The game for the Monon Bell is hosted at Wabash this season. Since the teams started playing for the Bell in 1932, Wabash leads the series 44-42 with six ties. Wabash athletics file photo

The final week of the regular season arrives with bells ringing quite literally. The Monon Bell, one of the sport’s greatest rivalry trophies, anchors a Week 11 slate loaded with tradition, tension, and last chances. Across the country, teams are battling for bragging rights, hardware, and, for some, one more chance to punch a ticket ot the NCAA tournament. Our Quick Hits panel has come together to set the stage for the regular season's grand finale. 

Our regular crew is Greg Thomas, Patrick Coleman, Logan Hansen of Hansen Ratings, Riley Zayas of True to the Cru, Carlo Guadagnino of Dingo Talk, and Kobe Manzo of D1 Rejects.

— Greg Thomas

Which game is the Game of the Week?

	Greg's take: No. 15 DePauw at No. 24 Wabash. The 131st edition of the Monon Bell Classic is the biggest since the 130th edition which saw these teams enter with a combined record of 17-1 and a trip to the postseason on the line. Wabash is looking to end a three game slide in the series and will try to be the first team to solve the nation’s No. 1 rush defense. A DePauw win would secure a fifth straight trip to the postseason and the Tigers’ first four-game win streak in the series since winning five in a row from 1996-2000.
	Patrick's take: No. 15 DePauw at No. 24 Wabash. This game has a lot on the line, not just (GASP) a 300-pound locomotive bell.
	Logan's take: The Monon Bell, No. 15 DePauw at No. 24 Wabash. Rivalry? Check. Awesome trophy? Check. Top 25 teams? Check. Competitive? Check. Playoff implications? Check. Both teams are 8-1 and playing outstanding football. The winner will punch their ticket to the postseason, ring the bell, and have bragging rights for the next year. The loser will have to know that their biggest rival ended their playoff hopes. I don't know what more you could want from a college football game.
	Riley's take: No. 15 DePauw at No. 24 Wabash. This is one of the best rivalry games anywhere in the country, an annual matchup that dates back to 1890 and has featured its share of thrilling moments. This year, it’s also a de-facto playoff game. Based on the current Pool C picture, the winner will punch its ticket to the playoffs while the loser’s quest for a playoff bid will end.
	Carlo's take: No. 3 Johns Hopkins at No. 25 Franklin & Marshall. What a run F&M have been on, at home against undefeated JHU for the CC title. Also, Grove City can win and they are in against Hiram.
	Kobe's take: The 131st Monon Bell Classic! While I would say the Secretaries' Cup is the most unique, this rivalry between DePauw and Wabash is sure to live up to the hype yet again with more national implications. Even though this is more like a battle for second place in the NCAC, these two teams still have a LOT to play for Saturday.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to be upset?

	Greg's take: No. 20 Cortland. Here’s a wild stat: Ithaca has only won the Cortaca Jug one time (2017) at Butterfield Stadium since 2009. Cortland dominated the series from 2010-2016, then Ithaca took its home games on the road to MetLife Stadium (2019) and Yankee Stadium (2022). The Bombers are due for a home win in the series and an unexpected rivalry result is going to happen somewhere. Why not here?
	Patrick's take: No. 19 Central. Coe has been quietly just winning games, right below the radar since the end of September.
	Logan's take: No. 19 Central (vs. Coe). Central has the advantage of playing at home, where they're tough to beat, but the disadvantage of potentially playing without their top 2 passers, who both left the game with injuries last week. Coe has their starting QB, as well as a three game winning streak against the Dutch.
	Riley's take: No. 19 Central. Yes, the Dutch are at home, but Coe has its back against the wall, and with slim playoff chances, the Kohawks will do everything in their power to end the regular season in the win column. Defense will be the key here, and if Coe is able to stop the run, I like the Kohawks to win by a field goal.
	Carlo's take: No. 22 Trinity (Texas) needs to be careful traveling to Maryville(Tenn.).
	Kobe's take: No. 21 Randolph-Macon. They say you can throw previous scores out the window for rivalry games like "The Game," and that's exactly what Hampden-Sydney needs to do after that tough loss to Bridgewater.

Which of the top 5 pass catchers in Division III will catch the most passes in Week 11?

	Greg's take: Ethan Abberger, Adrian. This clash in the MIAA has all the signs of lots and lots of points. Two great quarterbacks leading a pair of excellent offenses in a game with a conference championship on the line. Abberger is coming off of two huge weeks- the Bulldog sophomore is coming off of a pair of 15-catch games and this one looks like it could be another high volume game.
	Patrick's take: Robby Ballentine, DePauw. You know they want that Bell and return trip to the playoffs badly. DePauw and Adrian have the most to play for of this group this week, and of those, Ballentine seemed to have the better chance.
	Logan's take: Joe Gallagher, Puget Sound. The Loggers only have one win and are playing the conference champs, but if there's been one thing they've done well this year, it's been throwing the ball, specifically to Gallagher, who has at least 8 receptions in 8 games and has gone over the century mark in 7 games this season.
	Riley's take: Puget Sound’s Joe Gallagher. A season ago, Gallagher had 20 receptions against Whitworth, and while I don’t know if he gets to that mark against the Pirates this time around, I expect him to be Hayden Teeter’s top target for an offense that puts the ball in the air upwards of 50 times per game.
	Carlo's take: I think Albert Rundell from Bethel has a day against St. Scholastica.
	Kobe's take: I'm going with the former QB in Albert Rundell from Bethel. This Royals team has shown no mercy in the air attack and he is the favorite target of Drews who has been slinging it. St. Scholastica has the worst passing defense in the MIAC as well, allowing about 300 yds/game. Expect another wild statline from this guy.

Which under the radar game are you following?

	Greg's take: Curry at Endicott. If you like top end running backs and awesome New England coastal settings, this is going to be in your wheelhouse.  Montie Quinn leads the world in rushing  yards and yards per rush (10.33 yards per carry- for the season!).  Not far behind is Endicott’s Bryan Ferreria, who is averaging 9.15  yards per rush on 99 attempts this season- good for second in the country. There is big play potential on both sides and I expect fireworks in this one with the CNE title and trip to the playoffs on the line.
	Patrick's take: Franklin at Hanover for the Victory Bell. Franklin last won this in 2021 and you can be sure Mike Leonard will have his Grizzlies primed to get it back if they can. Hanover's motivation is not just bell-related, as a win should keep them in position to get a first-round home game.
	Logan's take: WestConn at Wilkes. Eighteen months ago, WestConn looked destined to be without a conference after getting the boot from the MASCAC. In their first season in the Landmark, they weren't quite up to the task of competing with Susquehanna for a conference title, but they are competing with Wilkes on Saturday for the second spot in the Landmark's bowl series with the ODAC.
	Riley's take: Cal Lutheran at Chapman. Out on the West Coast, the SCIAC champion will be decided in the Sun vs. Surf title game. This is Chapman’s opportunity for redemption after losing last year’s title game on Pomona-Pitzer’s go-ahead TD with 28 seconds left, and at 7-0 in conference play, the Panthers are the favorites. But they need to clear one more hurdle against a Cal Lutheran squad that played them within 10 in their first meeting this season.
	Carlo's take: Under the radar in the CCIW is Washington U. traveling to Augustana with an Isthmus bowl berth on the line!
	Kobe's take: Washington & Lee at Shenandoah. These teams are a combined 13-5 and W&L has won their last 5 straight, so will be interesting to see if the Generals can keep that momentum going.

Who gets the lucky 13th Pool C bid?

	Greg's take: With the loser of the Monon Bell Classic falling out of the top 13 at-large slots on the board, that’s going to open up a slot for a team currently on the outside looking in. Grove City, who fell off the radar a bit after back-to-back losses to Mount Union and Washington & Jefferson looks like the team that can be this year’s last team in.
	Patrick's take: Franklin & Marshall. Just like nobody predicted at the beginning of the season.
	Logan's take:  There are seven different teams who are the 13th Pool C bid in at least 1% of my simulations, overwhelmingly led by Grove City, who was the 13th bid in over 1/4 of simulations: Grove City 26% Coast Guard 17% Ohio Northern 15% Coe 14% Franklin and Marshall 13% Utica 8% UW-Whitewater 5%
	Riley's take: Grove City. The Wolverines will narrowly punch their ticket to the playoffs at 8-2.
	Carlo's take: Muhlenberg.
	Kobe's take: Adrian.

Rivalry Stack! From highest margin of victory to lowest order these rivalry games: Dutchmen’s Shoes, Cortaca Jug, Monon Bell

	Greg's take: From highest to lowest I like the Dutchman Shoes, followed the Monon Bell Classic, and finally the Cortaca Jug as the closest of these three signature events on Saturday.
	Patrick's take: It's gotta be the Jug, Shoes, Bell.
	Logan's take: Cortaca Jug > Monon Bell > Dutchman Shoes
	Riley's take: Cortland will take the Cortaca Jug with the largest margin of victory in a two-possession game, followed by a win from DePauw for the Monon Bell. The Dutchman Shoes will go to RPI in the closest game of these three rivalry contests.
	Carlo's take: Cortaca Jug, Monon Bell, Dutchman Shoes
	Kobe's take: From highest margin of victory to lowest, I'll go:       1. Dutchman Shoes      2. Monon Bell      3. Cortaca Jug

Got picks? Put them in the comments!