The North Central College Football team lined up in red jerseys facing the American Flag and holding hands as the national anthem plays prior to a game against Illinois Wesleyan University.
Steve Woltmann

Football

Cardinals Remain Atop National Polls Heading Into the Postseason

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. 17, 2025) – For the third consecutive week, the North Central College football program has swept all the first-place votes in both the D3Football.com and AFCA Division III Football Coaches Polls. The Cardinals maintained first place in both polls for the entirety of the season and are now set to begin their national title defense with a second-round matchup against either Hanover College or Grove City College on Nov. 29 inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

North Central polished off its fifth consecutive College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) title this past Saturday with a 24-7 defeat of Illinois Wesleyan University, allowing it to maintain its spot atop the AFCA poll for the 44th consecutive week and in 53 of the last 56 D3Football weeks.

Following the Cardinals in both polls are Mount Union University, Bethel College, University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Wartburg College. Mount Union is ranked second in both polls. River Falls jumped from fourth to third in the D3football poll and from fourth to fifth in the AFCA poll, while Bethel jumped from fifth to fourth in the D3Football poll and fourth to third in the AFCA poll. Wartburg is fifth in both polls.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the Cardinals lead the CCIW in third-down defense, fourth-down defense and fourth-down offense (25.0%, 12.5%, and 81.8%, respectively). All three rank within the top five in Division III. North Central was a force in the red area on both sides of the ball throughout its 10 games, allowing scores at just a 46.7% clip (second nationally) and scoring at a 94.0% rate (fourth nationally). The Cardinals also rank within the top five in Division III in rushing offense, scoring offense, scoring defense, passing efficiency, total offense, total defense, rushing offense, defensive touchdowns and completion percentage.

The Cardinals have appeared in each of the last four Stagg Bowls, winning two. The road to Canton, Ohio, begins this week with a bye for North Central before a second-round matchup against either Hanover or Grove City at 12 p.m. on Nov. 29 inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

For the full AFCA Coaches Poll, click here. 
For the full D3Football poll, click here. 
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