The Midwest Conference: Knox, Monmouth and D-III in west-central Illinois
The Midwest Conference is one of the oldest college athletic leagues in the country, competing at the NCAA Division III level. For our readers it matters because two member schools sit right in the coverage area: Knox College in Galesburg and Monmouth College in Monmouth, separated by fewer than 20 miles.
Member colleges
- Beloit College
- Cornell College
- Grinnell College
- Illinois College
- Knox College (Galesburg)
- Lake Forest College
- Lawrence University
- Monmouth College (Monmouth)
- Ripon College
Luther College is set to join the league in 2026-27, expanding it to ten members.
Division III, and what that means
Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, so the Midwest Conference is built on student-athletes playing for their schools and communities. Knox and Monmouth field full slates of teams — football, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, cross country, track and more.
The Bronze Turkey rivalry
Each fall, Knox and Monmouth meet on the football field in one of college football’s oldest rivalries, playing for the Bronze Turkey trophy. It is the marquee date on the local college calendar and a tradition that predates most of the modern game.
Follow the coverage
Muddy River Sport covers both programs year-round: Knox Prairie Fire » · Monmouth Fighting Scots ». Reach us through our contact page.