There’s no shortage of storylines or great games to open the season, including in the GLIAC, home to the defending national champions, as well as two other teams who enter the season as playoff threats who could make a deep run in the postseason.

In the GLIAC, just three of the league’s seven teams will be at home this opening weekend, including a game that could be viewed as a potential playoff measuring stick.

GLIAC Week 1: 

Winona State at Saginaw Valley State

Thursday, August 31

Time: 6 p.m. ET

Location: Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium, Saginaw, MI

Last Season: Saginaw Valley State: 8-3; Winona State: 8-4, lost in opening round of the playoffs.

Series History: First Meeting Between Schools

Streaming: FloFootball

What to know about each team:

Saginaw Valley State looks to get back into the postseason under fifth-year head coach Ryan Brady after coming up short a season ago, finishing fourth in the GLIAC behind the usuals in Ferris State and Grand Valley State. But also getting nipped by an upstart Davenport team in a loss that ultimately decided their playoff fate. The Cardinals, as they finished in the GLIAC a season ago, were tabbed to finish fourth in the league behind those aforementioned teams.

They’ll face a tough test in the opener against a Winona State team who reached the Division II playoffs a season ago, and enters the season just outside the Top-25 in the AFCA Preseason Coaches poll.

The visiting Warriors are led by second-year head coach Brian Bergstrom, who is helped by a number of returners on both sides of the ball, led by running back Ty Gavin, who was named to a number of preseason watch lists after a season that saw him post 853 yards on 154 carries, good for 5.5 yards per carry, along with four scores.

SVSU counters with a defense that was among the Top-10 in the nation in red zone defense a year ago, led by defensive back Michael Woolridge, who has picked off six passes over his 32 games with the Cardinals.

The big question for the Warriors is who throws the ball, but it’s not for a lack of options. The pair of Kyle Haas and Trevor Paulsen return after combining for 2,289 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago in helping WSU reach the postseason, but have had to fight off South Dakota transfer Cole Stenstrom.

The defense is where the Warriors will look to make their mark thanks to the return of All-American Clay Schueffner at linebacker, who led the NSIC in tackles a season ago with 122.

That defense will be a big test for the Cardinals to try and carry over their clutch play from a season ago, when they led the GLIAC in third-down conversions at 43.5-percent, and featured a punishing ground game a season ago. The Cardinals last season averaged over 200 yards per game on the ground, while holding opposing rushing attacks to less than 100 yards per game.

The BIG DOGS…2023 SVSU DEFENSIVE LINE🔵🔴🏈😤MY GUYS💯 @svsu_football pic.twitter.com/cEqAvaD9U5

— 🏈Coach Mac🏆 (@CoachMacCarruth) August 14, 2023

Jarius Grissom, who split time at QB and WR a season ago, has been moved exclusively to QB this season, and should be a dual threat attack for the Cardinals, rushing for nearly six yards per carry a season ago, while completing almost 60-percent of his passes in just over 20 attempts. Grissom will be leaned on heavily, with the departure of last season’s leading rushing in Isaiah Maclome, but expect Tyler Amos and his team-leading seven rushing scores to move into the lead back role.

If there’s one spot the Warriors may have an edge, it’s on special teams, where WSU returns Jacob Scott at kicker, who was 5-of-7 from beyond 40 yards, as well as All-Region punter Tristan Root, who doubles as a free safety for the defense.

One other interesting note coming into Thursday’s game: This is a pair of teams who are notoriously hot starters, so something will have to give as far as openers go.

Winona State boasts six straight wins in season-opening contests, including a 24-10 win over Minot State a season ago.

SVSU started last season 4-0, and last dropped its opening game all the way back in 2016 with a loss to traditional power, Findlay, putting their winning streak to open the year at five games.

Thursday’s kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m., and can be streamed exclusively on FloFootball.

GLIAC Week 1 Schedule

Thursday, August 31:

Northern Michigan at Minnesota Duluth, 7 p.m.

Mercyhurst at Ferris State, 8 p.m. (FloFootball)

Grand Valley State at Colorado School of Mines, 8 p.m.

Saturday, September 2:

Thomas More at Davenport, 12 p.m. (FloFootball)

Wayne State at Slippery Rock, 6 p.m.