FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CarollFan]

Updated NPI's.

https://d3datacast.com/npi/fb/

Both Wheaton and NCC NPI's increased, NCC's increased a little over 3 points.
Wheaton still #2.
NCC #19, at-large bid #6. Expect NCC's NPI to end up higher.

[CarollFan]

Istmus Bowl race. IWU still front runner.

Conference record and remaining schedule.

NCC        4-1  Carthage, @Millikin, IWU
IWU        4-2  bye, NPU, @NCC
Augie      3-2  Wheaton,Carthage, @CU
Carroll    3-3 @NPU, bye, Augie
Carthage 2-3 @NCC, @Augie, Wheaton

I think if Augie loses to Wheaton and IWU beats NPU in 2 weeks, IWU clinches the Isthmus. IWU has beaten Augie and Carroll so should own the tie breaker if either Augie or Carroll end up 5-3 in conference.

If IWU loses their last 2 games to go 4-4 in conference then that leaves an opening for other teams to go to the Isthmus.

If IWU upsets NCC and wins their last 2 games both NCC and IWU would finish with the same conference record, 6-2. IWU would own the tie breaker. NCC would still have a chance for the playoffs but looks like IWU goes to the Isthmus Bowl in this scenario.

WIAC still has a bunch of possibilities.

[CarollFan]

Logan's week 9 predictions.

https://hansenratings.com/projections/2026/week-9/

#1 Wheaton -24.3 @ Augie
Carthage +46.2 @ #4 NCC
Carroll -1.9 @ NPU
Millikin -18.9 @ Elmhurst

IWU with a bye

Logan predictions 36-6 (85.7%) straight up in CCIW games.

https://d3football.com/top25/2026/week8

Top 25 matchups:

#14 JCU -1.2 @ #25 DePauw
#23 Rowan +7.4 @ #10 CNU

[NCC2010]

Observations from NCC's game against Carroll...

The offense was really sloppy to start. Wilson threw an interception on the third play of the game. He threw an out route on the backside of a 3x1 formation and never looked anywhere else on the play, though it was a great diving catch by the Carroll cornerback. The next drive was a 3 & out, followed by a possession that picked up just one first down before a punt. The "opening script" has been lacking in my opinion since Lehnen graduated, they seemingly get off to slow starts on offense the majority of the time. I wish they would consider deferring until the second half instead of always choosing to receive when they win the coin flip.

Was the same starting offensive line for the second game in a row and for three out of the four most recent games. Dennis Dracup was replaced at LG at halftime by Austin Roush, but it didn't seem to be injury related, as Dracup was still in on the XP team to end the game. The wide receiver depth chart is beginning to get a bit concerning. Jake Vitel appears to be done for the year, as freshman Matt Orban is now wearing his #1 jersey. Jim Curtin left his second straight game early, which basically leaves only Rummell and Ballard as viable threats. At RB, Duke Guenther and Zeb Rashid are getting all the carries with the starters over the past two weeks, while Jordan Williams works in when the backups play.

The biggest change I've seen over the past few weeks is that the offense is starting to periodically utilize a high tempo, which is a nice adjustment. In theory, that tempo simplifies the defensive looks you see and likely helps the offensive line a bit. Maybe they found something when they went high tempo at the end of the North Park game? I'm not sure, but it has worked thus far, with the caveat being that it hasn't been against the best defenses they have faced this season.

The defense played as well as they usually do. The lone touchdown allowed was a zone read QB keeper that fooled the backside DE, and the Carroll quarterback showed real speed around the edge. Troy Kashul returned to action playing with a club on his right hand, marking his first appearance since the season opener against Bethel.

The punt team gave up a fake punt for a first down, but otherwise, the special teams unit looked okay.

The last thing that I just found funny was the Carroll coach arguing with the officials for 5 to 7 minutes of real time about whether Kaden Hartnett's interception was a dual possession with the Carroll wide receiver. This led to the Carroll announcer saying he wished the coach would get off the field because he had World Series tickets that night, lol.

[CarollFan]

Yes that was funny he mentioned it twice during the game, hey I got to get to the World Series.

Wilson got 87 yds rushing. That's something you mentioned before the game.

NCC will be a tough out. Just need to stay away from mistakes. D will keep them in games. Who knows maybe a rematch with Wheaton is waiting....

[CCIWFan69]

Who knows maybe a rematch with Wheaton is waiting....

I was just thinking about this... 2016 NCC won in the regular season and Wheaton won the rematch in the playoffs.  Also, could be fun to see NCC and/or Wheaton play WashU in the playoffs.

[CarollFan]

CCIW Players of the week

Offense - NCC QB Garret Wilson
Defense - Carthage DL Jeremy Rowlett
Special Teams - NCC K Sean Ryniec

[CarollFan]

IWU's Bryce Reese makes D3 football.com team of the week for special teams.

https://d3football.com/awards/tow/2026/week8

[CarollFan]

This lawsuit was brought up on the Future of D3 message board.
D3 athletes suing for athletic scholarships.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/division-iii-athletes-antitrust-case-131250732.html

[USee]

Wheaton @Augie Saturday. Jimmy Makuh being back is big. He completes passes at a 70% clip and doesn't usually throw Interceptions (23 TD v 8 INT LY) while putting up numbers similar to Wilson and Forcucci. Last year in Rock Island Wheaton won 50-7 but scored 2 of their first 3 TD's via INT return and a Blocked punt for a TD. Wheaton also ran the ball for 202 yds in that game. Wheaton's run game is not as effective this year, though their defense is stronger. I expect a decent margin of victory but Jimmy Makuh can certainly make it interesting.

[MickeyF]

Interesting point. I watched the Wheaton VS IWU game and a sophomore in his first start threw for over 300 yards on the Thunder. He missed some open throws to Nazha, 8 of 22 at the half, but improved as the game wore on. I am not familiar with the Augie receivers but if they can get open against the Thunder back end, this could indeed be an interesting game

[CarollFan]

CCIW Week 9 scores:

#1 Wheaton 26  Augie 13
#4 NCC 55  Carthage 3
NPU 55 Carroll 34 (Even though this game was far from a defensive gem, 2 big picks by NPU really turned the game. Both QB's with a little over 300 yds passing. Both teams had 2 RB's with over 100 yds rushing. NPU had a big kickoff return too in 2nd half. NPU 597 offensive yds, Carroll 652 offensive yds)

Millikin 42  Elmhurst 21

https://d3football.com/conf/CCIW/2026/standings


Top 25 scores: (3 upsets)
#2 UWP 35  UWSP 7
#3 St. John's 27  Gustavus 3
#6 HS 23  Howard Payne 17
#8 WashU 37 Denison 14
#10 CNU 13  #23 Rowan 12

#25 DePauw 35  #14 JCU 7 (At 8-2 JCU 52.9% chance to make the playoffs)

#15 UWRF 35  UWS 30 (At 8-2 UWRF will make the playoffs. They have UWL & UWSP left to play)

#16 Bethel 34 Concordia-Moorhead 28 (At 8-2 Bethel 33.4% chance to make the playoffs)

Centre 28  #19 Berry 14 (At 8-2 Berry 50% chance to make the playoffs. They play Millsaps (6-2) next week)

Marietta 24  #24 Heidelberg  13 (At 8-2 Heidelberg 36.4% chance to make playoffs. No more 3 way tie scenario for AQ in OAC)

[Gregory Sager]

Little bit of everything in that game at Holmgren today. First time I've ever seen a 1st and 40 down situation; first time I've ever seen both teams have a pair of rushers gain over 100 yards each; first time I've ever seen a snap infraction penalty called in a CCIW game.

The final score's a little deceptive; Carroll actually had the lead with under five minutes remaining. But a big 60-yard TD pass from Paul Palmer to Aidan Delisi, a two-point conversion, an interception, and Jamaal Jones's third TD run of the day (to go with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown by the freshman from the Lone Star State), Carroll turning over the ball on downs, and an 80-yard run by Delisi stretched out the final margin. Thus, the team that had made a habit out of blowing games at the very end did the total opposite of that before a delighted Homecoming crowd at Foster and Albany.

Carroll gained a whopping 652 yards of offense today -- trying to tackle Pios RB Marcus Johnson is like trying to catch a mouse with a cardboard box -- but the Vikings were definitely in bend-but-don't-break mode, holding Carroll to only three scores on seven trips to the red zone.

[CarollFan]

If IWU wins next week that should clinch the Isthmus.

I think the WIAC Isthmus rep is going to come down to UWEC or UWS.

They play each other next week.
UWEC beat UWL today.

In non conference games this year:
UWS 37 Augie 34
UWEC 34 Carroll 17