Football | 4/22/2026 10:00:00 AM
CANTON, Ohio and LINCOLN, Neb. (pacathletics.org) – Opendorse today announced the return of the Opendorse Bowl Series for its third year, continuing its commitment to delivering premium postseason opportunities for Division III Football student-athletes.
Featuring top teams from the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC), Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC), North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), the Bowl Series is set to take place once again at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio – two different games highlighting programs that narrowly miss the NCAA tournament and providing an additional postseason platform for competition and exposure.
In addition to on-field competition, the series continues to create meaningful NIL opportunities and educational resources for participating student-athletes, reinforcing Opendorse’s mission to expand access and equity within the athlete economy.
Founded in 2024, the Opendorse Bowl Series was created in collaboration with the HCAC, NCAC, OAC, and PAC, longtime, innovative leaders in intercollegiate athletics. Each conference will again be represented by a team selected based on conference-specific criteria among those not chosen for the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
Westminster has been the PAC representative each of the first two years and is 2-0 in the Series. The Titans defeated Marietta College from the OAC 27-13 in 2024 before winning by a 40-21 score over Mount St. Joseph from the HCAC in 2025.
Additional event details, including matchups, ticketing, and broadcast information, will be announced at a later date.
What they’re saying:
Steve Denton, CEO, Opendorse – “The Opendorse Bowl Series is a testament to the power of collaboration across conferences and partners who share a vision for the student-athlete experience. It’s a powerful weekend in Canton, one of the most special and anticipated weekends on the College Football calendar.”
Blake Lawrence, President, Collegiate Operations, Opendorse – “The Opendorse Bowl Series was built to create more opportunities for student-athletes, and Year 3 is about continuing to raise the bar. From the beginning, this event has been first-class experience. We’re proud to keep building something that truly impacts the future of these athletes.”
Jake Daugherty, Director, Collegiate Partnerships, Opendorse – “As a former collegiate Football student-athlete, the Opendorse Bowl series has been one of the most impactful initiatives our team has been a part of. What started as a conversation around creating additional opportunities for Division III Football student-athletes has grown into a truly special event to cap off the season. Now heading into Year 3, we’re continuing to raise the bar and further elevate the experience for everyone involved. Opendorse couldn’t be prouder to support an event of this magnitude and the student-athletes it was built for.”
Joe Onderko, Commissioner, Presidents’ Athletic Conference – "I believe, in just two years, that the Opendorse Bowl Series has set the standard for Division III college football bowl game experiences. On behalf of the PAC, I am thrilled that our colleagues and friends at Opendorse have agreed to continue as the title sponsor for this incredible event. My sincere thanks and appreciation go to the Opendorse leadership team, as well as our partner conferences, for making this bowl sponsorship agreement extension a reality."
Bethany Dannelly, Commissioner, Ohio Athletic Conference – “We are excited to have Opendorse return for a third year as our partner for the Bowl Series. This partnership provides a unique postseason experience for the student- athletes, giving them another opportunity to compete while also gaining valuable NIL education. Opportunities like this truly enhance their experience as student-athletes."
Jay Jones, Commissioner, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference – “After two successful years of competition, we’re excited to build on that momentum heading into a third year. The experience with Opendorse’s support has provided a meaningful opportunity for our student-athletes to compete at a high level while benefiting from a first-class environment, and we look forward to continuing that growth and success in the upcoming season.”
Keri Alexander Luchowski, Executive Director, North Coast Athletic Conference – “We are incredibly grateful to continue partnering with Opendorse for the third year of the Opendorse Bowl Series. Over the past two years, they have been tremendous collaborators in creating a first-class experience for our football student-athletes. Their staff’s dedication, involvement, and willingness to work alongside our conferences have made this partnership incredibly valuable, and we look forward to building on that success again this season.”
About Opendorse
Opendorse is the technology, data, and service platform powering the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) industry for colleges, collectives, consumers, and commercial partners. More than 175,000 athlete influencers use Opendorse to build, promote, and monetize their personal brands through the largest athlete media network.
For media inquiries and sponsorship interest, contact Opendorse SVP, Head of Athlete Relations & Marketing Julian Valentin at julian.valentin@opendorse.com.