The Helmet Bowl Regional Finals bring us four fantastic matchups with the Great8 helmets competing.
In the East, the Gallaudet Bison (seeded #4) rode a late surge to advance against the mighty strong Army Black Knights (seeded #3).
In the South, the Georgia State Panthers (seeded #6) battled the VMI Keydets, winning by less than one-tenth of a percentage point to face the solid Kennesaw State Owls (seeded #5).
In the North, the Wayne State Warriors (seeded #2) withstood a strong Merchant Marine vote to now come up against the #1 seeded Central Michigan Chippewas.
The West offers us the most interesting matchup. The lone NAIA survivor, the College of Idaho Coyotes (seeded #8) face off against the very popular San Diego State Aztecs (seeded #3).
Round 3 Upsets
Oregon (seeded #6) long held the college football world enthralled with their helmet and uniform creativity. The lowly College of Idaho (seeded #8) knocked them off, becoming the lone NAIA school represented in Helmet Bowl. The Great8 ‘Yotes, welcome.
Army (seeded #3) with a minor upset of Bowie State Bulldogs in the East Region.
Kennesaw State (seeded #5) with an upset over #2 Southern Mississippi. The Golden Eagles connected early with Helmet Bowl and competed admirably.
San Diego State (seeded #3 knocked off the popular K-State Wildcats (seeded #2) in a minor upset.
High Vote
San Diego State Aztecs pulled in the most votes in Round 3, closely followed by the Georgia State Panthers and VMI Keydets.
Lowest Vote moving forward
Wayne State may have surprised some by defeating the solid Merchant Marine Mariners. They advance to play Central Michigan, who outvoted them by several hundred in Round 3. But this isn't Round 3. The Warriors can find those votes–but can they find them Christmas week?
Sorry To See You Go
The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles competed with moxie and verve throughout the Conference Championships and then in the National bracket. We are sorry to see them go. Thanks team.
The VMI Keydets offered a brilliant helmet, but we at Helmet Bowl did not expect them to get the vote out like they did. They advanced to the Spectacular 16 and missed the Great8 by the votes of the basketball team and cheerleaders. It was fun, Keydets!
The Colgate Raiders offered us a great storyline: They finished Conference play TIED after a strong, two-week comeback, then defeated Georgetown to enter the National Championship bracket. Thanks Raiders.