If you were are hoping your team can get some help in getting into the NCAA playoffs as an at-large team, we got so close to being able to give you what you wanted on Saturday. But in the end, a few places where teams were on the ropes turned out to be all about chalk and we’ll all be holding our collective breath for another week of what should be epic games.

Maybe, just maybe teams got some help when the status quo was preserved in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and River Falls didn’t beat La Crosse and turn things into a potential mess. We chat with UWL coach Matt Janus and quarterback Keyser Helterbrand is our guest on Fast Five, talking about everything from playing behind a freshman backup center, to how he ended up at La Crosse in the first place and not some school closer to home.

We hear from Mount Union coach Geoff Dartt after his team got a comfortable win against John Carroll. It was perhaps Mount Union’s first big test of the year, and it didn’t come until Week 10, but it was a test which they passed. And Cortland aced the Empire 8 final, with Cortland turning the tables on Brockport and making its own defensive presence known.

This edition of the podcast is sponsored by d3photography.com, the licensed photography bureau contracted by D3sports.com.

Plus, we hand out game balls and spotlight the cool stats from Saturday and key stories in each region. Patrick gives us his take on the four at-large teams as the playoff picture stands right now. Greg predicts who will win the NJAC’s Friday night finales, and we break down the potential five-way tiebreaker in that conference. Yes, there is math. And bacon. And ginsu knives. And more.

Patrick Coleman and Greg Thomas discuss, in this edition of the podcast.

The D3football.com podcast is a weekly in-season podcast by Patrick Coleman and Greg Thomas, which was started in 2007.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.

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You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

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Theme music: Power 2 by DJmentos.
Photo: Darl Zehr Photography for Cortland athletics

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Greg Thomas starts off this podcast by quoting one of the famous philosophers of our time, and it is true about what point in the season we have reached. If you intend to play in the Stagg Bowl, just know that Week 8 is only the halfway point.

In a week where our panel finally grew weary of picking upsets that never came to fruition, Gustavus Adolphus provided a wake-up call for all sorts of people. We talk with coach Peter Haugen about the day and his team’s key players and key plays. And …

This edition of the podcast is sponsored by d3photography.com, the licensed photography bureau contracted by D3sports.com.

DePauw continues its unbeaten run through the season, but not without a little bit of drama to it. Pat and Greg delve into that game as well as UW-La Crosse holding off UW-Oshkosh and some of the amazingness that is La Crosse quarterback Keyser Helterbrand.

It’s Defense Week here at D3football.com, where you’ll see features on standout defensive players all week. But we also handed out two defensive game balls in this podcast.

Plus, what were the interesting stats of the week, and who was getting it done in Region 1, pulling through in Region 2, prompting glee in the 3, looking for more in the 4, showin’ some drive in the 5 and in the mix in the 6? Plus, are coaches shooting themselves in the foot for the future by relying on so many fifth-year seniors now? Patrick and Greg tackle that and more in this week’s podcast.

The D3football.com podcast is a weekly in-season podcast by Pat Coleman and Greg Thomas, which was started in 2007.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.

Full episode:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Here’s how to find us on some of the major podcasting apps:

• Apple Podcasts: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast
• iHeart Radio: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast
• Spotify: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast

Theme music: Power 2 by DJmentos.
Photo: Gustavus Adolphus athletics

UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls met in another of the big battles that should determine who goes to the playoffs out of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, whether it’s one, two or three teams. And even though one of the most decorated offensive players on the field was held in check — not to mention off the field — for the vast majority of the game, River Falls still had a shot at the end.

We chat with UW-Whitewater coach Jace Rindahl about his team, his fired-up sideline demeanor, his decision to start going for two in the second quarter and more in this week’s podcast. And Matt Walker of UW-River Falls talks about what’s still there for his Falcons to accomplish. But there’s more …

This edition of the podcast is sponsored by d3photography.com, the licensed photography bureau contracted by D3sports.com.

It was a big week for dreams getting crushed just a little bit as well this week. Washington U. had designs on getting into the D3football.com Top 25 (they were already ranked in the coaches poll) but fell at home to Augustana. Carleton fans were looking for a little respect up at St. John’s after a 5-0 start. And King’s took down Lebanon Valley, which had been riding high ever since Week 1 against Franklin & Marshall.

Plus, who got a game ball out of the CCIW? And the NESCAC? What were the interesting stats of the week, and who was having fun in Region 1, pulling through in Region 2, what’s to see in the 3, who’s looking for more in the 4, showin’ some drive in the 5 and got something to fix in the 6? Plus, how are the Top 25 voters looking at Hardin-Simmons? Patrick and Greg tackle that and more in this week’s podcast.

The D3football.com podcast is a weekly in-season podcast by Pat Coleman and Greg Thomas, which was started in 2007.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.

Full episode:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Here’s how to find us on some of the major podcasting apps:

• Apple Podcasts: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast
• iHeart Radio: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast
• Spotify: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast

Theme music: Power 2 by DJmentos.
Photos: Wade Gardner, d3photography.com (UW-Whitewater); Augustana athletics photo by Lisa Witkowski; King’s athletics