If you are strictly talking from a "number of games" and physicality standpoint, you are correct. However a D3 school doesn't have the travel requirements of a D1 program. UW Whitewater Destinations: (http://www.uwwsports.com/schedule.aspx?path=football): Bloomington, ILL Moorhead, Minn St. Louis, MO Oshkosh River Falls Stevens Point Wisconsin Destinations: (http://www.uwbadgers.com/schedule.aspx?path=football) Provo, UT Lincoln, NB Champaign, ILL Bloomington, IN Minneapolis, MN Indianapolis, IN I am not sure about the D1 schedule, but I am sure that nobody goes to class the day before away games due to travel requirements. So from the academic standpoint, I believe a D1 schedule is more demanding.