FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CarollFan]

If you're not the top 3, Millikin can beat you this year. I'm wondering if we'll have any above .500 teams other than top 3 with Millikin playing better.

You have to use at least 5 wins in your NPI calculation.
Wheaton has to use 5 CCIW wins

I know there is a extra playoff spot but not sure how much we are going help

Also if I remember correctly UWRF was one of those teams that was close last year. The WIAC is 21-2 in nonconference games with UWRF 3-0 beating Alma, Coe and Belhaven.

[Gregory Sager]

My first read on the conference -- and keeping in mind that it's only after two games apiece, only one of which was CCIW vs. CCIW, so I reserve the right to change my mind on this -- is that we're probably looking at this scenario in Wash U's final season with us:

North Central
_

Wheaton and Wash U
_

six crabs in a bucket
_

Elmhurst

[BIGBLUE BEN]

Millikin 22, North Park 17

Millikin snapped a two-year home win drought with a packed crowd and a high-energy performance from start to finish. The offense looked sharp, exploiting North Park's defensive lapses with big plays. QB Gomez continues to impress—no sacks allowed through two games, and he's showing poise and precision as a D1 transfer. He is alite at layering in throws and throws a beautiful deep ball. With 3 TDs, 1 INT, and 450 yards, he's a threat both through the air and on the ground (especially when defenses go man-to-man).

Freshman RB Zeno Re'John is electric. He leads the CCIW with 5 rushing touchdowns and has elite burst and agility. Every touch feels like a potential breakout. Shockingly good for a freshman.

Millikin's defense is holding opponents to just 25% on third downs, and while they may struggle against power-run teams like North Central and Wheaton, their linebacker play is great so they should hold up well against the rest of the CCIW.

Special teams were a liability and could cost them games if not addressed quickly. Still, Millikin has playmakers across the board and enters next week's matchup at Augustana undefeated and confident. Auggy, meanwhile, will be regrouping after a tough opener against Wheaton.

I think this Millikin team is a good reminder that the Pre-season coaching poll has always been inaccurate because it does not take into account transfers, recruiting classes and player development... Until you actually start winning you never get any respect in the Pre-season poll which makes sense why you almost never see a bottom feeder projected top 5 the following year. Auggy is in trouble Saturday. I need to go back and watch the Wheaton/Auggy replay but from the quarter I watched I think Millikin is 100% capable of winning this game and will beat Auggy (breaking a 4-year losing streak). Millikin is on a revenge tour for everyone who danced on our grave the last 2 years and if your names not Wheaton or North Central then you're on the list...

GO BIG BLUE

[CarollFan]

Last week Logan with his predictive scores was 2-3, with Carthage +62.9 and Carroll +19.9, covering. Millikin with the upset. He has nailed that NCC score every week.

This week he has Augie winning 32.6 to Millikin 16.5. No respect

[CarollFan]

Tying back to the double up or more discussion last week, that went 3-2.
WashU/Carroll and NPU/Millikin did not result in double ups.

[CarollFan]

https://cciw.org/news/2025/9/22/cciw-names-football-student-athletes-of-the-week.aspx

[NCC2010]

Observations from NCC's win over Carthage...

On offense, I still tend to believe the offensive line is not nearly as dominant as in the past few seasons. Isaac Banker also did not play due to an injury, and he is a great blocker at TE, so that could have been a factor as well. On one drive, they had 1st and goal from the 2 but were unable to score, with three runs and a goal-line fade as the four play calls. That was an automatic seven points in the past 4-5 years. They are also now 0-3 on goal-line fades to Johnson, so I hope they stop calling them; it's not a high-percentage play. I'm very interested to see what kind of running lanes the line can open up in the next two weeks against WashU and Wheaton. I think the offense may become more balanced/Rutter-like moving forward, as the line is providing great pass protection. Donovan McNeal continues to look like the best RB IMO. Ashiru did not get any snaps in the first half but was mixed in with Wilson on a few drives to start the second half. Both Wilson and Ashiru had nice runs on QB draws in the third quarter.

Not much to say about the defense; they continue to look great and seem to be deep everywhere, perhaps except at defensive tackle. DT is an obvious strength with Sullivan and Ohle, but I haven't seen much depth behind them.

Special teams had an extra point blocked, which follows the punt they had blocked against Oshkosh. It's not a huge cause for concern, but I'm keeping an eye on it.

A lot of freshmen and young players got playing time in the second half, and I thought freshman WR Jake Vitel and freshman left guard Dennis Dracup stood out as players who could possibly contribute later this season.

Looking forward to the last CCIW matchup with WashU and finally getting to play Wheaton in Naperville for the first time since 2022.

[USee]

Observations from NCC's win over Carthage...

On offense, I still tend to believe the offensive line is not nearly as dominant as in the past few seasons.

Ya think? Pretty hard to follow one of the most dominant D3 OL in recent memory. I think you'll be ok. 

[CarollFan]

Observations from NCC's win over Carthage...

I'm very interested to see what kind of running lanes the line can open up in the next two weeks against WashU and Wheaton.

I don't know how good the WashU D is after the Carroll game. I would say against us their performance was inconsistent. They played better in the second half. Not sure what adjustments they made. They play a 3-4 defense.

Carroll got 361 total yards. 257 in the 1rst half and 104 in the 2nd half.
Carroll rushed for 140 yds on 26 carries in 1rst half and 18 yards on 13 carries in 2nd half.

We had 2 rb's average over 5 yards a carry.
#21 Mikey Coleman 84 yds 15 att, avg 5.6
#29 Carson Crouch 81 yds 15 att, avg 5.3

[NCC2010]

Observations from NCC's win over Carthage...

On offense, I still tend to believe the offensive line is not nearly as dominant as in the past few seasons.

Ya think? Pretty hard to follow one of the most dominant D3 OL in recent memory. I think you'll be ok. 

lol USee my apologies if my post came off as complaining, I was just pointing out the difference I am seeing thus far.  Multiple NCC fans on X have stated they think this is the best NCC team yet and I just don't agree with that assessment.  I think Linfield being overrated and how Oshkosh handled them has led people to overrate NCC's performance thus far. Do I think they are still one of the top 2 teams in the nation? Yes. Do I think their performance through 2 games proves they are better than any of the recent NCC teams? No.

[Gregory Sager]

Here's what Logan has to say about this coming week:

Augustana 33, Millikin 17	(AC 85%, MU 15%)
Wheaton 44, Carroll 12	(WC 98%, CU 2%)
Illinois Wesleyan 34, Carthage 22	(IWU 78%, CC 22%)
North Park 34, Elmhurst 18	(NPU 85%, EU 15%)
North Central 48, Washington MO 17	(NCC 97.5%, WUSTL 2.5%)

Home teams are in bold.

https://hansenratings.github.io/2025%20Week%204.html

[CarollFan]

For the IWU fans. First couple segments with HC and some players.

[USee]

A couple interesting notes from this weeks D3 top 25. NCC got 22 1st place votes 2 second place and actually one 3rd place vote. Wheaton was ranked anywhere from 6th to not ranked (by 4 voters).

[Pat Coleman]

People may remember North Central got a 10th-place vote in the preseason.

[wally_wabash]

Wheaton is ranked by this voter.