The Nebraska Wesleyan University football team will face their first nationally-ranked opponent of the season on Saturday (Oct. 8) as they head to Dubuque, Iowa to face the University of Dubuque in Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football action.  Kickoff between the Prairie Wolves and Spartans is scheduled for 1 pm.
 
NWU picked up their first Iowa Conference win last Saturday with a 27-24 victory at Luther College to record the 500^th win in program history.  Dubuque enters Saturday's matchup ranked No. 18 in the AFCA/DIII Coaches Poll and No. 23 in the D3Football.com top 25 poll.  The Spartans are a perfect 5-0 overall and 3-0 in IIAC action.
 
The Prairie Wolves got a 4^th quarter field goal from IIAC Special Teams Player of the Week Kramer Rath to break open a tie game against Luther last week, then forced the Norse into a field goal with just over one minute left that sailed right to secure the win.  With the victory, the Prairie Wolves improved to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in Iowa Conference play.
 
One week after facing the conference's best rushing attack, this Saturday the Prairie Wolves take on the top passing offense in the IIAC.  Dubuque averages just under 340 yards through the air per game in their five wins.  Last week, the Spartans defeated No. 24 and previously unbeaten Central College.  Dubuque, the 2015 Iowa Conference champions, have now won 10 straight conference games dating back to the 2014 season.
 
It will be a matchup of the best passing offense in the IIAC, facing the best passing defense in the conference as the Prairie Wolves are allowing only 204.4 yards per game through the air.
 
Saturday's game is the first time that Nebraska Wesleyan and Dubuque have ever met on the football field.