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

Quote from: CCIWFan69 on January 30, 2026, 07:52:34 PM

Quote from: USee on January 30, 2026, 04:48:54 PMWheaton AA Linebacker Luca Torti committed to USC: https://x.com/LucaTorti12/status/2016659278640402671

Pretty impressive jump.

Also, I have heard (though not confirmed) AA QB Mark Forcucci along with Wheaton's top tow WR's Seth Kortenhoeven and Caleb Titherington are returning to Wheaton next year. Big news for the Thunder.

Great news, if true.  Could this make Wheaton the favorite in the CCIW next year with what NCC is losing? 

They should crack the top 5 in the preseason Top 25, IMO, based on that news

Congrats to JP Sullivan on winning the Cliff Harris Award

https://northcentralcardinals.com/news/2026/1/15/football-sullivan-becomes-first-cardinal-to-win-cliff-harris-award.aspx

McAtee entering the portal was notable mainly because he's the first guy to leave that actually saw playing time.  In previous years, guys like Lehnen, Hardy, Sullivan etc, could've left but chose to stay. 

I'm guessing we will see more starters enter the portal but this is a first for NCC in the portal era. 

Quote from: WRMUalum13 on January 12, 2026, 03:33:26 PM

Quote from: hsbsballcoach7 on January 11, 2026, 11:30:21 AM

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 11, 2026, 10:45:06 AMCongrats to Kaleb Brown on his commitment to Tarleton State (FCS).  The Texans just ended the season ranked 6th.  Damn good program, hopefully he gets the playing time and shows out.

Things don't seem to be going as well for the other Mount guys in the portal.  Nick Turner is participating in "All Star" combines and all quiet on the Davion Grant front.  I bet that his "agents" are just working really hard behind the scenes.....

I noticed that Kaleb Brown had some offers and I'm happy for him. He's earned that opportunity...I still wonder if he was even allowed an extra year if he wouldn't stayed at Mount Union.

Kappas brings some energy back to the program. He's already out there recruiting. If you didn't listen to the interview he did with Kenny Roda, it's worth a listen to great his excitement level to be back and trust he has in Dartt.

I think if he could have stayed at Mount he would, based on his post-JCU press conference comments. I'm still of the theory that guys can get an extra year at a different level but not entirely sure.

I believe how it works is that if there is a year in which you do not travel or dress for games and only practice, then you can count it as a redshirt season for D1 eligibility. At least, that's how UWRF's receiver who just entered the portal worded it.

https://x.com/blakerohrerr/status/2010874871861964817?s=20

Quote from: robertgoulet on January 12, 2026, 09:26:03 PMThe portal has come for NCC, for what I believe is the 1st time (probably not the last time)

Grant McAtee announced he's entering the portal today.

Believe this is the first time a player has entered that was a contributor/starter. I anticipated Ashiru entering the portal as well but haven't seen him announce that yet.

In other news, I did get word that Jack Rummell does in fact have another year of eligibility and plans on playing next season.

Quote from: robertgoulet on January 05, 2026, 08:56:14 AMOne thing that completely missed me when I was thinking about this matchup was that Wilson is in his 1st season as starting QB, is only a true sophomore and has not really been tested for more than 1/2 a game. Should have expected some growing pains, I guess.

Going to take a look at the NCC 2 deep and see what they lose going into next year, at some point.

Rough estimate of the returning starters for next season, obviously subject to change:

OFFENSE:
QB - Wilson
RB - McNeal
WR1 - Rummell (depends if he redshirted at Tennessee Tech as a freshman or not, he's only played 3 seasons at NCC)
WR2 -
WR3 -
TE - McAtee
LT - Cramer
LG -
C -
RG - Golden
RT - Cortez

Losing 2 lineman and then possibly the top 2 WRs.  The coaching staff is very high on 3 freshman WRs, David Ballard III, Jake Vitel, and Amir Khan, so I think the receiving corps will be up to the usual standard.

DEFENSE:
DE - Medina
DT - Ohle
DT -
DE -
LB - Janiak
LB -
OLB/Nickel -
CB -
S - Garrigan
S - Green
CB -

Losing a lot more on defense. This year's team was carried by the defense IMO and next year will need to be more of the offense driving the show, which has been the case for NCC teams essentially the entire Thorne era

Quote from: Pat Coleman on January 05, 2026, 01:52:35 PMYes, two non-conference games. Last we heard, North Central is playing Wartburg but still needs a second non-conference game for 2026.

Field was tough, for sure. Very surprised it wasn't better cared for. It snowed here on Thursday and never got above freezing after that. Also, the big south grandstand kept the field in shadows the whole time, not the the sun ever came out.

They ought to have tarped the field, clearly.

Don't they have the 2nd half of their home and home @ Oshkosh next year?  Love the Wartburg matchup, that's a great one.