Our First Opponent

Northern Colorado just got certified.

Heralded as a "historic day for the University of Northern Colorado," by school officials, the Bears' rise out of Division II has been certified in advance of their season-opening football game with the University of Hawai'i, the NCAA said.

UNC, which won NCAA Division II national championships in 1996 and '97, had been in a four-year transition process toward full membership in the 124-school Football Championship Subdivision (previously known as Division I-AA).