2024 UW-La Crosse Football Schedule

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has announced its 2024 football schedule.  The Eagles will play 10 games, including five home contests at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.  UWL, which finished 11-2 overall and 7-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2023, opens its season Thursday, September 5 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) at 4 p.m. (Central).

Matt Janus enters his fifth season as UWL's head coach in 2024 after leading the Eagles to three consecutive appearances in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships. The Eagles earned their first outright WIAC title since 2004 with their 7-0 mark a year ago. It was UWL's 35th overall league title in school history and second straight under Janus. 

UWL, ranked fourth on the final regular-season American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D3football.com Top-25 Polls, advanced to the 2023 NCAA Division III Championship Quarterfinals for the first time since 1996. The 11 wins last year were the most since finishing 11-2 in 1996.   

The Eagles earned victories in the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III Championships last season, both coming at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. UWL defeated the University of Minnesota Morris, 62-7, in the opening round and 12th-ranked Aurora University (Ill.), 56-35, in the second round. UWL fell, 55-42, to top-ranked North Central College (Ill.) in the quarterfinals played in La Crosse. 

Janus was named the 2022 and 2023 WIAC Kwik Trip George Chryst Coach of the Year. He is 29-7 at UWL, including 3-3 in the NCAA Division III Championships. The Eagles went 9-3 in 2021 and 9-2 in 2022 under Janus. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 public health threat. 
 

UWL and RPI (N.Y.) will be meeting for the first time in school history. The Engineers, members of the Liberty League, finished 8-3 overall and 3-3 in the conference a year ago. RPI (N.Y.) defeated Widener University (Pa.), 49-21, in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Scotty Whitelaw Bowl in the season-finale at RPI's ECAV Stadium. 

The Eagles host NCAA Division II Northern Michigan University in their home opener on Saturday, September 14 at 1 p.m. UWL earned a 34-3 victory last season in Marquette, Michigan, to even the all-time series, 1-1, with Northern Michigan. The Wildcats earned a 24-6 home victory in 2012. Northern Michigan finished 0-11 overall and 0-6 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) last season.

A trip to NCAA Division II Grand Valley State University (Mich.) on Saturday, September 21 completes UWL's non-conference schedule in 2024. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (Central) in Allendale, Michigan in the third-ever meeting between the teams. Grand Valley State (Mich.) earned a 24-14 victory over UWL in the 1978 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I Playoffs and a 45-24 win during the 2021 regular season. The Lakers are the two-time defending GLIAC champions after finishing 11-2 overall and 6-0 in the conference a year ago. Grand Valley State (Mich.) advanced to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals last season, earning home wins over Ferris State University (Mich.) in the first round (21-14) and Pittsburg State University (Kan.) in the second round (24-21). The Lakers fell at Harding University (Ark.) in the quarterfinals (7-6). Grand Valley State (Mich.) finished third in the final AFCA Top-25 Poll. 

"I've always felt the purpose of a non-conference schedule is to challenge your team and get you ready for the WIAC," said Janus. "I want to find out in the early part of our schedule WHO the 2024 Eagles are, and this year, that's exactly what our schedule will do.  Opening up with one of the top teams from out East, a team in RPI that is really well coached and run some great and stressing schemes.  Then for two straight weeks we will play up a division.  I want our team to face the speed and physicality that comes with playing Division II opponents.  We will also be faced when we travel to Grand Valley State with having to play in a hostile environment.  Our team will need to learn how to communicate and function in that type of crowd."

After a bye week, UWL opens the 2024 WIAC schedule hosting UW-Platteville on Saturday, October 5 at 1 p.m. for Wall of Fame/Varsity Homecoming/Family Weekend. UWL earned a 21-17 victory at UW-Platteville last season, increasing its lead in the all-time series to 59-27. The Pioneers finished 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the league a year ago while receiving votes on the final D3football.com and AFCA Top-25 Polls. UW-Platteville won the Culver's Isthmus Bowl with a 36-10 win over Augustana College (Ill.). 

The Eagles go on the road for their next two contests, including at UW-Oshkosh on Saturday, October 12 at 1 p.m. and to UW-Eau Claire on Saturday, October 19 at 11:30 a.m. UWL won its fourth straight meeting with UW-Oshkosh last season, a 31-28 victory in La Crosse. The Eagles lead the all-time series, 53-17-6, with the Titans. UW-Oshkosh went 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the WIAC last season and also received votes on the final D3football.com and AFCA Top-25 Polls. 

UWL earned its sixth straight victory over UW-Eau Claire a year ago, a 59-14 home win. The Eagles lead the all-time series, 59-28-2.  UW-Eau Claire finished 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the WIAC in 2023.  

UWL plays three of its final four games at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex, including hosting UW-River Falls on Saturday, October 26 at 1 p.m. UWL leads the all-time series, 67-32-7, with the UW-River Falls.  The Eagles won the 2023 meeting, 31-28, and have won 27 of the last 30 games with the Falcons.  UW-River Falls was 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the league in 2023 while finishing 24th in the final D3football.com Poll and receiving votes on the AFCA Top-25 Poll. 

UW-Stout welcomes UWL to campus on Saturday, November 2 at 1 p.m. in Menomonie.  The Eagles have won the last 11 games with the Blue Devils, including 45-40 in La Crosse last year in the conference opener for both teams.  UWL leads the all-time series, 76-15-6.  UW-Stout was 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the league in 2023. 

The Eagles host UW-Whitewater and UW-Stevens Point to finish the 2024 regular season. UWL and UW-Whitewater will play Saturday, November 9 at 1 p.m. while UWL hosts UW-Stevens Point in the regular-season finale on Saturday, November 16. Game time is yet to be announced against the Pointers.  UWL will hold its annual Veterans Day game on November 9 and Senior Day is set for November 16.   

UWL snapped a 19-game losing streak to UW-Whitewater in 2023 with a 37-34 victory at Perkins Stadium. The Warhawks went 11-2 overall and 6-1 in the WIAC last season, advancing to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals. UW-Whitewater earned victories over Bethel University (Minn.) in the first round (42-14) and Wheaton College (Ill.) in the second round (49-42) before falling at Wartburg College (Iowa) in the national quarterfinals (31-28). The Warhawks were fifth in the final 2023 D3football.com and AFCA Top-25 Polls. UW-Whitewater leads the all-time series, 39-32, with UWL. 

The Eagles earned a 41-7 win at UW-Stevens Point last season, their sixth consecutive victory over the Pointers. UWL leads the all-time series, 50-15-4. UW-Stevens Point was 1-9 overall and 0-7 in the WIAC last season. 

Janus says the best part of the year is WIAC play.  "It's like Christmas Day for seven straight weeks for me," added Janus.  "There's NOTHING in the world like WIAC football. Great players and great coaches.  Physical and challenging football games. It's what sets our conference apart, for seven weeks, eight teams are going physically beat each other up until there's only one left standing."

Eight players return in 2024 with All-WIAC accolades, including three first team selections. Senior linebacker Tanner Newlin of Savage, Minn. (Prior Lake), senior wide receiver Jack Studer of Eyota, Minn. (Dover-Eyota) and junior placekicker Michael Stack of Oshkosh (West) were named to the 2023 All-WIAC First Team. Stack was selected the WIAC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year. Studer and Stack both earned a pair of All-America honors last year. Studer was selected to the Associated Press (AP) and D3football.com All-America Second Teams while Stack earned AP and D3football.com All-America First Team accolades. 

Senior offensive lineman Levi Liedke of Fond du Lac (H.S.) and junior defensive back Tate Pitcher of Somerset (H.S.) were voted to the 2023 All-WIAC Second Team while senior defensive back Aaron Schmitz of Mukwonago (H.S.), senior defensive lineman Nate Hietpas of Little Chute (H.S.) and junior tight end Marko Rajkovic of Franklin (H.S.) was named to last year's honorable mention team. 

Senior linebacker Ryan Daines of Westby (H.S.) earned 2022 All-WIAC Second Team accolades.