Why Keystone College Should Move Its Game Against Wisconsin-Whitewater to Scranton

One of the strangest games of the college football season, regardless of level, takes place on September 26th. One of the most storied programs in Division III, Wisconsin-Whitewater, travels 800 miles to a forgotten Eastern Pennsylvania town to play the unheralded Keystone College Giants. You could not find a more lopsided matchup in regards to history if you tried.

Wisconsin-Whitewater has nearly as many playoff appearances (20) all-time as Keystone has wins (31) over 16 seasons of play. Additionally, the Warhawks have ten Stagg Bowl appearances and six national championships. Yet, somehow, Keystone will host the mighty Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks.

Keystone is one of two Division III independents along with Gallaudet. While Gallaudet has had to carve out a unique, slightly controversial path as an independent, the Giants have had much more difficulty.

Keystone's schedule has numerous oddities, including a rare in-season home-and-home with Division II Monroe University and home games against non-NCAA opponents, the Apprentice School and the Milford Academy. The Giants also face Division III powers Mary Hardin Baylor and the aforementioned Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Despite representing a landmark opportunity for the upstart Keystone program, the Wisconsin-Whitewater game also presents a problem.

Keystone's Turf Field Athletic Complex seats 300 fans. A program with the stature and fanbase of Wisconsin-Whitewater commands a larger venue. Thus, Keystone should move the game to historic PenFed Field at Scranton Memorial Stadium, which is only 14 miles away.

Lackawanna College is on the road that week, creating availability. Although the stadium is a bit cavernous, at 15,000 seats, even keeping one side open for the Wisconsin-Whitewater game increases this matchup's profitability compared to keeping it on campus.

Despite its relative obscurity, Scranton Memorial Stadium would create a neutral, bowl game-like atmosphere for Keystone. The stadium has an underrated history, opening in 1949 and hosting household Division I names such as Hofstra, Youngstown State, and even Temple.*

Furthermore, it would help Keystone grow its footprint within the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area. La Plume, where Keystone College resides, and nearby Factoryville have a combined population of around 1600 compared to Scranton's population of over 76,000. Keystone must establish itself more in the Scranton community to maintain operations.

Like many colleges of its size, Keystone has had its share of operational issues after the COVID-19 pandemic. Christopher Doyle of the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice reported that Keystone began the 2025 Fall semester with an enrollment of 714 students, nearly half of its enrollment in 2018. The school had to cut a fifth of its budget, including 29 staff positions, while eliminating low-enrollment programs. Worst of all, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education announced it was withdrawing Keystone's accreditation in 2024.

Now, the school faces an even greater threat within the region with Lackawanna College transitioning from a two-year institution to four-year status. Keystone College must try everything to advertise itself and maintain a steady enrollment stream. What better way than giving Scranton a defacto bowl game?

In addition to the serious enrollment concerns, moving the game to Scranton may encourage more Wisconsin-Whitewater fans to make the trip. Scranton may not be Disneyland or even Hershey, Pennsylvania, but the city has a level of mystique most of its peers lack thanks to one thing: The Office.

There are probably many Dunder-Mifflin fans within the Wisconsin-Whitewater fanbase who would probably find some intrigue in exploring Scranton. Making the city of Scranton the centerpiece of this game puts the association front and center. Maybe Keystone should call this game "The Paper Bowl."

Detractors may argue moving this game 15 miles off campus hurts Keystone students, but they are not really showing up to games anyway. The one Giant home game with attendance data from 2025 had a figure of 110 fans. In 2024, Keystone had three games draw 160 fans or fewer. There is not much to lose, and the program has four other home games for its students.

Keystone's game against Wisconsin-Whitewater could be one of the rarest one-offs ever. The right marketing effort could increase Keystone's footprint and stave off existential concerns temporarily. The college has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Moving a game against a Division III heavyweight to the city is worth the gamble.

*Mark Pollak’s book, The Playing Grounds of College Football: A Comprehensive Directory, 1869 to Today, sourced this information.