By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications

Week Zero Schedule

Saturday, August 28
Colorado Mesa at (21/—) Central Washington	1 p.m.	FloCollege
New Mexico Highlands at Eastern New Mexico	6 p.m.	FloCollege
South Dakota Mines at (6/7) CSU Pueblo	6 p.m.	RMAC Network
West Texas A&M at (10/8) Western Colorado	6 p.m.	RMAC Network
Sioux Falls at Black Hills State	6 p.m.	RMAC Network
Saturday, August 30
William Jewell at Fort Lewis	Noon	RMAC Network
Chadron State at Northern Colorado	1 p.m.	ESPN+
Adams State at Western New Mexico	6 p.m.	FloCollege
Rankings: AFCA Coaches Poll/D2Football.com Poll

The Weekly Preview

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 2025 football season kicks off with eight games on the schedule during Week Zero, highlighted by the RMAC-opener on Thursday in Pueblo, where defending champion Colorado State University Pueblo hosts South Dakota Mines in a 6 p.m. contest.

While the ThunderWolves and Hardrockers will have the bulk of the attention this week, there are plenty of intriguing matchups around the league. Four games pit the RMAC against regional foes from the Lone Star Conference, a contest against a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, another against a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and one outing against a Division I opponent.

Thursday sees Colorado Mesa University travel to LSC foe Central Washington University in a season-opening 1 p.m. kickoff. New Mexico Highlands makes the trip southeastward to face in-state foe Eastern New Mexico from the LSC. Western Colorado University hosts the LSC’s West Texas A&M on Thursday, while Black Hills State faces NSIC member Sioux Falls.

Saturday’s action starts at noon when William Jewell meets Fort Lewis in Durango. Chadron State faces no small task when it meets Division I foe Northern Colorado in Greeley. Adams State wraps up Week Zero action when it travels down to Western New Mexico for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

RMAC vs. The Others

Last season, the RMAC was 10-10 in the regular season against nonconference opponents, including an 8-9 record against Division II opponents. Colorado School of Mines and Western Colorado were both undefeated against non-conference opponents during the regular season, while six programs went 1-1.

Broken down by conference, the RMAC was 5-5 against the Lone Star Conference last season and was 1-1 against the MIAA, 2-1 against the GLVC, and 0-2 against the GLIAC. 

RMAC Teams in the National Polls

AFCA Coaches: (6) CSU Pueblo; (10) Western Colorado; (RV) Colorado School of Mines & Colorado Mesa
D2Football.com: (7) CSU Pueblo; (8) Western Colorado

Nine RMAC Athletes Included in D2Football.com Preseason Top 100

First Team: Flynn Schiele, CSM; Reggie Retzlaff, CSUP; Ricky Freymond, WCU; & Donovan English, CSUP.
Second Team: Drew Nash, WCU
Squad: Tyler Ethridge, CSUP; Gary Seidenberger, CSUP; Jackson Zimmerman, CSM; Dax Yeradi, CSC

RMAC Preseason Poll & Team

Defending champion CSU Pueblo and Western Colorado, both participants in the 2024 Division II Playoffs, shared the honor of preseason favorite in the RMAC Preseason Football Coaches Poll released during the league’s media day in July. Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa were picked third and fourth, respectively.

In addition, Western Colorado redshirt junior defensive end Ricky Freymond and CSU Pueblo senior wide receiver Reggie Retzlaff – the league’s 2024 defensive and offensive players of the year, respectively – lead the 2025 Preseason All-RMAC Team. The RMAC’s preseason teams are determined by placing returning players in order of head coaches’ voting from the league’s 2024 All-RMAC Teams.

In addition to the league returning both Players of the Year, both Freshman of the Year selections return in New Mexico Highlands running back Tevita Valeti and Western Colorado linebacker Cameron Cooper. The 2025 Preseason All-RMAC Football Team sees the return of 13 members from the 2024 First Team All-RMAC return, along with 11 second team selections and five honorable mentions.

RMAC Championships

Western Colorado (19, 2021); Colorado School of Mines (16, 2023); Colorado Mesa (12, 2017); CSU Pueblo (9, 2024); Chadron State (8, 2008); Adams State (7, 1989); New Mexico Highlands (2, 1999); and Fort Lewis (1, 1984).
(Championships won and the last year the program won or shared a championship)

RMAC Network Now PPV

All RMAC football games broadcast by its 15 full-member institutions and associate members will only be available for purchase via a single-game pass or a monthly or annual subscription. A discounted annual subscription price is available to students, faculty, and staff of each member institution throughout the year. Revenue generated by the network will be redistributed to the league’s membership to enhance their programs. Visit RMACNetwork.com/Purchase for more information and to subscribe.

About the RMAC

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.

# EverythingElevated  #