Ottawa University enters its matchup with No. 21 Southwestern College with a perfect 3-0 record after victories over Kansas Wesleyan, the University of Saint Mary and Sterling College. The Braves have opened the season with three straight wins for the first time since 2018. Ottawa has been impressive on both sides of the ball through three games. The Braves are averaging 45.3 points and 365.7 yards of offense per game, while opponents are averaging just 16 points and 303 yards per contest. OU has scored 136 points while allowing only 48.

This will be the 73rd meeting between Ottawa and Southwestern. Ottawa leads the all-time series 37-32-3.  The series dates back to Nov. 22, 1909, when the Braves and Moundbuilders played to a 0-0 tie in Winfield. Southwestern has won six straight against Ottawa. OU's last victory over the Moundbuilders came on Sept. 7, 2019, a 35-34 victory in Winfield. That is also the last time the Braves defeated the Moundbuilders on the road. The Moundbuilders have won the last three meetings by scores of 24-22 (2023), 41-0 (2024) and 61-10 (2025). The Braves had a dominant stretch in the series from 2008 through 2016, winning nine consecutive meetings. OU averaged 51.2 points per game during that streak and posted three shutouts. Ottawa's largest victory in the series came on Oct. 26, 2013, when the Braves defeated Southwestern 82-21.

OU has outscored its first three opponents 136-48, an average margin of victory of 29.3 points per game. The Braves' offense has increased its scoring output in each game, going from 33 points against Kansas Wesleyan to 42 against Saint Mary and 61 against Sterling.

The Braves are receiving votes in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll for the first time since the 2024 preseason poll, released Aug. 19, 2024. The Braves received two votes in that poll.

Ottawa enters the matchup ranked ninth in the NAIA with 136 points scored and 12th nationally at 45.3 points per game. The Braves have scored 18 offensive touchdowns through three games, nine rushing and nine passing. OU also has a kickoff return touchdown.

The Braves have been especially productive through the air, averaging 246.3 passing yards per game, which ranks 26th in the NAIA. Ottawa has thrown nine touchdown passes without an interception.

One of Ottawa's strengths through the first three games has been ball security. The Braves have committed only two turnovers, which ranks sixth in the NAIA. Meanwhile, Ottawa's defense has helped force 10 opponent turnovers.

OU quarterbacks have attempted 86 passes without throwing an interception, while the Braves' defense has intercepted six passes. Quarterback Luke Edwards has completed 43-of-79 passes for 658 yards and eight touchdowns through three games. He is averaging 219.3 passing yards per game and has yet to throw an interception. As a team, Ottawa has completed 48-of-86 passes for 739 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions.

Amiri Mumba leads Ottawa's rushing attack with 116 yards on 22 attempts, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. More importantly, Mumba has found the end zone five times, giving him a team-high 30 points. The Braves have rushed for 358 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Ottawa is averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 119.3 rushing yards per game.

Ottawa has spread the ball around through the first three games, with four Braves already recording at least 150 receiving yards. De'Anthony Curtis leads OU with 193 receiving yards on 10 catches, averaging 19.3 yards per reception. Jayden Johnson has seven receptions for 182 yards and a team-high three receiving touchdowns, while averaging 26 yards per catch. AJ Moore leads Ottawa with 12 receptions, totaling 170 yards and two touchdowns. Ottawa has eight different players with at least one reception and six different players have caught a touchdown pass. Jayden Johnson has been one of Ottawa's biggest offensive threats. He has seven receptions for 182 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 91 receiving yards per game and 26 yards per catch. His longest reception is 51 yards. Johnson's three receiving touchdowns lead the Braves.

Ottawa's defense has been disruptive through three games. The Braves have recorded 26 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, six interceptions, 17 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks. Opposing quarterbacks have completed only 42 percent of their passes, throwing four touchdowns against six interceptions. OU is allowing just 137.3 passing yards per game.

Cade Monroe leads Ottawa with 24 tackles through three games. He has 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one pass breakup. Ethan Yinger has 21 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception and two pass breakups. Ibrahimi Mahdi has 20 tackles in only two appearances and leads the Braves with four tackles for loss while adding 1.5 sacks.

Ottawa has already recorded 10 sacks for 68 yards this season. Gabe Watson leads the Braves with two sacks. Jacob Hill and Ibrahimi Mahdi each have 1.5, while Cade Monroe, Abdullhi Mahdi, Kadyn Hodson, Qui'len Johnson and Bryson Nolan have one apiece.

The Braves recorded eight sacks in their 61-20 victory over Sterling, tying for fourth in the Ottawa record book for sacks in a single game.

Ottawa has intercepted six passes through three games. Ethan Yinger, Cade Monroe, Abdullhi Mahdi, Daniel Walker, Kadyn Hodson and one additional defensive entry in the team total have contributed to OU's six interceptions. The Braves have returned those interceptions for 104 yards.

Hodson has Ottawa's longest interception return at 54 yards, while Yinger has returned his interception 33 yards.

AJ Moore has provided one of Ottawa's biggest special teams plays of the season, returning a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. As a team, the Braves are averaging 26.1 yards per kickoff return.

Punter Joshua Iraheta is averaging 40.5 yards per punt, with nine of his 17 punts landing inside the 20-yard line. His season long is 49 yards.

Kicker Ike Prengel has scored 20 points, connecting on 14-of-16 extra points and 2-of-5 field goals. His long field goal is 43 yards.

Southwestern College enters the matchup ranked No. 21 in the NAIA with a 2-1 overall record. The Moundbuilders opened the season with a 48-14 road victory over Bethel College and followed with a 38-3 win over Tabor College. Southwestern suffered its first loss of the season on Sept. 12, falling 31-13 on the road to Evangel University.

Through three games, Southwestern is averaging 33.0 points and 446.7 yards of offense per game. The Moundbuilders have done most of their damage on the ground, averaging 257.0 rushing yards per contest, which ranks ninth in the NAIA. Southwestern is averaging 189.7 yards through the air. The Moundbuilder defense has allowed just 16.0 points and 226.7 yards per game, including only 51.3 rushing yards per contest.

Southwestern has scored 99 points while allowing 48. The Moundbuilders have accumulated 1,340 yards of total offense and 67 first downs. They are converting 43 percent of their third-down opportunities while opponents have converted just 22 percent. Southwestern has committed five turnovers while forcing seven.
Odom Leads the Southwestern Offense

Quarterback James Odom has completed 43-of-86 passes for 552 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. He is averaging 184.0 passing yards per game. Odom is also a major part of Southwestern's rushing attack, carrying the ball 34 times for 192 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Moundbuilders have rushed for 771 yards and nine touchdowns through three games, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Southwestern has four players with at least 100 rushing yards. Christian Steward leads Southwestern with 249 rushing yards on 37 carries. He is averaging 6.7 yards per attempt and 83.0 yards per game with three rushing touchdowns. Odom is second with 192 yards and two scores.

Wayne Carter Jr. has provided a big-play threat out of the backfield, rushing 11 times for 121 yards and a touchdown. He is averaging 11.0 yards per carry and has a season-long run of 77 yards. Zamir Hall has added 103 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts. Bryce Chambers leads Southwestern with 13 receptions for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 13.1 yards per catch and 56.7 receiving yards per game.

Noah Roberts has eight receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 16.6 yards per catch. Dazurre Paggett has provided Southwestern with another explosive option, catching five passes for 126 yards. His 25.2 yards-per-reception average leads the Moundbuilders, and he has a long reception of 52 yards.

Southwestern's defense has been particularly effective against opposing rushing attacks. Through three games, opponents have managed only 154 rushing yards on 80 attempts, an average of 1.9 yards per carry and 51.3 yards per game. Opponents have scored just two rushing touchdowns.

The Moundbuilders have recorded 19 tackles for loss, six sacks and five interceptions. Southwestern has also forced three fumbles and recovered three. Adrian Avelar leads Southwestern with 18 tackles, including 14 solo stops. He has one tackle for loss and one sack. Britt Wittschen has 16 tackles and leads the Moundbuilders with four tackles for loss. He has also recorded a sack, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Joshua Mars and Aidan Hefley have 13 tackles apiece, while Jason Wickliff has 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception and two pass breakups.

Jackson Meadows has been Southwestern's biggest ball hawk through the first three games. He has three interceptions for 29 return yards.

Jeremiah Schaefer has scored a team-high 19 points. He is 3-for-4 on field-goal attempts with a long of 40 yards and 10-for-12 on extra points. Schaefer also handles the majority of Southwestern's punting duties, averaging 41.5 yards on 11 punts with a long of 73 yards and four punts downed inside the 20-yard line.