FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CarollFan]

I would think Nazha will be first team All-CCIW based on his conference stats. Last year the CCIW had 6 WR's listed on the first team. Their QB Smyth could end up on second team.

Wheaton's Johanik, last year co-dpoy, had another big year in conference games leading with 16.5 TFL's and tied for the lead in sacks with Renick (NCC) both with 8.5.

[USee]

Johanik finished the regular season with 9.5 sacks I believe. And this season he became Wheaton's all time leader in Tackles for Loss, surpassing NFL Draft pick Andy Studebaker.

[CarollFan]

Johanik finished the regular season with 9.5 sacks I believe. And this season he became Wheaton's all time leader in Tackles for Loss, surpassing NFL Draft pick Andy Studebaker.

Yes 9.5 counting the non-conference game. I was just using the stats from the conference games.

[CarollFan]

So Sullivan and Johanik were CO-DPOY last year. Any chance we see that again or is it Sullivan for sure and no chance he is sharing it this year.

[NCC2010]

I don't understand NCC's lack of scoring though. IWU is the 7th ranked scoring defense in the league and gave up an average of 30 pts a game and NCC scores 24?

If you don't count the one-play drive where they took a knee before halftime, the offense had only eight drives the entire game.

They scored three touchdowns and a field goal, and then ended the game with the ball on IWU's 6-yard line.

They punted on the opening drive (I didn't catch this one, so I'm not sure what happened), and then they fumbled on a 4th-and-1 they would have converted on another drive. The other scoreless possession came after Wilson tried to do too much, dropped the ball, and then got sacked for a 10-yard loss on first down. He actually made a good throw on 3rd-and-12 that would have been a first down, but Rummell dropped it—which is out of character for him.

It was just a weird game flow. Honestly, before the swing play on the fumble/IWU touchdown right before halftime, I thought they were going to cruise to a 35- or 42-7 type of win.

[CarollFan]

Players of the week.

https://cciw.org/news/2025/11/17/cciw-announces-football-student-athletes-of-the-week.aspx

OPOW - Wheaton QB Mark Forcucci
DPOW - Wheaton DL Peter Johanik
STPOW - NCC K Aidan Ellison (3rd time)

[Jbothe]

When IWU was healthy they were a real good team.  They took WashU to the wire and were dominant some weeks against bottom half CCIW teams.  Big wins over Millikin and Carthage.

Smyth is a stud.  Williamson is a good coach.  Their is a culture change going on.

When they were banged up it was rough.  Big losses to Augie and Carroll.

They also only had 11 seniors this year. 

The next battle in the CCIW is the battle for 3rd behind NC and Wheaton.  WashU had been a clear #3 team during their time in the CCIW.  Both Augie and Wesleyan will bring a lot back next year.  Bell finally has his QB.

Is someone else poised to make a move?

[Gregory Sager]

When IWU was healthy they were a real good team.  They took WashU to the wire and were dominant some weeks against bottom half CCIW teams.  Big wins over Millikin and Carthage.

[snip]

When they were banged up it was rough.  Big losses to Augie and Carroll.

This is a contradiction. In the final assessment, Illinois Wesleyan wasn't a "real good" team. The Titans were a house of cards.

Football is the ultimate game of attrition; because it is the most violent major sport it is also the most injury-inducing. Therefore, you measure how good a college football team is by its' two-deep -- if not its' three-deep -- and not simply by the quality of the starters. Thus, the phrase "when they were banged up it was rough" is not an excuse when you're trying to make the case that a particular team is "real good." What seemed like a high level of competence earlier in the season for IWU was an illusion, because the Titans lacked the necessary depth to sustain it when injuries inevitably began to take their toll.

[Cardinal773]

CCIW Players of the Week Against (week 9 of 9):

Team	Total	Offensive	Defensive	Special Teams
IWU	5	2	1	2
Carthage	4	2	2	0
Carroll	4	1	2	1
Millikin	4	2	0	2
North Park	4	1	1	2
Wash U	3	0	1	2
Augie	2	1	2	0
Elmhurst	1	0	0	1
Wheaton	1	0	1	0
North Central	0	0	0	0

Here are the total player's of the week for each team:
10 North Central
5 IWU
5 Wheaton
4 Carroll
3 North Park
3 Wash U
1 Augie
1 Millikin
0 Carthage
0 Elmhurst

Skokna & Ellison each led the league with 3 P.O.W. each.
Swank and Smyth had 2.

[Jbothe]

When IWU was healthy they were a real good team.  They took WashU to the wire and were dominant some weeks against bottom half CCIW teams.  Big wins over Millikin and Carthage.

[snip]

When they were banged up it was rough.  Big losses to Augie and Carroll.

This is a contradiction. In the final assessment, Illinois Wesleyan wasn't a "real good" team. The Titans were a house of cards.

Football is the ultimate game of attrition; because it is the most violent major sport it is also the most injury-inducing. Therefore, you measure how good a college football team is by its' two-deep -- if not its' three-deep -- and not simply by the quality of the starters. Thus, the phrase "when they were banged up it was rough" is not an excuse when you're trying to make the case that a particular team is "real good." What seemed like a high level of competence earlier in the season for IWU was an illusion, because the Titans lacked the necessary depth to sustain it when injuries inevitably began to take their toll.

Interesting perspective.

I still don't see a candidate to take over that third spot other than Augie or Wesleyan.

Obviously hope it's Augie.

Bottom half of CCIW has a ways to go.

[CarollFan]

When IWU was healthy they were a real good team.  They took WashU to the wire and were dominant some weeks against bottom half CCIW teams.  Big wins over Millikin and Carthage.

[snip]

When they were banged up it was rough.  Big losses to Augie and Carroll.

This is a contradiction. In the final assessment, Illinois Wesleyan wasn't a "real good" team. The Titans were a house of cards.

Football is the ultimate game of attrition; because it is the most violent major sport it is also the most injury-inducing. Therefore, you measure how good a college football team is by its' two-deep -- if not its' three-deep -- and not simply by the quality of the starters. Thus, the phrase "when they were banged up it was rough" is not an excuse when you're trying to make the case that a particular team is "real good." What seemed like a high level of competence earlier in the season for IWU was an illusion, because the Titans lacked the necessary depth to sustain it when injuries inevitably began to take their toll.

Interesting perspective.

I still don't see a candidate to take over that third spot other than Augie or Wesleyan.

Obviously hope it's Augie.

Bottom half of CCIW has a ways to go.

Don't forget CUW starting in 2027.  I know folks aren't expecting much but I don't think we can say they can't challenge for 3rd until we start playing them. Hey, they beat Aurora

[GusD]

I don't understand NCC's lack of scoring though. IWU is the 7th ranked scoring defense in the league and gave up an average of 30 pts a game and NCC scores 24?

If you don't count the one-play drive where they took a knee before halftime, the offense had only eight drives the entire game.

They scored three touchdowns and a field goal, and then ended the game with the ball on IWU's 6-yard line.

They punted on the opening drive (I didn't catch this one, so I'm not sure what happened), and then they fumbled on a 4th-and-1 they would have converted on another drive. The other scoreless possession came after Wilson tried to do too much, dropped the ball, and then got sacked for a 10-yard loss on first down. He actually made a good throw on 3rd-and-12 that would have been a first down, but Rummell dropped it—which is out of character for him.

It was just a weird game flow. Honestly, before the swing play on the fumble/IWU touchdown right before halftime, I thought they were going to cruise to a 35- or 42-7 type of win.

1. The 4th down play on which Wilson fumbled should not have happened. As reported above, the Cardinals actually gained a 1st down on the previous play, but an atrocious spot by the official made it 4th down. If they had rightfully be awarded the first, there was a decent chance that possession would have resulted in another score.
2. Upon commencing their last possession of the game, NCC only ran the ball for the rest of the game with the primary object being to just run out the clock rather than scoring given that the victory was already assured at that point. All six plays of the possession were runs with 2 or 3 going for sizable chunks of yardage. If the Cards had wanted to score again I think the odds of them doing so were very high. One pass within that possession would probably have been all it would have taken.
3. NCC was really never in danger of losing the game and the final margin could have rather easily been 27 or 31 points instead of a mere 17.

[GusD]

Lastly--I'm personally bummed about the Wash U ouster.  Loved having them in the conference.  I think they greatly elevated the level of play.  Go beat Stout!

I second this notion. WashU is an elite academic institution and an all-around class organization. Though only an associate member I feel its association served, at least in some small way, to help elevate the stature of the CCIW. During the course of WU's membership, they were without question the #3 team on the gridiron, lining up only behind NCC and Wheaton. They thoroughly deserve their upcoming trip to the Isthmus Bowl. Hopefully they end their conference affiliation with another W.
I understand the CCIW wanting a full member. I don't know if the possibility existed or not, but I wish there was a way to add that full member while still retaining WU.
The NCAC's gain is the CCIW's loss. 

[USee]

As previously stated multiple times, WashU's CCIW ouster had nothing to do with them being a full member or not.

[Kovo]

As previously stated multiple times, WashU's CCIW ouster had nothing to do with them being a full member or not.

So what you are saying is that if WashU had been a full member, they still would have been kicked to the curb?!

Not sure I'm buying that one.