St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota has appeared in the DIII national championship game eleven times — the most appearances in DIII history. John Gagliardi built one of college football's most unusual programs: no tackling in practice, no whistles, no blocking sleds, no film study for opponents — and 489 wins over six decades. His successors have maintained the program's competitive presence without replicating his innovations. St. John's in 2026 competes in a MIAC that is genuinely open for the first time in a generation.

Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota has won MIAC titles and appeared in the DIII bracket with a program built on the Red River Valley's football culture. Their recruiting covers the Fargo-Moorhead metro and the upper Midwest corridor, developing players who chose a Lutheran liberal arts education over scholarship programs at other levels. With St. Thomas gone, Concordia enters 2026 as one of the MIAC's most complete programs outside of St. John's.

Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota competes in the MIAC with a program that draws from the southern Minnesota corridor and the Twin Cities exurbs. Their Gusties have won MIAC titles and made DIII bracket appearances, and the departure of St. Thomas opens conference contention in a way that benefits programs with depth and coaching continuity. Gustavus enters 2026 as a legitimate MIAC title contender for the first time in a decade.