By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –  A pair of in-state rivalries highlight Week 5 action in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the third week of the league’s 10-week conference slate.

In Colorado, the nationally ranked Colorado School of Mines travels to Colorado Mesa for the 14th meeting of the Nyikos Cup, named after Dr. Michael Nykios, a longtime faculty member and supporter of both programs. The Orediggers lead the Cup series, 9-4, including winning last season’s meeting. This season’s meeting is the 48th all-time between the programs, with the Mavericks claiming a 31-16 advantage.

Meanwhile, the 139th meeting in the Black Hills Brawl is set for Saturday when Black Hills State travels to South Dakota Mines. The series was first played in 1895 and is the oldest rivalry in Division II, and the fourth-most played rivalry in any division behind only Harvard-Yale (“The Game”), Princeton-Yale, and Lehigh-Lafayette (“The Rivalry”). The Hardrockers lead the series 66-60-11.

Across the RMAC, Adams State travels to Chadron State for Saturday’s opener, with each team seeking its first league win. New Mexico Highlands travels up Interstate 25 to face nationally-ranked CSU Pueblo. Fort Lewis and nationally-ranked Western Colorado wrap up the weekend’s slate.

Week 5 Schedule

All games are on the RMAC Network!

Saturday, Oct. 5
Adams State at Chadron State	Noon
#4/7 Colorado School of Mines at Colorado Mesa	1 p.m.
New Mexico Highlands at #18/19 CSU Pueblo	2 p.m.
Black Hills State at South Dakota Mines	5 p.m.
Fort Lewis at #13/12 Western Colorado	6 p.m.

Rankings: AFCA Coaches Poll/D2Football.com Poll

Lead Stories

19 Perfect Teams Remain in Division II

Only 19 Division II teams, including RMAC members Colorado School of Mines (4-0) and Western Colorado (4-0), enter this weekend's action with unblemished records. The list of teams with only one blemish (a tie or a loss) includes 54 of the division’s 159 teams, with the RMAC’s CSU Pueblo (4-1) among them.

Orediggers, ThunderWolves RMAC Win Streaks

• The Colorado School of Mines brings a 24-game RMAC win streak into Saturday’s tilt at Colorado Mesa – the longest conference win streak in Division II. Mines’ last RMAC loss was to Colorado Mesa, 26-21, on Oct. 23, 2021.
• Meanwhile, CSU Pueblo boasts a 10-game RMAC win streak, Division II’s fifth-longest conference win streak. The ThunderWolves' last loss was to the Orediggers in Week 4 of the 2023 season – a 55-14 loss on Sept. 23.
• The two teams won’t meet until Nov. 9, when CSU Pueblo hosts the Colorado School of Mines.

Other Streaky Notes

• Colorado School of Mines also owns Division II’s longest active home (18 games) and road winning streaks (13 games).
• Black Hills State’s three-game home win streak is the second-longest in the RMAC. On the road, CSU Pueblo’s six-game streak is the league’s second-longest.

Colorado School of Mines, Western Colorado, & CSU Pueblo in National Polls

• The AFCA Coaches Poll continued to have three RMAC teams among the Top 25 after Week 4. CSU Pueblo made the biggest move among the three this week, jumping to No. 18 after being ranked No. 22 last week. The Colorado School of Mines continues to be ranked No. 4, while Western Colorado moved up one spot to No. 13.
• Over in the D2Football.com poll, CSU Pueblo moved into the Top 20 (No. 19) after rejoining the poll last week. Similar to the coaches poll, Western Colorado moved up one spot (No. 12), and Colorado School of Mines held steady (No. 7).

Colorado School of Mines Tabbed as RMAC Preseason Favorite

• Colorado School of Mines received seven first-place votes and 79 points from the league’s 10 head coaches. Western Colorado was picked second with the remaining three first-place votes and 74 points.

Eight RMAC Student-Athletes on D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List

• Colorado School of Mines (4), CSU Pueblo (2), Western Colorado (1), and Chadron State (1) each had a representative on the list.
• Colorado School of Mines wide receiver Max McLeod, punter Blake Doud, and CSU Pueblo defensive back Daniel Bone III were first-team selections. Western Colorado linebacker Kendall Lightfoot was a second-team pick.
• CSU Pueblo wide receiver Reggie Ratzlaff, Colorado School of Mines offensive lineman Nic Van De Graaf, Chadron State defensive lineman Hunter O’Conner, and Colorado School of Mines defensive back Jackson Zimmerman were also listed in the organization’s Top 100.

About the RMAC
The RMAC is a premier NCAA Division II conference, located in Colorado Springs, Colo., with 15 member institutions. The RMAC sponsors 22 varsity NCAA sports and has produced 65 NCAA Division II national champions and 54 national runners-up since 1992.