FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[GusD]

The loss of McNeal is a HUGE one for the Cardinals. He undoubtedly would have been the favorite to lead the conference rushing as he did last year, raking up more than twice as many yards as the second place finisher.

As far as NCC's starter at RB this year it seems like Sean Allen would merit serious consideration. Last season he gained 546 yards, averaging 5.1 YPC, and scored 8 TDs.
Very solid contributor Jordan Williams had  345 yards, averaging 4.8 YPC, with 2 TDs.

[NCC2010]

The loss of McNeal is a HUGE one for the Cardinals. He undoubtedly would have been the favorite to lead the conference rushing as he did last year, raking up more than twice as many yards as the second place finisher.

As far as NCC's starter at RB this year it seems like Sean Allen would merit serious consideration. Last season he gained 546 yards, averaging 5.1 YPC, and scored 8 TDs.
Very solid contributor Jordan Williams had  345 yards, averaging 4.8 YPC, with 2 TDs.

I believe Allen has decided to move on (already graduated) even though he did have 1 more year of eligibility due to red shirting at Illinois State. I could be wrong though.

[GusD]

Well, there's probably at least as much chance that you're right as opposed to wrong  .  And, if Allen has indeed left the nest, Williams would certainly seem next in line to assume the starting RB position. I'd guess Zeb Rashid (432 yards, 7.0 YPC, 4 TDs) would likely slot in as the #2 RB.

[D3fanboy]

off-season injuries are the absolute worst, and that one is a doozy. Sucks for McNeal, he was a dynamic player

[NCC2010]

Preseason Top 25 poll posted https://www.d3football.com/top25/2026/preseason

1v2 and 3v5 week 1, pretty awesome start to the season!

[D3fanboy]

Preseason Top 25 poll posted https://www.d3football.com/top25/2026/preseason

1v2 and 3v5 week 1, pretty awesome start to the season!

If only one of those would move to a night game on a hot Labor Day weekend.  What a schedule!

[GusD]

Preseason Top 25 poll posted https://www.d3football.com/top25/2026/preseason

1v2 and 3v5 week 1, pretty awesome start to the season!

If only one of those would move to a night game on a hot Labor Day weekend.  What a schedule!

With the high degree of probability of temps minimally being in the area of 75, and the fairly high chance of 90 degree weather, the first two games of each season would ideally be scheduled at night.

With specific regard to early season games at NCC in Naperville, I can personally attest to the fact that they can be brutally sizzling even on a 75-80 degree day let alone one with even higher temps. Beyond high temps alone, humidity can, of course, play a role. And this is compounded by the fact that the home stands at NCC face WEST, and there is absolutely no shade anywhere near the seating area. Sit there, facing directly into the sun, for 2 and a half or 3 hours even on a 75-80 degree day and hat or no hat, your brain is going to feel like it has just emerged from an oven and is ready to explode. And this is to say nothing about the danger the players face playing in oppressive conditions.

However, when the visiting team faces a 7 hour bus ride home, night games are basically impractical. And not a lot of D3 schools have the financial wherewithal to pay for hotel rooms for an entire football team and its coaching staff. So there often isn't much of a realistic chance to offer players and fans some relief when it comes to early season games, especially if they might be great early season non-conference matchups like Wheaton/Mount and NCC/Bethel. ☹️

[GusD]

Preseason Top 25 poll posted https://www.d3football.com/top25/2026/preseason

1v2 and 3v5 week 1, pretty awesome start to the season!

I wonder how much the poll voters considered NCC's loss of Donovan McNeal prior to their voting the Cardinals the pre-season #1? 🤔 🤗

[D3fanboy]

Preseason Top 25 poll posted https://www.d3football.com/top25/2026/preseason

1v2 and 3v5 week 1, pretty awesome start to the season!

If only one of those would move to a night game on a hot Labor Day weekend.  What a schedule!

With the high degree of probability of temps minimally being in the area of 75, and the fairly high chance of 90 degree weather, the first two games of each season would ideally be scheduled at night.

With specific regard to early season games at NCC in Naperville, I can personally attest to the fact that they can be brutally sizzling even on a 75-80 degree day let alone one with even higher temps. Beyond high temps alone, humidity can, of course, play a role. And this is compounded by the fact that the home stands at NCC face WEST, and there is absolutely no shade anywhere near the seating area. Sit there, facing directly into the sun, for 2 and a half or 3 hours even on a 75-80 degree day and hat or no hat, your brain is going to feel like it has just emerged from an oven and is ready to explode. And this is to say nothing about the danger the players face playing in oppressive conditions.

However, when the visiting team faces a 7 hour bus ride home, night games are basically impractical. And not a lot of D3 schools have the financial wherewithal to pay for hotel rooms for an entire football team and its coaching staff. So there often isn't much of a realistic chance to offer players and fans some relief when it comes to early season games, especially if they might be great early season non-conference matchups like Wheaton/Mount and NCC/Bethel. ☹️

no doubt.  I understand the financial aspect of D3 sports.  Mount used to do one night game each year (typically the OAC home opener) and it was awesome for the players, students and fans.  Those midwest Labor Day weekends are typically equivalent to playing inside of a pre-heating oven.  Oh well, still an outstanding week of D3 football to kick off 2026...even week 2 has some bangers

[hazzben]

Well, week 1 in Naperville/Wheaton should be fun, 1v2 and 3@5 ... love it! Kudos to all 4 programs for the willingness to go out and schedule really competitive games early in the season.

I know NCC and Wart, SJU and UWL, UWRF and Wart are all on deck too... I'm trying to remember a year we've had this much Top 10 action so early in the season?! The Region 5 and 6 crossover games are a great wrinkle as well, given their relative strength.

Should give a lot of clarity to where teams sit, either leading to a lot of re-shuffling in the Top 10 or teams getting solidified in their spots. 

[bbfan44]

Well, week 1 in Naperville/Wheaton should be fun, 1v2 and 3@5 ... love it! Kudos to all 4 programs for the willingness to go out and schedule really competitive games early in the season.

I know NCC and Wart, SJU and UWL, UWRF and Wart are all on deck too... I'm trying to remember a year we've had this much Top 10 action so early in the season?! The Region 5 and 6 crossover games are a great wrinkle as well, given their relative strength.

Should give a lot of clarity to where teams sit, either leading to a lot of re-shuffling in the Top 10 or teams getting solidified in their spots. 

Too bad they weren't scheduled so that we could go to both games.  What a doubleheader that would be.

[USee]

The seemingly new top 10 action between teams can no doubt be attributed to the NPI formula. A loss to a top 10 NPI ranked team is better than a win to a team outside the top 50. That gives coaches all the incentive they need to create these matchups. D3 football fans are the benefactors.

[AndrewB]

The seemingly new top 10 action between teams can no doubt be attributed to the NPI formula. A loss to a top 10 NPI ranked team is better than a win to a team outside the top 50. That gives coaches all the incentive they need to create these matchups. D3 football fans are the benefactors.

When did this happen?  My understanding is that any win is better than any lose. The problem I heard, from Pat's interviews with coaches, is they can't schedule games otherwise. 

[Patrick Coleman]

The seemingly new top 10 action between teams can no doubt be attributed to the NPI formula. A loss to a top 10 NPI ranked team is better than a win to a team outside the top 50. That gives coaches all the incentive they need to create these matchups. D3 football fans are the benefactors.

Mathematically, this isn't true. No loss is better than any win, basically.

The incentive for top teams to schedule each other is that mid-range teams are less likely to schedule them. A team which thinks it may go 9-1 may not be able to make the field at 8-2. Wheaton did last year, but Ohio Northern and a bunch of 8-2 teams did not.

[USee]

Sorry, I definitely mis-remembered my point. Wheaton was 8-2 in 2024 with losses @UWO and home v NCC and their NPI kept them out of the playoffs. In 2025 they were 8-2 and lost @Mt Union and @NCC and got in comfortably. The difference was 2 road losses against top 5 teams vs a road loss vs a top 30 team and a home loss vs #1 team. Losing on the road to Mt Union was clearly better for the Thunder NPI than a road loss to a middle of the pack UWO team. Combined with a road loss at #1 NCC (vs a home loss in 2024) it was enough to give them a higher NPI, all things being equal. So scheduling up got them in (theoretically).

The other thing I remember CarrolFan saying is that a road win vs a sub .500 team creates more NPI value than a home win vs a top 10 NPI team.