Quote from: BIG BLUE BEN on October 19, 2026, 09:32:01 AMHow Millikin Pulled Off the Upset Over Illinois Wesleyan

The most fascinating part of Millikin's upset over Illinois Wesleyan wasn't just that Millikin won. It was watching Illinois Wesleyan play as though they didn't believe they were in any real danger of losing until it was too late.

Wesleyan played like a team that expected to win by 21 points simply by showing up and being the more talented team. They never seemed to fully appreciate that Millikin was capable of beating them, and that arrogance showed up repeatedly in their play calling.

What makes it even more incredible is that Wesleyan seemed to carry that same mentality into the final moments. Even on the last play, they took their chances on a jump-ball fade or back-shoulder throw rather than running something that reflected a genuine respect for Millikin's ability to win the game. In a way, it was the perfect ending to a game in which Wesleyan never seemed to fully respect the opponent standing across from them.

The fact that anyone would ever associate the word arrogance with Illinois Wesleyan is totally incomprehensible. 😏

Quote from: palum on October 17, 2026, 04:51:01 PMPlatteville wins over River Falls 42-0. Platteville's defense held the Falcons to 21 yards of offense. Uselding completed 80% of his passes. Going in I thought Platteville had a chance to win but not like this.

Well, with being ranked above UWRF, P'ville certainly had more than just a chance to win, especially considering they were at home. Conversely, with a shellacking like this, perhaps River Falls isn't as good as previously thought.

Quote from: NCC2010 on October 13, 2026, 11:01:22 AM

Quote from: CCIWFan69 on October 13, 2026, 10:52:31 AM

Quote from: CarollFan on October 12, 2026, 01:07:13 PM

Quote from: devildog29 on October 12, 2026, 11:54:12 AM

Quote from: CarollFan on October 11, 2026, 03:11:17 PMYes the 8-2 teams best chance is AQ.
Bethel at 8-2 less then 20% chance.


Right now over 11 conferences can produce a 1 loss at-large team with 11 at-large bids.

To begin I want to be clear, I don't honestly have any delusions as to where IWU ranks nationwide.  But if they do finish 8-2, their 2 losses would be to 2 teams who at one point in the season were both ranked #1 in the country.  At worst, it's a heckuva turnaround for Coach Williamson in year 2, much of which they accomplished with a backup QB.

No doubt they've done a great job. The 8-2 comment regarding at-large bids speaks more to NPI and having only 11 at-large bids and the challenge for 8-2 teams to make the playoffs. Beating a WIAC team in the Isthmus Bowl would be nice as so far only Wheaton has got a win there. The opportunity for IWU to make the playoffs is beating NCC the last game so it's not over yet.

Not saying it will happen but I think IWU has a shot at NCC this year.  If anything, will most likely be a great game.

IMO, it depends on whether Dermot Smyth is back and healthy. He has given the NCC defense trouble in previous years. He hasn't played since their third game, so he could also opt to sit out the rest of the season, take a medical redshirt, and come back for one more season next fall. No idea about the extent of his injury, though.

There's only one problem with this. I assume Mr. Smyth is still taking his classes and, being a senior, will graduate next May. But, IWU doesn't have graduate level classes so he'd have to be playing someplace besides that undergraduate institution only if he were to be granted a med redshirt. 

A nice contingent of former players is expected at 11:00 tomorrow morning when, in conjunction with Homecoming activities, former NCC Head Coach Todd Raridon will be inducted into the North Central College Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 18 years from 2004-2005 through 2021-2022 Raridon compiled a record of 312-160, including winning 3 CCIW Conference Championships, and 5 CCIW Tournament Championships.
The 2012-2013 team posted an all-time season record of 28-4 while advancing to the D3 Final Four.

Somehow I think that tomorrow Wheaton is going to amass more than 10 first downs, more than 2 yards rushing, and more than 150 yards passing as they did in last year's game.
Might the key statistic be turnovers, and the winner the one who wins the TO battle?

Speaking of WashU, they're probably glad to be out of the CCW and no longer having to play Wheaton and NCC. They are currently tied for first in their new conference, the NCAC, at 4-0, and are the only team in the conference that is currently undefeated, including nonconference games.

AUGIE NEWS

Augie will be looking for a new head assistant as Malik Wildermuth has moved north to become head coach at Madison (WI) Jr. College.

Quote from: Jbothe on October 07, 2026, 11:10:58 AMQuestion for those in the know.  Do most of the CCIW basketball programs make preseason cuts?

It seems like most CCIW rosters are in the 15-20 range.

Other D3 schools, especially those who might struggle with enrollment, seem to keep a lot more.

I think what happens with most teams is there are a certain number of varsity spots on each team. Guys that don't make the varsity after official practice (as opposed to open gym) begins, are designated as junior varsity as opposed to being cut.

There are a few kids who, what you could say, recruit themselves but generally, there aren't really a lot of what you would call true walk ons. The vast majority of the players have been recruited to various degrees. As above, at some point the coach picks the varsity and the remaining players comprise the JV team.

Quote from: GusD on October 03, 2026, 05:21:36 PMUW-W dumps River Falls. Seems like odds are good Wheaton could move up to #2, and we could have another #1 vs. #2 battle next Saturday night in Naperville! 🏈

Yes indeed! It should be a real barn burner next Sat night when the #2 Wheaties roll 8.5 miles south down Naperville Rd. to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium to attempt to capture The Little Brass Bell trophy. 🛎  🏈

NCC  35
Augie 7

I won't go into details of the entire game, but a new all-time NCC record was set in the game today.
With 48 seconds left before halftime, the Cardinals had the ball on their own 3 yard line following an Augie punt. On the first play from scrimmage Duke Guenther took a hand off and veered left, turning up field just inside the west side boundary. After a just few yards it looked like he was going to be brought down, but he eluded the Augie defenders and raced just in bounds down the sideline for 97 yards and a TD.

**Gunther's 97 yard run for a TD eclipses the old record of 96 yards set in 2009.

UW-W dumps River Falls. Seems like odds are good Wheaton could move up to #2, and we could have another #1 vs. #2 battle next Saturday night in Naperville! 🏈

Quote from: Gregory Sager on September 26, 2026, 12:40:29 AMI should've noticed that error of Mark's regarding who is ultimately responsible for the configuration of a two-deep, Pat, but I let myself get distracted by his colorful metaphor regarding signal flares in fundaments.

Yes, and with specific regard to appropriately green signal flares, I suspect the SID and coach might have collaborated in using some Barium Chlorate Ba(ClO3)2 which produces a very bright classic exhibition green in order to possibly engage in a little gamesmanship in this case. 😏

Quote from: Gregory Sager on September 25, 2026, 04:13:02 PM

Quote from: GusD on September 25, 2026, 03:45:06 PMSmyth is listed in the IWU Game Notes as the starter vs. Wheaton but, depending on the severity of his injury, that could just be the Weenie SID blowing some green smoke out his rear end.

The Illinois Wesleyan SID is a woman, Mark, so you are speculating that she could be blowing smoke out of her rear end. Unless, that is, the second "his" in your sentence refers to Dermot Smyth, in which case you're giving the Illinois Wesleyan SID credit for being able to do some interesting things involving green smoke to other people that I suspect are beyond her skill set, or the skill set of any other D3 SID, for that matter.

Well pardon my assumption that the IWU SID is male. Her/she it is!
And no matter whether male or female we know that from time to time SIDs will list a starter on the two-deep that has very little or no chance of playing at all. Whether an honest mistake or a deliberate attempt to deceive an opponent would be a subject of conjecture. 

Quote from: USee on September 25, 2026, 10:45:47 AM

Quote from: CarollFan on September 24, 2026, 12:46:36 PMA little info on IWU going into the Wheaton game. Not sure what the situation is with IWU QB.

https://herald-review.com/sports/community/article_329caa34-8ae5-5f96-98ef-99b086ece60b.html


Across all 3 games played:
IWU D leads conference in sacks with 14 and in interceptions with 8.
Wheaton D #1 scoring, #1 total yards, #1 rushing and #2 passing.

Quote from: CarollFan on September 24, 2026, 12:46:36 PMA little info on IWU going into the Wheaton game. Not sure what the situation is with IWU QB.

https://herald-review.com/sports/community/article_329caa34-8ae5-5f96-98ef-99b086ece60b.html


Across all 3 games played:
IWU D leads conference in sacks with 14 and in interceptions with 8.
Wheaton D #1 scoring, #1 total yards, #1 rushing and #2 passing.

I don't have any information on IWU QB Dermot Smyth other than seeing the play vs Augie where a defensive lineman landed on Smyth with his throwing shoulder smashing into the ground. Smyth played one more play and then I could see him trying to throw short passes on the sideline. He did not return and his coach described it afterwards as a "sprained shoulder". Smyth is obviously a huge piece of the IWU attack as both a passer and a runner (he is their leading rusher).

IWU and Wheaton have a common opponent in Albion (both games played at Sprankel-Sprandel Stadium). IWU won 24-10 in a game that was 10-10 going into the 4th quarter. IWU gained 325 yds and Albion put up 264.

Wheaton won 45-3 and gained 451 yds to Albion's 153.

Smyth is listed in the IWU Game Notes as the starter vs. Wheaton but, depending on the severity of his injury, that could just be the Weenie SID blowing some green smoke out his rear end. If Smyth is able to play it should be a close game quite likely highlighted by a battle between Smyth and Wheaton QB Forcucci.
If Smyth is truly severely injured to the point of not being able to play, Wheaton will win by a significant margin.

Quote from: blue_jays on September 24, 2026, 09:48:16 AM

Quote from: CarollFan on September 23, 2026, 08:55:07 PMSince quiet middle of the week, I'll throw this out there.

Should UWRF be #1?

Based on recent results, I would say UWRF should be #1. NCC's O-line issues are a legit concern against top tier opponents.

And yet, with those issues, NCC somehow still beat the #2 and #9 teams in the country 🤔.
Plus the fact that North Park is better than Southern Virginia 🤗.