Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
D3football.com Top 25 Poll
AFCA Top 25 Poll
Sept. 14, 2026 - Getting a second ranked win in as many weeks, the North Central College football team garnered all first-place votes in the latest installment of the D3football.com Top 25 and 52 of the 53 possible first-place votes in the American Football Coaches Association poll, following the second week of games.
The Cardinals trailed at halftime vs No. 9 Wartburg on Saturday, but scored 17 unanswered points to secure a hard-fought 26-20 victory over the Knights. Matt Janiak's interception late in the fourth quarter turned into a Duke Guenther 22-yard touchdown run to put the game out of reach for Wartburg.
Following the Cardinals in the D3football.com polls College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin rival Wheaton College, their highest-ever ranking. UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls and St. John's University round out the top five. Wartburg improved to No. 6, following a loss to North Central.
The AFCA poll's top five teams mirror D3football.com, with Wartburg staying put at No. 10 after the loss. UW-River Falls collected one first-place vote this week from the coaches poll.
North Central opens College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play on the road Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff against North Park University. The Cardinals are riding a 29-game winning streak against the Vikings, earning a 75-0 victory last season.
