Another twist to all of this is that it is better to lose in the Algeria v. Austria game. Now called the "Disgrace of KC" Round of 32 opponent is most likely much easier for the 3rd place team in this group.

Not my thoughts, but makes sense. Check out this - https://x.com/SoccerWithSam/status/2069544490424008875?s=20

Quirky, but Austria was involved in the first "Disgrace" game. The "Disgrace of Gijon" in 1982 which lead to the final games in WC and other big tournaments to be played at the same time. So I have Austria to lose. 

Quote from: Voice of the Titans on June 18, 2026, 12:15:20 PMI for one am looking forward to seeing Wisconsin Polyester Stout play this season.

Like you did last year?
Stout 27 Oshkosh 16

There is no upside to being disrespectful to a fellow WIAC member.

Quote from: Kuiper on June 22, 2026, 12:50:32 AMCape Verde ties Uruguay 2-2 after tying Spain 0-0 in Game 1!  Quite the first World Cup for the tiny nation made up of ten volcanic islands with a population of about 530K that only became independent in the mid 1970s.  They even still have a chance for the knockout rounds if they can beat Saudi Arabia.   

I think a draw should be good enough for them to advance. A win guarantees a top 2 finish, also with a draw and Spain win. But a 3rd place team on 3 points and 0 goal differential will certainly be one of the 8 to advance.

3rd place standings:
A: likely to only have 1 point
B: would be on 2 points if Bosnia-Qatar draw otherwise it's 4 points
C: likely will be on 3 points with negative GD
D: will either be on 4 points (Australia-Paraguay draw) or 3 points with negative GD
E: would need either Ecuador to beat Germany or Curacao to beat Cote D'Ivoire to have a shot at 3rd place advancing
F: if Sweden lose would be on 3 points and negative GD, otherwise 4 points
G and H (Cabo Verde): both groups are identical, lots of draws so far. Could be on 2 points, 3 points, or 4 points
I: Senegal and Iraq both have 0, a draw eliminates both, a Senegal win might improve their GD enough
J: either on 4 points or on 3 with negative GD
K: depends on DRC-Uzbekistan result. Could be on 2 points (draw), 3 points with terrible GD (Uzbek win), or 4 points (DRC win)
L: at worst 3 points and negative GD, a Croatia result means 4 points

Barring huge upsets, A and E are out. B, G, H, I, and K are the other groups that have possibilities to finish with less than 3 points. If two of those do then any 3rd place with at least 3 points would advance.

In conjunction with this year's Homecoming activities, former North Central Head Coach Todd Raridon will be inducted into the NCC Athletic Hall of Fame on October 10th.

Coming to North Central after compiling a 269-125 record at Nebraska Wesleyan, Raridon posted a 312-160 record in Naperville. In the process he won CCIW Championships in 2011, 2012, and 2020, CCIW Tournament Championships in 2006, 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2019, and took the Cardinals to the D3 National Tournament in 2006, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, including advancing to the Final Four in 2013.

1. Ryan - Chapman - SCIAC
12. Ryan - Union - LL
13. Ryan - Carthage - CCIW
24. Ryan - DePauw - NCAC
25. Ryan - Maryville - SAA
36. Ryan - Gwynedd Mercy - AEC
37. Ryan - Willamette - NWC
48. Ryan - Wheaton (MA) - NEWMAC
49. Ryan - Minnesota-Morris - UMAC
60. Ryan - Carnegie Mellon - UAA

2. Nescac1 - Williams - NESCAC
11. Nescac1 - Elmhurst - CCIW
14. Nescac1 - Trine - MIAA
23. Nescac1 - Saint John's - MIAC
26. Nescac1 - Coe - ARC
35. Nescac1 - Ohio Northern - OAC
38. Nescac1 - Keene State - LEC
47. Nescac1 - Suffolk - CNE
50. Nescac1 - Washington & Lee - ODAC
59. Nescac1 - Concordia (TX) - SCAC


3. FCGG - Connecticut College - NESCAC
10. FCGG - Hampden-Sydney - ODAC
15. FCGG - Drew - Land
22. FCGG - Stockton - NJAC
27. FCGG - Puget Sound - NWC
34. FCGG - SUNY Oneonta - SUNYAC
39. FCGG - DeSales - MACF
46. FCGG - Salve Regina - NEWMAC
51. FCGG - Sage - E8
58. FCGG - Franklin - HCAC

4. NCF - Nebraska Wesleyan - ARC
9. NCF - Oshkosh - WIAC
16. NCF - Wheaton - CCIW
21. NCF - Rowan - NJAC
28. NCF - Wittenbeg - NCAC
33. NCF - Pitt-Greensburg - AMCC
40. NCF - Ursinus - CC
45. NCF - Baruch - CUNYAC
52. NCF - Huntingdon -CCS
57. NCF - Calvin - MIAA

5. Ronk - Scranton - LAND
8. Ronk - Colby - NESCAC
17. Ronk - Farmingdale St - Sky
20. Ronk - Monmouth - MWC
29. Ronk - La Roche - AMCC
32. Ronk - Marymount - AEC
41. Ronk - Lancaster Bible - UEC
44. Ronk - Lyon - SLIAC
53. Ronk - Occidental - SCIAC
56. Ronk - Kean - NJAC

6. Greek - Oswego St - SUNYAC
7. Greek - Hardin-Simmons - ASC
18. Greek - RPI - LL
19. Greek - Denison - NCAC
30. Greek - St. Norbert College - NACC
31. Greek - Olivet - MIAA
42. Greek - Webster - SLIAC
43. Greek - Westfield St - MASCAC
54. Greek - SUNY-Geneseo - E8
55. Greek - St. Joseph CT - GNAC

Quote from: FiredCoachesPod on June 23, 2026, 11:56:00 AMThe article from Forbes is nothing more than a "we don't have all the facts piece."

What do you base this opinion on? What facts do you have?

NCC's new 🏀 GA for the next two seasons is Nathan Valentine who began his career at IWU before transferring to Lawrence where he played the last two years.

I don't have any social media accounts.  But when I typed in "Kyle Haas football", it showed part of his X account.  It thanks his UW-L teammates and staff, but also said he was entering the transfer portal. Is this true, or is this old and not applicable anymore?

Now if we can just get the transfer portal under control, we'd be on to something.  I'm old enough to remember when people actually cared about National Signing Day and guys didn't change schools faster than they changed socks.

Back to D3, though.  Interesting possibilities if D3 adopted the same 5/5 model:
1. as you mentioned, an increase of good D3 talent transferring to D1 and D2 schools for a graduate year.  Always fun to see that happen. Talent is talent!
2. more undergraduate schools will start graduate programs, or
3. schools with very small graduate enrollment will grow offerings to keep from "passing off" a student to another school for the 5th year.

Division I has approved the 5-year aged based eligibility model.

It remains to be seen how this will affect Division III.

I could see a few student-athletes transferring for a fifth season in Division I after completing a full four years at Division III if that is allowed, for example.