North Central Maintains Lead in National Rankings

NAPERVILLE – D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) chose North Central to remain as the top-ranked team in Division III, according to polls released by each organization on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Wheaton’s ranking was unchanged at #24 in the D3football.com poll. The Thunder were not ranked by the AFCA for the second consecutive Monday.

NCC improved to 5-0 Saturday with a 70-14 victory at College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) rival Millikin. The Cardinals are alone in first place in the conference standings as the league’s last unbeaten team at 4-0. North Central netted 18 of 25 first-place votes from D3football.com and 36 of 50 first-place votes from the AFCA. Cortland is the #2 squad in both polls.

Wheaton (3-2, 3-1 CCIW) returned to the win column Saturday in a 42-21 decision versus Illinois Wesleyan. Despite no movement in the poll, the Thunder’s point total increased from 55 to 75 from a week ago. WC had 31 points in the AFCA poll, eighth-most among unranked teams.

WashU defeated Carthage in St. Louis on Saturday, 65-16. The Bears are now 4-1 overall, 3-1 in the CCIW and received votes in both polls – eight points from the AFCA and three points from D3football.com.