Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324 

Story written by secondary contact Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu 

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Nov. 10, 2025) - The North Central College football program has come away with a clean sweep in the national rankings, garnering every first-place vote in both the AFCA coaches' poll and the D3football.com Top 25 for the second consecutive week.

North Central blanked Elmhurst University on Saturday, claiming at least a share of its 19th College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin championship thanks to a 58-0 victory. With a win over Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, the Cardinals can break the CCIW record for consecutive wins with their 51st.  

The Cardinals rank first in fourth-down conversion efficiency both offensively and defensively, converting at an 87.5% clip offensively and allowing conversions on 14.3% of attempts on defense. North Central leads the CCIW in defensive touchdowns (five) and ranks third nationally. The Cardinals have been efficient offensively, completing nearly 74% of their passes (fourth nationally) and converting in the red zone at a 95.7% rate (second nationally). Defensively, the Cardinals have been stout backed up into their own red area, allowing scores at just a 46.2% clip. The Cardinals are also first in both scoring offense (57.6) and scoring defense (6.6).  

Mount Union University and Johns Hopkins University trail North Central in each poll in second and third, respectively, while the University of Wisconsin-River Falls ranks fourth in the D3football.com poll and fifth in the AFCA coaches' poll, while Bethel University ranks fifth in the D3football.com poll and fourth in the AFCA coaches' poll.  

The Cardinals go for total claim of the CCIW title at 12 p.m. Saturday as they host Illinois Wesleyan University for senior day at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.