The Gauntlet · Wheaton Football History

Appearances

1995–2025

Playoff record

21-15

.583

Deepest road

3 wins

2025, 2008

Hardest road

2004

avg opponent 1530 at kickoff

Closest call

-1

2019 vs Saint John's University

The Roads, Rated

Average opponent rating at kickoff · opponents met for the first time count as average and are flagged

Season	Record	Games	Result	Avg opp Elo	Unrated	Ended by
2004	10-2	2	1-1	1530	1	University of Mount Union · L 6 - 27
2006	10-2	2	1-1	1519		University of Mount Union · L 3 - 35
2016	11-2	3	2-1	1516	2	University of Mary Hardin-Baylor · L 16 - 38
2002	10-2	2	1-1	1512		University of Mount Union · L 21 - 42
2008	11-3	4	3-1	1510	2	University of Mount Union · L 24 - 45
2003	12-1	3	2-1	1507	1	University of Mount Union · L 10 - 56
2023	10-2	2	1-1	1501		University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · L 42 - 49
2022	8-3	1	0-1	1500		Bethel University · L 32 - 34
2019	12-1	3	2-1	1500	1	Saint John's University · L 33 - 34
1995	10-1	2	1-1	1500	2	University of Mount Union · L 14 - 40
2015	11-1	2	1-1	1500		University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · L 17 - 31
2025	11-3	4	3-1	1500	2	University of Wisconsin - River Falls · L 21 - 46
2021	10-2	2	1-1	1498		Central College · L 28 - 30
2010	10-2	2	1-1	1495	1	Bethel University · L 10 - 15
2014	11-1	2	1-1	1489	1	John Carroll University · L 12 - 14

Upsets and Heartbreaks

Playoff wins the ladder least expected, and losses it least expected

Wins against the odds

Date	Season	Round	Opponent	Result	Chance
Nov 29, 2008	2008	Second round	Wabash College	W 59–28	68%
Nov 26, 2016	2016	Second round	North Central College	W 31–14	69%
Nov 23, 2002	2002	First round	Alma College	W 42–14	70%
Nov 29, 2025	2025	Second round	Wartburg College	W 28–24	73%
Dec 6, 2025	2025	Third round	DePauw University	W 49–24	74%

Losses the ladder did not see coming

Date	Season	Round	Opponent	Result	Chance
Nov 28, 2015	2015	Second round	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	L 17–31	88%
Nov 19, 2022	2022	First round	Bethel University	L 32–34	85%
Nov 27, 2010	2010	Second round	Bethel University	L 10–15	81%
Nov 27, 2021	2021	Second round	Central College	L 28–30	80%
Nov 30, 2002	2002	Second round	University of Mount Union	L 21–42	75%

Every Road, Round by Round

Newest first · Elo from Thunder Elo

2025 · 3-1 in the playoffs

11-3 overall · entered rated 1719 · Jesse Scott

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 22, 2025	Crown College	McCully Stadium	W 76–14	+62	unrated	—
Second round	Nov 29, 2025	Wartburg College	Waverly, Iowa	W 28–24	+4	1500	73%	closest call
Third round	Dec 6, 2025	DePauw University	Greencastle, Ind.	W 49–24	+25	1500	74%
Quarterfinal	Dec 13, 2025	University of Wisconsin - River Falls	River Falls, Wis.	L 21–46	-25	unrated	—

The road ended in the quarterfinal, L 21 - 46 at University of Wisconsin - River Falls. Regular season 8-2.

2023 · 1-1 in the playoffs

10-2 overall · entered rated 1738 · Jesse Scott

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 18, 2023	Mount St. Joseph University	McCully Stadium	W 41–34	+7	1500	84%	closest call
Second round	Nov 25, 2023	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	Whitewater, Wis.	L 42–49	-7	1503	74%

The road ended in the second round, L 42 - 49 at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Regular season 9-1.

2022 · 0-1 in the playoffs

8-3 overall · entered rated 1742 · Jesse Scott

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 19, 2022	Bethel University	McCully Stadium	L 32–34	-2	1500	85%	closest call

The road ended in the first round, L 32 - 34 against Bethel University. Regular season 8-2.

2021 · 1-1 in the playoffs

10-2 overall · entered rated 1786 · Jesse Scott

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 20, 2021	Aurora University	McCully Stadium	W 63–31	+32	1500	88%
Second round	Nov 27, 2021	Central College	Pella, Iowa	L 28–30	-2	1495	80%	closest call

The road ended in the second round, L 28 - 30 at Central College. Regular season 9-1.

2019 · 2-1 in the playoffs

12-1 overall · CCIW champions · entered rated 1794 · Mike Swider

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 23, 2019	Martin Luther College	McCully Stadium	W 51–7	+44	1500	88%
Second round	Nov 30, 2019	Central College	McCully Stadium	W 49–13	+36	1500	89%
Quarterfinal	Dec 7, 2019	Saint John's University	McCully Stadium	L 33–34	-1	unrated	—	closest call

The road ended in the quarterfinal, L 33 - 34 against Saint John's University. Regular season 10-0.

2016 · 2-1 in the playoffs

11-2 overall · entered rated 1734 · Mike Swider

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 19, 2016	Huntingdon College	McCully Stadium	W 45–10	+35	unrated	—
Second round	Nov 26, 2016	North Central College	Naperville, Ill.	W 31–14	+17	1548	69%	closest call
Quarterfinal	Dec 3, 2016	University of Mary Hardin-Baylor	Belton, Texas	L 16–38	-22	unrated	—

The road ended in the quarterfinal, L 16 - 38 at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Regular season 9-1.

2015 · 1-1 in the playoffs

11-1 overall · CCIW champions · entered rated 1785 · Mike Swider

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 21, 2015	Lakeland University	McCully Stadium	W 55–6	+49	1500	88%
Second round	Nov 28, 2015	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	McCully Stadium	L 17–31	-14	1500	88%	closest call

The road ended in the second round, L 17 - 31 against University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Regular season 10-0.

2014 · 1-1 in the playoffs

11-1 overall · CCIW champions · entered rated 1751 · Mike Swider

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 22, 2014	Benedictine University	McCully Stadium	W 43–14	+29	1477	87%
Second round	Nov 29, 2014	John Carroll University	McCully Stadium	L 12–14	-2	unrated	—	closest call

The road ended in the second round, L 12 - 14 against John Carroll University. Regular season 10-0.

2010 · 1-1 in the playoffs

10-2 overall · entered rated 1682 · Mike Swider

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 20, 2010	Coe College	McCully Stadium	W 31–21	+10	unrated	—
Second round	Nov 27, 2010	Bethel University	McCully Stadium	L 10–15	-5	1490	81%	closest call

The road ended in the second round, L 10 - 15 against Bethel University. Regular season 9-1.

2008 · 3-1 in the playoffs

11-3 overall · entered rated 1667 · Mike Swider

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 22, 2008	Trine University	Angola, Ind.	W 14–0	+14	unrated	—	closest call
Second round	Nov 29, 2008	Wabash College	Crawfordsville, Ind.	W 59–28	+31	1498	68%
Quarterfinal	Dec 6, 2008	Franklin College	Franklin, Ind.	W 45–28	+17	unrated	—
Semifinal	Dec 13, 2008	University of Mount Union	Alliance, Ohio	L 24–45	-21	1540	67%

The road ended in the semifinal, L 24 - 45 at University of Mount Union. Regular season 8-2.

2006 · 1-1 in the playoffs

10-2 overall · CCIW champions · entered rated 1721 · Mike Swider

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 18, 2006	Mount St. Joseph University	McCully Stadium	W 42–28	+14	1495	83%	closest call
Second round	Nov 25, 2006	University of Mount Union	Alliance, Ohio	L 3–35	-32	1543	68%

The road ended in the second round, L 3 - 35 at University of Mount Union. Regular season 9-1.

2004 · 1-1 in the playoffs

10-2 overall · CCIW champions · entered rated 1694 · Mike Swider

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 20, 2004	Mount St. Joseph University	McCully Field	W 31–7	+24	unrated	—
Second round	Nov 27, 2004	University of Mount Union	Alliance, Ohio	L 6–27	-21	1559	63%	closest call

The road ended in the second round, L 6 - 27 at University of Mount Union. Regular season 9-1.

2003 · 2-1 in the playoffs

12-1 overall · CCIW champions · entered rated 1746 · Mike Swider

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 22, 2003	Hope College	McCully Field	W 55–45	+10	1488	86%
Second round	Nov 29, 2003	Baldwin Wallace University	McCully Field	W 16–12	+4	unrated	—	closest call
Third round	Dec 6, 2003	University of Mount Union	Alliance, Ohio	L 10–56	-46	1533	72%

The road ended in the third round, L 10 - 56 at University of Mount Union. Regular season 10-0.

2002 · 1-1 in the playoffs

10-2 overall · CCIW champions · entered rated 1726 · Mike Swider

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 23, 2002	Alma College	Alma, Mich.	W 42–14	+28	1522	70%
Second round	Nov 30, 2002	University of Mount Union	Alliance, Ohio	L 21–42	-21	1503	75%	closest call

The road ended in the second round, L 21 - 42 at University of Mount Union. Regular season 9-1.

1995 · 1-1 in the playoffs

10-1 overall · CCIW champions · entered rated 1744 · J.R. Bishop

Round	Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Margin	Opp Elo	Chance
First round	Nov 25, 1995	Wittenberg University	McCully Field	W 63–41	+22	unrated	—	closest call
Second round	Dec 2, 1995	University of Mount Union	Alliance, Ohio	L 14–40	-26	unrated	—

The road ended in the second round, L 14 - 40 at University of Mount Union. Regular season 9-0.

Outside the Bracket

Bowl games

2024 · Culver's Isthmus Bowl Champions

Nov 23, 2024	University of Wisconsin-Stout	Sun Prairie, Wis. / Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium	W 35–32	unrated

Playoff games are inferred from the game log — every game after the last conference game of a season the official year-by-year page marks as a playoff season — and rounds are named from the box score where it says so, otherwise numbered in sequence. The ratings are Wheaton-centric: an opponent is rated only from its games against Wheaton, so a team met once carries a thin rating and a first meeting none at all. That is why "hardest road" is an estimate, and why it is labeled one.