The Muskies and Cougars meet again in a series that dates back to 1947 and is the second most-played rivalry in Lakeland's football history on the gridiron, behind only 58 games against Benedictine. The Muskies have won five straight over Concordia, including last year's 47-16 victory at home on Nov. 1, 2025. Robby Michael passed for two touchdowns and ran for another, Jontae Lambert gained 188 yards rushing and receiving, including a 66-yard catch and run for a touchdown, and Lakeland raced out to a 34-0 lead in the first half and cruised the rest of the way.

The year before at Concordia was the wildest meeting in series history and maybe the wildest game in Lakeland's football history. The Muskies outlasted CUC 66-61 on the road in River Forest, Ill., as Michael hit Xaviar Thomas for an 86-yard touchdown pass with 34 seconds left in the game to cap a fourth quarter where the teams combined for 56 points and as well as four lead changes in the game's final 2:43. Lakeland has won 11 of the last 12 against CUC, though the Cougars snapped a six-game losing streak in the series with a 31-26 victory at home Oct. 5, 2019. The first meeting between the teams came 78 years ago on Oct. 18, 1948, a 20-0 win for Lakeland when it was known as Mission House College.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at St. Norbert 34-7 last week
The Muskies were done in by turnovers in the second quarter on the road against the Green Knights. Lakeland was intercepted on three consecutive possessions, all in its own territory, and St. Norbert scored 24 unanswered points in the quarter to take a 31-0 halftime lead. Lakeland struggled offensively most of the game and didn't score until the fourth quarter, when No. 3 quarterback Zach Heitzmann led a 12-play, 75-yard drive that finished with Hassan Rivers scoring on a 4-yard run. The Muskies defense held SNC to 237 yards of offense, including 51 yards passing, but Lakeland gained just 240 yards of its own, including 51 yards in the first half. No. 2 QB Cy Lumbano-Larson threw for 72 yards and Heitzmann was 4-for-7 for 39 yards and added 25 yards rushing.

Concordia Chicago last time out: Lost at Aurora 52-0 last week
The Cougars had a similarly nightmarish second quarter in their game last week and a rough day in general in falling to the Spartans on the road in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play. Aurora scored 28 points in the second quarter to take a 35-0 halftime lead and Concordia never seriously threatened to score, getting no further than the Aurora 38 to end any of its drives. CUC quarterbacks Colton Bosch and Phoenyx Clark combined to complete 8 of 22 passes for 85 yards and were sacked nine times, while Clark (51 yards) and Joron Brown (44) combined for 85 yards rushing. Kadin Stroer paced the defense with 12 tackles (six solo, six assisted).

About the Cougars: The Aurora game was a sour note for what had otherwise been a positive start to the season. Concordia won its first three games, including convincing non-conference wins over Minnesota-Morris and Grinnell (Iowa) plus a victory over Rockford in its NACC opener. CUC also pushed defending conference champion Concordia Wisconsin on the road just two weeks ago, falling 21-14 to the Falcons. Bosch has completed 61.2% of his passes for 1,005 yards and nine touchdowns with just two interceptions, and the Cougars defense is holding opponents to 265 yards a game and has forced 14 turnovers, including seven interceptions and seven fumbles.

CUC is approaching its win totals from all of last season, when the Cougars finished 4-6 overall and 2-6 in the NACC, and is aiming for its first .500 season since finishing 5-5 overall in 2019, and is shooting for its first winning record since going 10-1 and winning the NACC championship in 2012. Chase Hankins is in his second year as head coach and took over after serving as offensive coordinator in 2022.