Varner said, in fairness, there are exceptions to that idea, such as St. Thomas (Minn.), a MIAC institution who was ranked in the top 10 this season and scheduled both Eau Claire and Stout in nonconference play. But the Tommies’ experience this season gives other programs a reason to believe a WIAC opponent isn’t worth the risk — after beating the Blugolds 47-13 at home, the Blue Devils stunned then-No. 4 St. Thomas 25-22 in Menomonie, Wis.

Despite the Upper Midwest being one of the most populated areas for D-III football in the country — there are 44 teams between Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa alone — WIAC programs are routinely forced to schedule games with teams from the coasts or even in the South.

Both Platteville and Eau Claire are playing George Fox (Ore.) this year, and the Pioneers are at Hampden-Sydney (Va.) today. Oshkosh went to John Carroll (Ohio) and hosted Virginia University of Lynchburg; Whitewater and River Falls are both in St. Louis today with the Falcons facing Missouri Baptist and the Warhawks playing Washington.

UW-L will play an all-Midwest nonconference schedule this year (one Iowa opponent, two Wisconsin) as it did last season, but with the lopsided outcomes of those contests, that could change quickly.