North Central, Wheaton football teams earn NCAA postseason berths

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- North Central and Wheaton were each selected to represent the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) at the 2021 NCAA Division III Football Championship announced Sunday evening.

North Central (10-0, 9-0) is coming off its 15th College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) football title and will be a No. 1 seed in this year's NCAA bracket. North Central will host Carnegie Mellon (8-2) at Noon on Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium as the winner will face either Albion or UW-La Crosse on November 27.

This will be the program's fifth-straight NCAA appearance and 13th overall. The Cardinals' won their first National Championship in football with a 41-14 victory over UW-Whitewater to cap the 2019 season. This will be the fifth NCAA appearance under head coach Jeff Thorne.

Wheaton (9-1, 8-1) earned one of the five Pool C bids, which are given to teams that do not win their conference's automatic bid. The Thunder will host Aurora (8-2) at Noon on Saturday at McCully Stadium and the winner will face either Central (Iowa) or Bethel on November 27.

This will be Wheaton's 12th NCAA appearance in program history and first under head coach Jesse Scott. The Thunder's farthest advancement was to the national semifinal round in 2008.

Fans can watch the Wheaton vs. Aurora game via the Thunder's Live Video and Live Stats links, while fans can also watch the North Central vs. Carnegie Mellon contest via the Cardinals' Live Video and Live Stats links.