Colorado School of Mines at West Texas A&M
>> Time, date, place: 7 p.m. Thursday, Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, Canyon
>> Records: Colorado School of Mines 0-0; West Texas A&M 0-1
>> Last Week: Colorado School of Mines did not play; Western Colorado 45, West Texas A&M 28
>> Last season: Colorado School of Mines 41, West Texas A&M 13
>> Notes: It’s the season opener for the Orediggers as Colorado School of Mines comes off an 8-3 season that saw the team just barely miss the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Orediggers look to return to the postseason after making a run to the national championship in 2023 … West Texas A&M plays its home opener after losing to a nationally-ranked Western Colorado team. The Buffaloes get another tough challenge from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference this week.
Western New Mexico at New Mexico Highlands
>> Time, date, place: 2 p.m. Saturday, Sanchez Family Field, Las Vegas, N.M.
>> Records: Western New Mexico 1-0; Western New Mexico 1-0
>> Last Week: Western New Mexico 35, Adams State 21; New Mexico Highlands 34, Eastern New Mexico 28
>> Last season: Western New Mexico 36, New Mexico Highlands 33
>> Notes: Western New Mexico won the bragging rights last year and this year, the Mustangs are coming off a rare Week 1 victory. A win for Western New Mexico would be the team’s first 2-0 start since 2005 … New Mexico Highlands is also coming off an impressive season-opening win, defeating Eastern New Mexico last week in Portales, N.M. in the Cowboys’ first win against the Greyhounds since 2013.
Southern Oregon at Western Oregon
>> Time, date, place: 3:05 p.m. McArthur Field, Monmouth, Ore.
>> Records: Southern Oregon 1-0; Western Oregon 0-0
>> Last Week: Southern Oregon 59; Simpson 0; Western Oregon did not play.
>> Last season: Did not play.
>> Notes: Southern Oregon, which plays at the NAIA level, had no trouble in last week’s season opener at home. The Raiders will get a much tougher challenge this week on the road … Western Oregon begins its season, looking to capitalize off a promising 2024 in which the Wolves went 6-5 in the team’s second winning season in this decade.
Emporia State at Angelo State
>> Time, date, place: 6 p.m., Saturday, LeGrand Stadium, San Angelo
>> Records: Emporia State 1-0; Angelo State 1-0
>> Last Week: Emporia State 27, Minot State 7; Angelo State 28, Fort Hays State 7
>> Last season: Emporia State 17, Angelo State 12
>> Notes: The Hornets get their second consecutive nonconference game, this time against a Lone Star Conference opponent. ESU quarterback Ben Harris passed for 292 yards and two touchdowns in the Hornets’ victory against Minot State … Angelo State helped the Lone Star Conference go 2-1 against the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) in last week’s win at Fort Hays State. Quarterback Braeden Fuller threw for 177 yards and three touchdowns.
Eastern New Mexico at Colorado Mesa
>> Time, date, place: 7 p.m. Saturday, Stocker Stadium, Grand Junction, Colo.
>> Records: Eastern New Mexico 0-1; Colorado Mesa 0-1
>> Last Week: New Mexico Highlands 34, Eastern New Mexico 28; Central Washington 41, Colorado Mesa 14
>> Last season: Did not play.
>> Notes: The Greyhounds began the season on a less-than-ideal note, losing to New Mexico Highlands. Things don’t get any easier as Eastern New Mexico face a tough team from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference … Colorado Mesa is also coming off a frustrating Week 1.
UTPB at Adams State
>> Time, date, place: 7 p.m., Rex Stadium, Alamosa, Colo.
>> Records: UTPB 1-0; Adams State 0-1
>> Last Week: UTPB 34, Central Oklahoma 14; Western New Mexico 35, Adams State 21
>> Last season: UTPB 67, Adams State 14
>> Notes: UTPB defeated No. 5 Central Oklahoma, the Falcons highest-ranked win in program history. Tristan Exline led the Falcons in tackles with nine total tackles and a sack in UTPB’s win. The Falcons are now ranked No. 21 … Adams State’s losing streak is at 18 games. It’s not going to get any easier for the Grizzlies as they go from playing Western New Mexico to a team that can contend for the Lone Star Conference.
Western Colorado at Midwestern State
>> Time, date, place: 7 p.m. Saturday, Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls
>> Records: Western Colorado 1-0; Midwestern State 0-1
>> Last Week: Western Colorado 45, West Texas A&M 28; Missouri Southern State 33, Midwestern State 19
>> Last season: Western Colorado 38, Midwestern State 33
>> Notes: The No. 8 Mountaineers were given a bigger challenge than expected by West Texas A&M last week as Western Colorado needed a 50-yard touchdown run by Gabe Schubarth in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach … Midwestern State was the only Lone Star Conference team to lose to an MIAA school and it was a Missouri Southern State team that was picked to finish last in the conference. Either the Lions are better than expected or this is going to be a long season for the Mustangs.
Lincoln (Calif.) at Texas A&M-Kingsville
>> Time, date, place: 7 p.m. Javelina Stadium, Kingsville
>> Records: Lincoln (Calif.) 0-1; Texas A&M-Kingsville 0-0
>> Last Week: Lincoln (Mo.) 55, Lincoln (Calif.) 6; Texas A&M-Kingsville did not play.
>> Last season: Did not play.
>> Notes: in the battle of the Lincolns, Lincoln (Calif.) lost to Lincoln (Mo.) 55-6 in Jefferson City, Mo. last week. The Raiders only managed 147 total yards against the Blue Tigers … Texas A&M-Kingsville looks to begin its season on a strong note. The Javelinas are coming off a 7-4 season.
Central Washington at Montana
>> Time, date, place: 7 p.m. Saturday, Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Mont.
>> Records: Central Washington 1-0; Montana 0-0
>> Last week: Central Washington 41, Colorado Mesa 14
>> Last season: Did not play.
>> Notes: No. 18 Central Washington had nothing negative from the team’s season-opening win against Colorado Mesa. The Wildcats’ quarterback Kennedy Mcgill threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s victory … Montana opens the season ranked No. 10 in the FCS.
