They were too good. That’s the short version of why St. Thomas University Minnesota football basically got kicked out of its own conference.
It sounds like a tall tale you’d hear at a dive bar in St. Paul, but it's the stone-cold truth. Back in 2019, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) essentially voted the Tommies out because they were winning by scores that looked more like video game numbers than actual D-III football. We’re talking about a program that was regularly hanging 60 or 70 points on opponents while the rest of the league just wanted to compete without getting embarrassed. So, they moved up. Not just to D-II, which would have been the "normal" step, but straight into the deep end of NCAA Division I (FCS).
Honestly, nobody knew if it would work. Taking a bunch of non-scholarship kids and tossing them into the Pioneer Football League and expecting them to compete with established D-I programs seemed like a recipe for a disaster. But if you’ve followed Glenn Caruso at all, you know better.
Making History at O'Shaughnessy Stadium
Most people who talk about St. Thomas University Minnesota football focus on the "pioneer" aspect of the move. It was the first time in the modern era that a school jumped from D-III to D-I directly. It shouldn't have been legal under NCAA rules, but the Tommies got a waiver. Since then, the program hasn't just survived; it has thrived in a way that makes you wonder why more dominant D-III schools don't try the same thing.
Caruso has been the heartbeat of this thing since 2008. He’s a guy who talks about "The Culture" not as some buzzword you’d see on a corporate poster, but as a living, breathing requirement for his locker room. Under his watch, the transition to the Pioneer Football League (PFL) was almost suspiciously smooth. In 2022, just their second year in D-I, they won the conference title. Think about that for a second. You go from playing Hamline and Macalester to beating established programs like Davidson and Dayton for a conference trophy in 24 months.
The stadium itself—O'Shaughnessy—is a vibe. It only holds about 5,000 people, but when it’s packed for a home game against a rival or a big PFL matchup, it feels like the center of the Twin Cities sports world. There’s something uniquely "Minnesota" about a Saturday afternoon in St. Paul where the air starts to get that crisp, late-autumn bite and the Tommies are grinding out a 14-play drive.
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The Scholarship Conundrum
Here is the kicker that people get wrong about the PFL: it’s a non-scholarship league.
That was the key to the move. St. Thomas didn't have to suddenly find millions of dollars for football scholarships. Instead, they rely on need-based financial aid and academic merit, just like they did in D-III. This allows them to recruit a very specific type of athlete—the kid who is smart enough to get into a prestigious private school but tough enough to play D-I ball. It’s a narrow target. But St. Paul is a talent hotbed, and being the "other" D-I option in the state alongside the Gophers has given them a massive recruiting edge over local D-II schools.
Why the Defense is Different
If you watch a St. Thomas University Minnesota football game, you’ll notice they don't play that "bend-but-don't-break" style that’s popular in the pros. It’s aggressive. It’s twitchy.
Coach Caruso’s defensive units are consistently at the top of the PFL rankings. They focus on turnover margin and third-down efficiency. In 2023, the Tommies' defense was a brick wall, often carrying the team when the offense was finding its rhythm with new quarterbacks. They had guys like Johnson Fallah and Luke Herzog making plays that looked D-I through and through.
It's not just about size. They aren't always the biggest guys on the field. It’s about the scheme. They use a lot of hybrid looks that confuse younger quarterbacks who aren't used to seeing high-level disguised coverages in a non-scholarship environment. Basically, they out-think you before they out-hit you.
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Looking at the Numbers
The stats tell a story of consistency. Since joining the PFL, St. Thomas has maintained a home winning streak that is among the best in the nation. It’s a fortress.
- They won 10 games in 2022.
- They went 8-3 in 2023.
- The home win streak at one point eclipsed 30 games (stretching back to the D-III days).
You don't do that by accident. You do that by having a depth chart that is three-deep with players who actually want to be there. In the era of the Transfer Portal, St. Thomas has stayed relatively stable, which is a testament to the loyalty Caruso inspires.
The Future: Can They Go Scholarship?
There is a lot of chatter around St. Paul about what comes next. The "reclassification" period for the NCAA takes four years. During this time, they aren't eligible for the FCS playoffs. That’s been the biggest hurdle. Imagine winning your conference and being told you can't play for the national title. It’s frustrating for the players and the fans.
But once that window closes and they are full-fledged D-I members, the conversation will shift. Will they stay in the non-scholarship PFL? Or will the administration look toward the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC)?
Moving to the Missouri Valley would be a massive jump. That’s where the powerhouses like North Dakota State and South Dakota State live. That would require a massive influx of cash, scholarships, and upgraded facilities. Right now, the Tommies are the big fish in a smaller pond. Jumping to the MVFC would make them the small fish in a shark tank. Honestly, most fans are happy where they are—winning games and staying competitive—but the "what if" factor is always there.
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What You Need to Know Before You Go to a Game
If you're planning to head over to the corner of Summit and Cretin, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, don't expect a massive tailgate scene like you'd find at an SEC school. It’s more intimate. It’s family-friendly, but don't let the "private school" vibe fool you—the student section (the "Tommie North" and "Tommie South" crowds) gets loud.
Park in the ramps; street parking is a nightmare in that part of St. Paul. Also, get there early enough to see the walk-in. There’s a sense of tradition that feels older than it actually is.
What's really cool is seeing the mix of old-school MIAC fans who have been following the team for forty years and the new students who only know St. Thomas as a D-I powerhouse. That bridge between eras is what makes this program special. They haven't forgotten where they came from, even if their former rivals are glad they're gone.
Key Players to Remember
Success in the PFL has come from a "next man up" philosophy. When veteran leaders graduate, there’s always a freshman or sophomore ready to step in. This is largely due to the "Tommie Way" of development. They don't just recruit players; they build them.
Keep an eye on the offensive line. St. Thomas has a reputation for producing "Midwest Bigs"—those 300-pounders who grew up on farms or in small towns and just know how to move people. They are the reason the run game is almost always effective, regardless of who is in the backfield.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Students
If you're following the trajectory of St. Thomas University Minnesota football, here are the three things you should keep on your radar over the next couple of seasons:
- Monitor the Post-Transition Eligibility: Watch the 2025 and 2026 seasons closely. Once the NCAA-mandated transition period ends, the Tommies will finally be eligible for the FCS playoffs. This is when we’ll see if they can truly compete with the best in the country on a national stage.
- Recruiting Trends: Look at where their commits are coming from. If you see them starting to pull more players from outside the Midwest (Texas, Florida, California), it’s a sign the brand is expanding beyond its local roots.
- Facility Upgrades: Keep an ear out for news about O'Shaughnessy Stadium. As a D-I program, there will be constant pressure to modernize. Any announcement regarding stadium expansion or new practice facilities will be a major indicator of their long-term D-I ambitions.
The story of St. Thomas football is far from finished. It’s a bold experiment that actually worked, proving that culture and coaching can often bridge the gap between divisions. Whether they stay in the PFL or eventually hunt bigger game, the Tommies have already proven they belong in the D-I conversation.