No. 12 Mary Hardin-Baylor at No. 5 Trinity

When: 6 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Multi-Purpose Stadium in San Antonio

Broadcast: Tiger Network on YouTube

The Matchup: The No. 12 beside Mary Hardin-Baylor is correct. The team that began the season ranked No. 3 fell nine spots after a road loss to No. 23 Wisconsin-River Falls. It seems a tad excessive, but it’s also a testament to how bad the Crusaders looked in a 45-22 defeat.

Meanwhile, Trinity dropped one spot in the D3Football.com poll following a heartbreaking 34-31 overtime loss to No. 6 St. John’s (Minn.).

But the bad news of a loss got worse for both teams with injuries to their quarterbacks during the game. UMHB played three quarterbacks after the first two on the depth chart suffered an injury. Injury updates were sought from both head coaches this week.

UMHB coach Larry Harmon was hesitant to provide an update but did say sophomore Isaac Phe will get the start against the Tigers.

“I thought (Phe) competed. He did a good job of taking what the defense gave him. When he had to run, he ran with purpose and took a couple of shots (but) he got right back up and went to the huddle,” Harmon said. “He showed his teammates that he can move the ball on offense, and we can move forward with him as the signal caller.”

Trinity coach Jerheme Urban provided a positive update on quarterback Tucker Horn.

“We’ve got a great training staff. He’s working hard and trying to get his body right. We’re taking it day by day right now,” Urban said before answering where Horn would rate on an NFL injury chart. “He’d be questionable right now. He’s incredibly competitive, but we’re going to look at the big picture and be smart.”

X-Factor: Quarterbacks

I know that’s low-hanging fruit, but the health of Tucker Horn and the production of Isaac Phe will play a large role in determining the winner of this game.

Last Wednesday, I wrote about the five most important Non-FBS players in 2023, and Horn was the first player listed. If the 2023 Preseason All-Texas Non-FBS Offensive Player of the Year doesn’t play, the advantage shifts back to UMHB. Ryan Back is a junior and knows the playbook. However, he lacks game experience, and this is a big game with a national spotlight.

Isaac Phe is a dual-threat quarterback who was entrenched in a competition for starting quarterback with Jackson Tingler and Landon Howell. Reports are the coaches were impressed with Phe during fall camp but settled for the players who had more time in the system. Now, it’s Phe’s turn to shine, and he has a chance to establish himself on the national stage this week.

Prediction: Trinity by 3 

Best of the Rest:

Alcorn State at Stephen F. Austin

When: 6 p.m. Saturday at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches

Broadcast: ESPN+

Prediction: SFA by 4

UTPB at Western Colorado

When: 2 p.m. Saturday at Katy O. Rady Field in Gunnison, Colo.

Broadcast: RMAC Network

Prediction: UTPB by 5

New Mexico Military Institute at Navarro

When: 7 p.m. Saturday at Community National Bank & Trust Stadium in Corsicana

Broadcast: Navarro Sports YouTube

Prediction: NMMI by 3

Other Texas sub-FBS Games:

Friday, September 8

NJCAA

Trinity Valley at Air Force Prep, 2 p.m.

Saturday, September 9

NCAA FCS

Texas Southern at Toledo, 2:30 p.m.

UIW at Northern Colorado, 3 p.m.

Houston Christian at Western Kentucky, 6 p.m.

North Alabama at Tarleton, 6 p.m.

Abilene Christian at Prairie View A&M, 6 p.m.

Lamar at Louisiana-Monroe, 7 p.m.

Texas A&M-Commerce at Sacramento St., 9 p.m.

NCAA DII

Colorado School of Mines at Angelo St., 6 p.m.

Mississippi College at Midwestern St., 7 p.m.

West Georgia at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 7 p.m.

Adams St. at West Texas A&M, 7 p.m.

NCAA DIII

Eastern New Mexico at Sul Ross, Noon

Austin College at Rhodes, 1 p.m.

Hardin-Simmons at Wisconsin-LaCrosse, 1 p.m.

McMurry at Millsaps, 1 p.m.

SAGU at Howard Payne, 6 p.m.

Texas Lutheran at Southwestern, 7 p.m.

Hendrix at East Texas Baptist, 7 p.m.

NAIA

Texas College at Central Arkansas, 6 p.m.

Oklahoma Panhandle St. at Wayland Baptist, 6 p.m.

Texas Wesleyan at North American, 7 p.m.

NJCAA

Tyler at Georgia Military, Noon

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at Kilgore, 3 p.m.

Blinn at Cisco, 7 p.m.