... of the great things about "small program" college football is the fact that opening week games can be just as important as some games down the stretch.

While the other divisions are certainly catching on to this trend (evidenced by this year's FBS opening week tilt between Boise State and Virginia Tech), it has always been a staple of Division II.

The opening barrage of games in D-II this year featured a titanic matchup of two top five teams: No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth and No. 5 Central Washington.

UMD, the 2008 Division II National Champion, was knocked off last season by eventual runners-up Grand Valley State. The opening game ...

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