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Setting the Scene:  After three straight season openers on the road, the North Central College football senior class will play its first home opener as the No. 1/1 ranked Cardinals host No. 16/18 UW-Oshkosh in Naperville. The defending NCAA Division III national champions and Titans will kickoff at 1 p.m. inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

Series History: This marks the third football meeting between North Central and UW-Oshkosh, with each team having won once. The Titans defeated the Cardinals 42–21 in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Division III playoffs, while North Central shut out UW-Oshkosh 21–0 in the 1930 season opener in Naperville.

In the 2017 matchup, North Central struck first on a one-yard touchdown run by Zane Lodico, but UW-Oshkosh responded with 42 unanswered points to secure the win.

Quarterback Broc Rutter threw for 238 yards, completing 20 of 37 passes. Lodico added two touchdowns and 66 rushing yards, while Michael Sfikas recorded 131 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Current defensive line coach Derrek Warkenthein led the Cardinals with 10 total tackles in that game.

National Rankings: North Central was ranked No. 1 nationally in the most recent NCAA Division III Top 25 Polls by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

The defending national champion Cardinals received 23 of 25 first-place votes in the D3football.com poll and 51 of 52 first-place votes in the AFCA poll. This marks the 35th consecutive AFCA poll in which North Central has held the top spot, and the 43rd time in the last 46 D3football.com polls.

UW-Oshkosh ranks No. 16 in the d3football.com Top 25 and at No. 18 in the American Football Coaches Association poll.

Scouting the Titans: UW-Oshkosh opened the 2025 season with a 31–14 win over No. 16/15 Linfield University (Ore.).

The Titans jumped out to a 10–0 lead, capped by Clayton Schwalbe’s one-yard touchdown run to finish a nine-play, 80-yard drive. After a Linfield touchdown, UW-Oshkosh responded with 18 unanswered points, including two touchdown passes from quarterback Quentin Keene. A late field goal by Axel Vera Trejo sealed the victory.

Keene completed 17 of 26 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. AJ Korth led the Titans in rushing with 54 yards on a team-high 14 carries and also went 2-for-2 passing for 30 yards. In total, nine different ball carriers combined for 152 rushing yards. Londyn Little added 114 receiving yards on five catches.

On defense, Ben Wellhoefer recorded seven tackles, while Kyle Dietzen added six. Kellen Wright registered the team’s only solo sack, with Dayshawn Henry and Michael Wind combining for another. Vera Trejo was perfect on all three field goal and extra point attempts, including a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter.
 

Preseason All-Americans: 2024 defenders (L to R below) Rahmareon Roby, Brayden Garrigan, John Sullivan, and Cortez Jones were named D3football.com Preseason All-Americans for their performances a season ago
 

This Week in the CCIW: North Central has won the CCIW in each of the past four seasons, posting a perfect 9–0 record in conference play.

This week, only two CCIW teams are in action: North Central and Elmhurst. The Bluejays will host Rockford University at 1 p.m.

Last week, Millikin, Augustana, Carthage, Washington University in St. Louis and North Park opened their seasons with wins, while Wheaton and Illinois Wesleyan suffered losses.

CCIW Preseason Poll: North Central was picked as the favorite to win its 19th CCIW Championship, receiving 8 of 10 first place votes in the annual preseason coaches’ poll.

Following the Cardinals in the preseason poll are Wheaton College (73 points, one first-place vote), Washington University in St. Louis (65), Illinois Wesleyan University (53), Carroll University (48), Augustana College (43), North Park University (34), Carthage College (26), Millikin University (14), and Elmhurst University (13).