berry, #8 Birmingham-Southern, #16 Sewanee) and emphasizes adaptability, but lags in non-con wins (12-18 vs. SCAC’s 18-12). This stylistic blend—SCAC power vs. SAA precision—could favor Trinity’s home trenches.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Conference Record | PF/PA | National Rank (D3Football.com) |
| Trinity (TX) Tigers | 10-1 | 7-0 (SCAC Champs) | 35.2 / 16.2 | #5 (Off: #8; Def: #12) |
| Berry Vikings | 10-1 | 7-0 (SAA Champs) | 28.4 / 16.9 | #12 (Off: #22; Def: #9) |
Trinity eyes its first national title since 2007; Berry chases a second straight Final Four.
Series History
These recent SAA rivals have met twice since 2024, splitting decisions in high-stakes thrillers. No prior history before Berry’s SAA entry:
Oct. 11, 2025 (SAA): Berry 29-6—Vikings’ defense dominated with 4 sacks; Trinity managed 189 total yds.
Oct. 26, 2024 (SAA): Trinity 38-35—Thrilling OT win on a late FG; combined 72 points. Trinity is 1-0 at home vs. Berry; average score: 33.5-22.5. Berry’s road upset earlier this year adds revenge intrigue for the Tigers.
Betting Trends
Trinity: 7-4 ATS overall; 6-1 O/U at home (offensive explosions). 5-2 ATS as favorites; public 65% on Tigers.
Berry: 8-3 ATS as underdogs; 4-2 O/U on road but 2-4 ATS vs. top-10 teams. Vikings 6-1 SU in last 7 but 3-4 ATS in playoffs.
Head-to-Head: Split 1-1 SU/ATS; both games over (avg. total: 55 pts). Trends point to a Trinity cover with over potential in a rematch shootout.
Historical Betting Results (Series Games)
| Date | Result | Spread | ATS Winner | Total (O/U) |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | Berry 29-6 | Berry -2 | Berry | 35 (Under 50) |
| Oct. 26, 2024 | Trinity 38-35 | Trinity -3 | Push | 73 (Over 52) |
Even ATS; 1-1 Over/Under.
Final Prediction: Trinity 27, Berry 20
Game Odds
Trinity (TX) Tigers – 4.5
Berry Vikings 48.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 5, 2025
