With NCAA Division II football preseason practices a month away for the Centennial State’s six schools in the classification, “The DII Report Newsletter” lists Western Colorado and CSU Pueblo in its “early look” for the 2026 season.

Adams State, Colorado Mesa, Colorado Mines, and Fort Lewis join the Mountaineers and ThunderWolves in competing for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship, which was won by CSU Pueblo the last two seasons.

In Wayne Cavadi’s “The DII Report Newsletter”, he writes, “Western Colorado has made the DII football championship tournament three years in a row. However, two of the key pieces from that run — former DII defensive player of the year Ricky Freymond (37.5 TFL over the past two seasons) and dual-threat quarterback Drew Nash, who threw for 8,061 yards, ran for 1,454 yards, and totaled 100 touchdowns over that three-year playoff run — are gone. The cupboard is not completely bare, though. Quinn Barry is listed on the spring roster and ran for 572 yards and eight touchdowns last year. The top three wide receivers are back in Caden Measner, DJ Allen Jr., and Ramon Ruiz, who combined for 1,691 yards and 19 touchdowns. Ian Loomis and Kade Musser will anchor an experienced defense returning 182 total tackles and 11 sacks. There is plenty to stay competitive here.”

As for CSU Pueblo, Cavadi offered, “The ThunderWolves are another team that had a strong few seasons but need to replace starting power at quarterback and return just seven total regulars/starters from 2025.”

The six schools will be in the Mile High City on July 22 for the RMAC Kickoff at MSU Denver.  Joining the Centennial State eleven will be Black Hills State, Chadron State, New Mexico Highlands, and South Dakota Mines.

Here are the 2025 RMAC standings.

School – Conference record / Overall record / Streak

• CSU Pueblo – 9-1 / 10-2 – L1
• Chadron State – 8-1 / 8-4 – L2
• Western Colorado – 7-2 / 10-3 – L1
• Colorado School of Mines – 5-4 / 7-4 – W1
• Colorado Mesa – 5-4 / 6-5 – L1
• New Mexico Highlands – 4-5 / 6-5 – L1
• Black Hills State – 3-6 / 3-8 – W2
• South Dakota Mines – 3-6 / 3-8 – W1
• Fort Lewis – 1-8 / 2-9 – L2
• Adams State – 0-9 / 0-11 – L28

2026 Adams State Schedule, Coach Levi Gallas, 2nd season at ASU, 0-11; Overall, 2nd season, 0-11

• A27        Western New Mexico, 6 p.m.  RMAC NET*
• S5          at Sul Ross State, 7 p.m. LSC Net
• S12        at Black Hills State, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S19        South Dakota Mines, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S26        at Western Colorado, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O3          CSU Pueblo, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O17        at Chadron State, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O24        Colorado Mesa, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O31        Colorado Mines, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N7          at New Mexico Highlands, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N14        Fort Lewis, 2 p.m. RMAC NET*

2026 Colorado Mesa Schedule, Coach Miles Kochevar, 5th season at CMU, 23-20; Overall, 5th season, 23-20

• A27        Minnesota State (Mankato), 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S5          at Eastern New Mexico, 2 p.m. LSC Net
• S12        at South Dakota Mines, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S19        Western Colorado, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S26        at CSU Pueblo, 2 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O3          Chadron State, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O17        Colorado Mines, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O24        at Adams State, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O31        New Mexico Highlands, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N7          at Fort Lewis, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N14        Black Hills State, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*

2026 Colorado Mines Schedule, Coach Bob Stitt, 17th season at CSM, 115-66; Overall, 20th season, 136-80

• A29        Western Oregon, 12 p.m. RMAC NET
• S5          at Washburn, TBA, MIAA Net
• S12        at CSU Pueblo, 2 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S19        Fort Lewis, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S26        at Chadron State, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O3          Black Hills State, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O17        at Colorado Mesa, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O24        South Dakota Mines, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O31        at Adams State, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N7          at Western Colorado, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N14        New Mexico Highlands, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*

2026 CSU Pueblo Schedule, Coach Phil Vigil, 4th season at CSUP, 28-7; Overall, 6th season, 35-22

• A27        Central Missouri, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S3          at Fort Hays State, 6 p.m. MIAA Net
• S12        Colorado Mines, 2 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S19        at Chadron State, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S26        Colorado Mesa, 2 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O3          at Adams State, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O17        New Mexico Highlands, 2 p.m.*
• O24        at Fort Lewis, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O31        Black Hills State, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N7          at South Dakota Mines, 3 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N14        Western Colorado, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*

2026 Fort Lewis Schedule, Coach Johnny Cox, 5th season at FLC, 5-38; Overall, 5th season, 5-38

• A29       at William Jewell, 11 a.m.
• S5          Arizona Christian, 6 p.m. RMAC NET
• S12        New Mexico Highlands, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S19        at Colorado Mines, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S26        at Black Hills State, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O3          South Dakota Mines, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O17        at Western Colorado, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O24        CSU Pueblo, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O31        at Chadron State, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N7          Colorado Mesa, 12 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N14        at Adams State, 2 p.m. RMAC NET*

2026 Western Colorado Schedule, Coach Jas Baines, 16th season at WSU, 75-86; Overall, 16th season, 75-86

• A27        at West Texas A&M, 6 p.m. LSC NET
• S3          Angelo State, 6 p.m. RMAC NET
• S12        Chadron State, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S19        at Colorado Mesa, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• S26        Adams State, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O3          at New Mexico Highlands, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O17        Fort Lewis, 6 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O24        at Black Hills State, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• O31        South Dakota Mines, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N7          Colorado Mines, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*
• N14        at CSU Pueblo, 1 p.m. RMAC NET*