Secondary Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Oct. 26, 2026) – The North Central College football program held steady in the top five of both D3Football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll after its dominant 62-7 victory over Carroll University on Saturday afternoon in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
The Cardinals were slated at the number four spot in the D3Football.com poll for the second consecutive week. Fellow College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) member Wheaton College remained at the top spot of the poll, getting 20 of the 25 possible first-place votes, while the University of Wisconsin-Platteville came in at No. 2, getting four first-place votes. St. John's University (Minn.) follows the Pioneers at No. 3, while the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater finishes out the top five at No. 5, receiving one first-place vote.
The AFCA poll saw the top-15 teams remain unchanged from last week to this week. The Cardinals were once again ranked No. 5 in the country, while Whitewater – and its one first-place vote – came in at No. 4, St. John's at No. 3, Platteville – and its 15 first-place votes – at No. 2 and Wheaton – and its 37 first-place votes – sat atop the poll for the second consecutive week at No. 1.
CCIW member Illinois Wesleyan University received 7 points in the AFCA poll.
North Central sits at No. 19 in the NCAA NPI rankings after its victory, up from No. 24 after last week's games.
The Cardinals boast the 7th-best third-down defense in Division III to go along with their 14th-best scoring defense (11.4). Offensively, North Central has allowed the 16th fewest sacks per game while boasting the fourth-best red zone offense (94.6%), the 22nd rushing offense (234.6 yards per game) and the 12th-most yards of total offense (481.1 yards per game).
Kaden Hartnett is third in the country in pass breakups with 1.86 per game (13 total). Quarterback Garret Wilson ranks 25th in Division III in total offense, racking up 270 yards per game. One of Wilson's favorite targets, Jack Rummell, is 23rd in receiving touchdowns with seven.
The Cardinals continue their regular season on Saturday, October 31, at 1 p.m. inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The program will honor its seniors pregame at approximately 12:25 p.m.
