Bethel's Cooper Drews Closes Out Storied MIAC Career

The Bethel quarterback ranks among the conference's all-time best passers in his final season.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football

Bethel's Cooper Drews Closes Out Storied MIAC Career

Bethel starting quarterback Cooper Drews has thrown 106 touchdown passes over three seasons, ranking third all-time in the MIAC. He is on track to finish second in conference history in completions.

Why it matters

Drews' production places him among the most prolific passers in MIAC history, a conference where Bethel and St. John's are the two elite Division III football programs in Minnesota. His final season carries weight for both his legacy and the competitive picture in the league.

Drews has thrown 106 touchdown passes across three seasons as Bethel's starter, a total that ranks third in MIAC history. Bethel has two losses this season, and the final completion ranking will be determined by the end of the 2026 season.

The players

Cooper Drews

Bethel University's starting quarterback since 2024, who began his college career at St. John's and is from Princeton, Minnesota, where he first played football.

Bethel University

A private Division III institution in St. Paul, Minnesota, whose football program is one of the two elite D-3 programs in the state alongside St. John's.

St. John's University

A private Catholic university in Collegeville, Minnesota, whose football program is one of the state's two elite Division III programs and competes in the MIAC.

The details

Drews began his college career at St. John's before transferring to Bethel after his freshman year. He has been Bethel's starting quarterback since 2024, and St. John's won the regular season meeting between the two programs this year.

2024: Drews becomes Bethel's starting quarterback.
After his freshman year: Drews transfers from St. John's to Bethel.
2026 season: St. John's wins the regular season meeting; Bethel records two losses.
End of the 2026 season: Drews is projected to finish No. 2 all-time in MIAC completions.

Season Trajectory

Drews' final season places him among the MIAC's most productive quarterbacks, with his touchdown total ranking third all-time in conference history. The Bethel-St. John's rivalry continues to define the top tier of Minnesota's Division III football landscape.

Fantasy and recruiting observers tracking Division III passing leaders will want to monitor Drews' final completion total as the season closes. His statistical finish will shape how the conference's all-time passing record book reads for years.

The takeaway

Drews' three-year run as a starter shows how a transfer after one season can produce a lasting legacy in a competitive conference. His final year will be measured against the conference's best passers in its record book.