Quote from: Mister36 on Yesterday at 11:39:11 AM

Quote from: D3fanboy on August 13, 2026, 04:23:09 PM

Quote from: robertgoulet on August 13, 2026, 04:15:23 PM

Quote from: USee on August 13, 2026, 12:26:44 PMWheaton players reported yesterday. Season begins vs #3 Mt Union visiting MCully Stadium for the first time in the history of these programs.

Preseason All American teams were released by D3FB. I can't remember a time when there was only 1 Mt Union player on the 3 offensive and defensive teams listed. Mt Union Qb Matt Maloney is the 2nd team QB. Wheaton reps on the list include: 2nd Team OL Aiden Byrne, 2nd Team LB Zeke Harris and S Colin Moore, 3rd Team Punter Josiah Smith. Tough duty when a Gagliardi semifinalist QB can't crack this list. N

For #1 NCC vs #2 Bethel here are the Pre Season AA's:

NCC: 1st Team QB Garret Wilson, OT Cortez Kennedy, 3rd Team Def LB Matt Janiak
Bethel: 1st Team WR (Gagliardi finalist) Albert Rundell, 2nd Team OC Jaegar Ash, 3rd Team QB Cooper Drews; 1st Team Def Phil Conant

No other CCIW players made the list.

This has a feel of the season NCC loses a regular season game for the first time since 2019. Bethel and Wheaton both with more players on the pre-season AA teams obviously doesn't make it a given but it certainly gives off the vibe. Maybe even *gulp* 2 losses and missing the playoffs is on the table!

oh please.  NCC has been to 6 straight Staggs.  Now they are going to lose to....Bethel?  C'mon

Bethel's offense is getting it's own name due to it's speed and output, as we know, this is NCC's achille's heel.

IMO, NCC's Achilles' heel on defense has been mobile QBs who can also throw. Blaha, Boyes, Helterbrand, and even Smythe from IWU have all given them fits. I wouldn't necessarily put Drews in that category, but we'll see in a few weeks.

I think the bigger key to the Bethel game will be NCC's rushing offense against Bethel's defense. McNeal made A LOT happen on his own and after contact last year, and I don't think they have another difference-making running back on the roster this year.

Will be interesting to see how both Drews and Wilson perform, neither was able to get much going throwing the ball in the game last year. Wilson finished the game with 83 yards passing and Drews had 75 yards passing when the score was 35-7. 

Quote from: robertgoulet on August 13, 2026, 04:15:23 PM

Quote from: USee on August 13, 2026, 12:26:44 PMWheaton players reported yesterday. Season begins vs #3 Mt Union visiting MCully Stadium for the first time in the history of these programs.

Preseason All American teams were released by D3FB. I can't remember a time when there was only 1 Mt Union player on the 3 offensive and defensive teams listed. Mt Union Qb Matt Maloney is the 2nd team QB. Wheaton reps on the list include: 2nd Team OL Aiden Byrne, 2nd Team LB Zeke Harris and S Colin Moore, 3rd Team Punter Josiah Smith. Tough duty when a Gagliardi semifinalist QB can't crack this list. N

For #1 NCC vs #2 Bethel here are the Pre Season AA's:

NCC: 1st Team QB Garret Wilson, OT Cortez Kennedy, 3rd Team Def LB Matt Janiak
Bethel: 1st Team WR (Gagliardi finalist) Albert Rundell, 2nd Team OC Jaegar Ash, 3rd Team QB Cooper Drews; 1st Team Def Phil Conant

No other CCIW players made the list.

This has a feel of the season NCC loses a regular season game for the first time since 2019. Bethel and Wheaton both with more players on the pre-season AA teams obviously doesn't make it a given but it certainly gives off the vibe. Maybe even *gulp* 2 losses and missing the playoffs is on the table!

Even if they had two losses, I think they would still comfortably be in the playoffs at 8-2 with how NPI works. I could be wrong, but if they lose to Bethel, Bethel would most likely go 10-0 or 9-1. Same with Wheaton. They would then also have a win over a likely 9-1 or 8-2 Wartburg.

NCC reported for camp on Tuesday and currently has 145–150 players on campus.

NCC is holding an open practice for family and alumni on Saturday, August 22, and is also scrimmaging the University of Chicago on Thursday, August 27.

Glad we're so close to having football back.

Preseason Top 25 poll posted https://www.d3football.com/top25/2026/preseason

1v2 and 3v5 week 1, pretty awesome start to the season!

Quote from: GusD on July 15, 2026, 02:53:38 PMThe loss of McNeal is a HUGE one for the Cardinals. He undoubtedly would have been the favorite to lead the conference rushing as he did last year, raking up more than twice as many yards as the second place finisher.

As far as NCC's starter at RB this year it seems like Sean Allen would merit serious consideration. Last season he gained 546 yards, averaging 5.1 YPC, and scored 8 TDs.
Very solid contributor Jordan Williams had  345 yards, averaging 4.8 YPC, with 2 TDs.

I believe Allen has decided to move on (already graduated) even though he did have 1 more year of eligibility due to red shirting at Illinois State. I could be wrong though.

North Central announced their captains for the upcoming season:

Cortez Jones (Senior)
Jack Rummell (5th year)
Ethan Groark (5th year)
Matt Janiak (Junior)

I wasn't aware that Groark had taken a medical redshirt back in 2024 so glad to see he gets to play another season.

The big bummer is Donny McNeal tore his Achilles this offseason and will miss the '26 season.
EDIT: per a recent post on IG, sounds like he could come back late October/early November. Not sure if he will or will choose to medical redshirt.

Offense returns 4 starters:
QB Garret Wilson (RS SO)
WR Jack Rummell (5th yr)
LT Tyson Cramer (SR)
RT Cortez Jones (SR)

My guess at the other 7 starters (without knowing any transfers):
LG Dennis Dracup (SO)
RG Anil Rampersaud (SO)
Center ?
RB Jordan Williams (SR)
TE Dawson Trebolo (SR)
WR David Ballard III (SO)
WR Jake Vitel (SO)

Defense returns 6 starters:
DE Bobby Medina (SR)
DT Maverick Ohle (RS JR)
LB Matt Janiak (JR)
OLB Ethan Groark (5th yr)
Safety Brayden Garrigan (SR)
Safety Kyler Green (SR)

My guess at the other 5 starters:
DE Tucker Johnson (JR) / Troy Kashul (SO)
DT Graham Wight (SR)
LB Philip Carlton Jr. (SR)
CB Kaden Hartnett (SR)
CB Kenny Rutherford (SR)

Quote from: AndrewB on June 13, 2026, 11:47:21 AMIt's not who you lose, it's who do you have to replace them.  The Packers lost Favre, but had Rodgers. 

Does NCC have anyone near the talent of Sullivan to replace him?  No.
How about Roby.  I would argue not even close.
Rewatch that 2nd half.  The D was gassed and looked small. 
Don't be surprised when Bethel puts up 40+ in week 1.

Sullivan and Roby both didn't become full-time starters until their junior years. You seem to be insinuating those 2 have carried the program.

I think at this point the coaching staff have shown a decent track record of reloading talent.

Quote from: AndrewB on June 02, 2026, 03:41:18 PM

Quote from: USee on June 02, 2026, 10:19:43 AM

Quote from: AndrewB on June 01, 2026, 06:43:42 PMNorth Central just lost too much this off season.

This is almost funny. Have you been watching the last 5 years? Unless something dramatic has changed, North Central will have plenty of talent on the field in September.

Never said they wouldn't be a top 10 team.  They won't win the Stagg Bowl in January.  Losing the 2 best players on defense will have a huge effect.  Rewatch the 2nd half against UWRF last year.  That's not a #1 overall team.  Every team - Whitewater, UMHB, Mount Union has had minor rough patches.  This could be the beginning for NC.

They arguably lost more heading into last season (a 2x Gagliardi-winning QB, a multiple-time All-American RB, and two of the best offensive linemen in program history) than they are losing this offseason. Not saying they'll make the Stagg again, but I don't think losing Sullivan and Roby is as big a loss as losing Lehnen, Maples & Pryor was.

Quote from: USee on May 14, 2026, 12:14:57 AMWheaton is going to be pretty good next year. They get their Gagliardi finalist QB, top 2 WR's and top RB's all back with several OL returning. On def they have 6-7 returning starters including a stud MLB and Safety. If they can find a couple cover corners and 1-2 DL who can pressure the QB, they can make another run. 8-2 would be a disappointment from my perspective. That said we will know early how good they are as they host Mt Union and travel to Albion in weeks 1-2 and travel to Naperville (again) in early October (where are all the schedule complainers now?

IMO, 4 of the top 5 teams in the country will be playing within a 10 mile radius on 9/5.  Based on how last season ended plus the fact all 4 are returning their QBs.

The Wheaton-NCC game is once again a night game for homecoming, should be an awesome atmosphere like it was last season.

NCC held its open spring practice this past Saturday.

Sophomore Kyle Beaty worked as the #2 QB behind Wilson. No one else got reps from what I saw, so I'm assuming he has the lead for the backup job heading into the fall.

I did not see Jack Rummell or Donovan McNeal participating. I'm assuming the coaches were holding them out for one reason or another.

Both David Ballard III and Jake Vitel stood out in the receiver corps. I think we'll be hearing both of those sophomores' names quite a bit this season.

Both guards and the center need to be replaced due to graduation. It looked like sophomores Dennis Dracup and Anil Rampersaud were working at guard with the starters, though I couldn't tell who was at center.

Kenny Rutherford and Kaden Hartnett were the starting corners, as the team looks to replace Marey Roby and Jahmar Daniel.

This has the makings of one of the younger NCC teams since the make-the-Stagg run began.

Interesting to note that NCC has changed the name of their high school prospect camp this summer to "Naperville Championship football camp"  Was previously named North Central College Football Camp.

Wondering if that means the name change for the college is imminent/happening...

https://x.com/CoachDierking/status/2038642195083751702?s=20

Here are Marey Roby and JP Sullivan's testing results from the Western Illinois combine.

https://x.com/football_ncc/status/2038078255417167910?s=46&t=2LpDHlmLWW7A7c0oIFbv5Q

Roby earned himself a workout with the Bears

https://x.com/nuicfootball/status/2038000607600992527?s=46&t=2LpDHlmLWW7A7c0oIFbv5Q

Quote from: D3fanboy on February 23, 2026, 02:47:49 PM

Quote from: Patrick Coleman on February 23, 2026, 02:38:37 PMWeakest dynasty is still a pretty decent place to be. 240 Division III schools would be happy for three national titles in the past six years.

you're right, champs are champs. crazy program accomplishment!

but there's no denying that D3FB is at a pretty low point with the portal and coaches jumping left and right. certain D3FB media has pretty much called NCC unbeatable, or the greatest team of all time...but no other "dynasty" has had such rough losses in the Stagg. 

I guess at least NCC hasn't had one taken away by cheating.  Second worst dynasty

I think part of what makes the losses look so rough is during this run NCC basically hasn't had close games, and when they do, they lose in the Stagg.  They had a 20 point lead in 55/59 games Lehnen started, and lost 2/4 games they didn't get the 20 point lead. They had a few "closer" games on the scoreboard in the playoffs this year, but none of those games were in question at any point in the 2nd half.

For as great as the coaching staff has been since Spencer took over, they simply do not have a lot of experience with handling close games late and it is has shown on the biggest stage twice now.  Spencer's record is 58-2 overall but its really 1-2 in games decided by less than 2 scores.

Quote from: cciwman on February 25, 2026, 12:52:45 PM
https://x.com/WheatonFB/status/2026366257537142946?s=20
A little gamesmanship from the Thunder?  Play Naperville on Oct 10?  Using the school logo instead of the NC?

FWIW, they used the same exact graphic/Naperville on last year's schedule release as well

USee beat me to it...what a great schedule for NCC.  2 years in a row homecoming against Wheaton sure is something.  Bethel and Wartburg to start the season also is great, wish they had the opportunity for 2 OOC games every year...

https://x.com/elmhurst_u/status/2018456929727644099?s=20

Arizona Cardinals new head coach played at Elmhurst which I did not realize