FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[NCC2010]

https://hansenratings.com/projections/2026/week-7/

Carroll +42.1 @ Wheaton
NCC -54.7 @ Elmhurst
IWU -25.9 @ Millikin
NPU +.8 @ Carthage

Augie with the bye

Logan 31-3 (91%) straight up on CCIW predictions. I think you know which game his model prediction was off last week.

1 top 25 matchup

#6 UWRF +2.3  @ #5 UWP

That's OK. He still has Wheaton as #5 on his Top 25 ballot. Up 1 from a week ago. Got to admire his ability to double down.

He is down on the CCIW overall this year.  Or down on both NCC and Wheaton compared to most.  He said last week on X that he had planned on voting NCC #5 heading into the Bell game but changed his mind.

[CarollFan]

https://hansenratings.com/projections/2026/week-7/

Carroll +42.1 @ Wheaton
NCC -54.7 @ Elmhurst
IWU -25.9 @ Millikin
NPU +.8 @ Carthage

Augie with the bye

Logan 31-3 (91%) straight up on CCIW predictions. I think you know which game his model prediction was off last week.

1 top 25 matchup

#6 UWRF +2.3  @ #5 UWP

That's OK. He still has Wheaton as #5 on his Top 25 ballot. Up 1 from a week ago. Got to admire his ability to double down.

He is down on the CCIW overall this year.  Or down on both NCC and Wheaton compared to most.  He said last week on X that he had planned on voting NCC #5 heading into the Bell game but changed his mind.

Last week all the pundits were coming out saying I don't think Wheaton is #2. Guess what you guys were right!

[NCC2010]

What a game. Hats off and congrats to Wheaton, they capitalized on NCC's mistakes and Forcucci made some absolutely clutch throws with the game on the line. Kortenhoeven with an incredible catch to setup the win.

Hoping this is a repeat of 2019 and NCC can go on a tear from here but their offense was completely stifled by the Thunder.

Don't want to be too reactionary but it does seem like the coaching staff chose the wrong QB based on how each has played thus far this season between Wilson and Ashiru. Ashiru's  escapability today against UWRF was super impressive. 

When you look at what Ashiru has done the last 2 weeks against La Crosse and River Falls, he clearly is the better QB.

NCC's offensive line play has been stunningly bad this season. Wilson is under constant pressure, and they've been unable to find a center capable of making a simple shotgun snap.

I don't like the use of Ballard as an RB. He's much more valuable as a WR. He's small and gets beat up as an RB. I suppose the thinking is connected to the bad o-line play. Wilson doesn't have time to get the ball to WRs downfield, so they're resorting to handing it off to their most explosive player.

While the NCC line has not been as dominant, coming in to the game Saturday Wilson had been sacked just 2x in 4 games and was completing 65% of his passes with just 1 interception and NCC's offense was ranked #23 in the country having played Bethel and Wartburg. There is no evidence Wilson had been under constant pressure with no time to get the ball downfield to the WR's. Credit the Wheaton defense for sacking him 3x, holding him to 54% and intercepting him 1x. They also have had no issues with shotgun snaps the last 3 games including Saturday night.

100% this. The NCC line has not been as good as it has consistently been during the Stagg Bowl run, but it is still performing better than probably 90-95% of the division. They need to settle on a LG and center as they have now started 3 different players at LG and had 3 different players see time at center. Those are the two weak spots, and Wheaton had a great game plan to exploit them there. They also blitzed at the right time, or only brought four and got pressure that way when needed. They had a great game plan on defense and definitely outcoached Brad Spencer (who calls the offense) on that side of the ball.

[CarollFan]

Hear is some of NCC perspective.

[USee]

Even the one interception Wilson threw was a ball right to the WR and Wheaton's CB David Harvan got his arm in there and the ball popped up for LB Zeke Harris to intercept. It wasn't a bad throw and wasn't under pressure.

Speaking of Zeke Harris, he was the best player on the field Saturday night. He is as good a LB in D3 as you will ever find (and there have been some great ones). His performance Saturday was absolutely legendary. 18 tackles with 6 tackles for loss (which is a good season for most people) and 1.5 sacks with the interception. He ran down Wilson multiple times and his speed gave North Central problems all night.

The Wheaton defense held North Central to 186 total yards (3 yds per play) and 1.5 yds per rush.

[USee]

Great job by Pat with this montage and his interviews. As a Wheaton Alum I couldn't be more proud of HC Jesse Scott. His interview here (with daughter in arm) was pure class and he captures the essence of Wheaton College and the football program with great prose. He is an incredible ambassador for what the school and football program is all about.

In this interview, Jesse says he told Matt Crider to fall down at the 1 yard line prior to the final FG. Jesse wanted to win it with the FG and not have any time remaining for NCC to operate. Pretty brave considering it was a backup kicker and he hooked it just inside the left upright. Kudos for a bold strategy from start to finish.

[CarollFan]

Even the one interception Wilson threw was a ball right to the WR and Wheaton's CB David Harvan got his arm in there and the ball popped up for LB Zeke Harris to intercept. It wasn't a bad throw and wasn't under pressure.

Speaking of Zeke Harris, he was the best player on the field Saturday night. He is as good a LB in D3 as you will ever find (and there have been some great ones). His performance Saturday was absolutely legendary. 18 tackles with 6 tackles for loss (which is a good season for most people) and 1.5 sacks with the interception. He ran down Wilson multiple times and his speed gave North Central problems all night.

The Wheaton defense held North Central to 186 total yards (3 yds per play) and 1.5 yds per rush.

Harris, DPOY candidate? Seems like mostly DL's chosen recently.

[NCC2010]

Even the one interception Wilson threw was a ball right to the WR and Wheaton's CB David Harvan got his arm in there and the ball popped up for LB Zeke Harris to intercept. It wasn't a bad throw and wasn't under pressure.

Speaking of Zeke Harris, he was the best player on the field Saturday night. He is as good a LB in D3 as you will ever find (and there have been some great ones). His performance Saturday was absolutely legendary. 18 tackles with 6 tackles for loss (which is a good season for most people) and 1.5 sacks with the interception. He ran down Wilson multiple times and his speed gave North Central problems all night.

The Wheaton defense held North Central to 186 total yards (3 yds per play) and 1.5 yds per rush.

Easily the front runner and likely winner of CCIW DPOY. Should also be heavily considered for National DPOY.  CCIW could go back to back on that award possibly and I think he would be the first LB to win it from the CCIW since Matt Wenger in 2010? He is the best defensive player I have seen this year and I watch as many of the the ranked games, WIAC games, CCIW games, etc. as I can.

I do think the interception was a poor decision by Wilson though, as David Ballard was wide open right over the ball.  Wouldn't have been a big gain or anything, but better than how that play ended up. 

[USee]

yea but he put it right on him and it was a route they had completed 2-3x already. Harvan made a great play to get a hand on the ball.

[NCC2010]

Yes, not trying to take away anything from Wheaton they deserved to win and made a great play, just seems Wilson could have gone another way on that pass but also get that he didn't assume the corner would be that tight to the receiver.

Game was so evenly matched, the throw down the Wheaton sideline that it appeared Kaden Hartnett slightly mistimed his jump and ended up tipping it right to the Wheaton receiver who made a great adjustment and catch on the sideline was very close to being an interception.  Hartnett is a former receiver and has great ball skills as well and from my seat I thought he had the pick.     

[USee]

Agree. There were many plays that could have turned the game either way. NCC had a few drops on what would have been big plays. Wheaton WR's had at least 3 drops and Forcucci missed some throws that I'm sure he wants back.

Wheaton had a great game plan to double Bobby Medina all night in pass protection (Wheaton gave up zero sacks) and also to limit David Ballard's impact (3 catches 17 yds, 11 rush 34 yds).

I was actually surprised NCC didn't take more shots down the field in the pass game. They had given up some explosive plays this season. Probably a lot of regrets for both coaches on a few calls they want back....

[blue_jays]

https://hansenratings.com/projections/2026/week-7/

Carroll +42.1 @ Wheaton
NCC -54.7 @ Elmhurst
IWU -25.9 @ Millikin
NPU +.8 @ Carthage

Augie with the bye

Logan 31-3 (91%) straight up on CCIW predictions. I think you know which game his model prediction was off last week.

1 top 25 matchup

#6 UWRF +2.3  @ #5 UWP

That's OK. He still has Wheaton as #5 on his Top 25 ballot. Up 1 from a week ago. Got to admire his ability to double down.

Even as a Wheaton fan, I worry that the top of the WIAC might be better this year than the CCIW. I'm hopeful that this Thunder team is a team of destiny.

[devildog29]

Yes the 8-2 teams best chance is AQ.
Bethel at 8-2 less then 20% chance.


Right now over 11 conferences can produce a 1 loss at-large team with 11 at-large bids.

To begin I want to be clear, I don't honestly have any delusions as to where IWU ranks nationwide.  But if they do finish 8-2, their 2 losses would be to 2 teams who at one point in the season were both ranked #1 in the country.  At worst, it's a heckuva turnaround for Coach Williamson in year 2, much of which they accomplished with a backup QB.

[USee]

I was reading some of the comments on the front page and found some of them interesting. First of all, I hold both Brad Spencer and Jesse Scott in extremely high regard as people and leaders of their teams so anyone who tries to cast shade on them and their character is just ignorant.

I also saw some comments about how the Wheaton team rushed the NCC sideline to grab the bell (which the D3 Team correctly points out was done by the NCC team @Wheaton in 2021). I had no problem with it then and certainly didn't on Saturday. That's just pure enthusiasm from teams that fought hard and wanted the trophy. Since emotions run high in these games and rushing the other team's sideline is generally not a great idea, I suggest each school create a table or display setting for the Bell that isn't directly behind the other team's bench but off to the side or near where the current holder enters the field. That would alleviate any misperception of intention by either team.

[Patrick Coleman]

It does seem that perhaps there should be a different way of doing this in a close/tight game. I noted when I rewatched the 2021 end of game video that Jesse Scott was there to hand the trophy to North Central, which is something you can do when it's a 13-point game instead of one that comes down to the final play.

It might not be sustainable to hand off the bell in this way. Seems like there may be something waiting to go wrong.