North Central Looks to Season Opener, Remains #1 in Polls

NAPERVILLE – Despite its season opener still on the horizon, North Central remained the nation’s top-ranked team in both D3football.com and American Football Coaches Association released Sunday and Monday, respectively.

In the D3football.com poll unveiled Sunday, North Central secured 17 of 25 first-place votes for 617 points and the top position in the rankings. Wheaton, which lost its opener on the road at Wisconsin-Oshkosh 21-14 on Saturday, slipped 10 spots to #19 on Sunday.

Augustana received a single point in the D3football.com rankings. The Vikings beat Simpson on Saturday in Rock Island, 30-13.

North Central compiled 1,227 points in the AFCA poll on Monday on the strength of 28 first-place votes. Wheaton appeared at #22 with 246 points. WashU, a 44-20 winner over Rhodes on Saturday night in Memphis, was unranked but earned six points from the coaches’ ballots.

Defending national champion Cortland was the #2 squad in both polls. Cortland was the only team other than NCC to receive first-place votes at D3football.com, while #4 Mount Union received one first-place vote in the AFCA poll.

The #1 Cardinals will open the season this Saturday at #13/#14 Aurora at 6 p.m.