North Central (Ill.) Cardinals

Schedule

Overall record: 10-2 - Conference: 7-1
* Conference; • D-III opponent

All times Eastern
9/2 vs. Robert Morris-Chicago W, 33-31 BX RC
9/16 vs. Illinois Wesleyan * • W, 26-13 BX
9/23 at Millikin * • W, 51-21 BX RC
9/30 at Washington U. • W, 43-24 RC RC BX
10/7 vs. North Park * • W, 33-0 BX RC
10/16 at Wheaton (Ill.) * • L, 42-20 BX RC
10/21 vs. Augustana * • W, 54-2 BX RC
10/28 at Carroll * • W, 60-21 BX RC
11/4 vs. Carthage * • W, 43-20 BX RC
11/11 at Elmhurst * • W, 49-7 BX RC
11/18 vs. St. John's W, 17-7 BX RC
11/25 at UW-Oshkosh L, 42-21 BX RC RC P
Overall record: 10-2 - Conference: 7-1
All times Eastern   (* Conference; • In-region)
9/16 vs. Illinois Wesleyan * • W, 26-13 BX
9/23 at Millikin * • W, 51-21 BX RC
10/7 vs. North Park * • W, 33-0 BX RC
10/16 at Wheaton (Ill.) * • L, 42-20 BX RC
10/21 vs. Augustana * • W, 54-2 BX RC
10/28 at Carroll * • W, 60-21 BX RC
11/4 vs. Carthage * • W, 43-20 BX RC
11/11 at Elmhurst * • W, 49-7 BX RC

2017

Schools Conf All
North Central (Ill.) 7-1 10-2
Illinois Wesleyan 7-1 9-2
Wheaton (Ill.) 6-2 8-2
Millikin 5-3 7-3
Carthage 5-3 7-3
North Park 2-6 3-7
Elmhurst 2-6 2-8
Carroll 1-7 1-9
Augustana 1-7 1-9

Previous seasons

loki/standings
Year Overall Conf
2026 0-0, 0-0 CCIW
2025 14-1, 9-0 CCIW
2024 15-0, 9-0 CCIW
2023 14-1, 9-0 CCIW
2022 15-0, 9-0 CCIW
2021 13-1, 9-0 CCIW
2020 0-0, 0-0 CCIW
2019 14-1, 8-1 CCIW
2018 10-2, 8-1 CCIW
2017 10-2, 7-1 CCIW
2016 11-1, 8-0 CCIW
2015 7-3, 6-1 CCIW
2014 8-2, 6-1 CCIW
2013 13-1, 7-0 CCIW
2012 9-3, 6-1 CCIW
2011 10-2, 7-0 CCIW
2010 12-1, 7-0 CCIW
2009 8-2, 6-1 CCIW
2008 11-1, 7-0 CCIW
2007 9-3, 6-1 CCIW
2006 9-3, 6-1 CCIW
2005 9-2, 6-1 CCIW
2004 7-3, 4-3 CCIW
2003 7-3, 4-3 CCIW
2002 6-4, 4-3 CCIW
2001 3-7, 2-5 CCIW
2000 5-5, 3-4 CCIW
1999 2-7, 2-5 CCIW
1998 3-6, 1-6 CCIW

Team Info

North Central (Ill.)

Cardinals

Coach: Jeff Thorne (Eastern Illinois)
Conference: CCIW
Enrollment: 2325
Location: Naperville, IL
Colors: Cardinal, White
Stadium: Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium (5889)
Surface: Turf
Link to official site

News Releases

January 16, 2026 Stagg Bowl ratings up 26% The results are in, and viewership for the Stagg Bowl was up significantly over last year's game and the two previous contests.
January 4, 2026 Revisit game day live from Canton! From the great pregame coverage of the Stagg Bowl from Small School Saturday to our Division III-expert play-by-play of a great game, it was a great day to stream Division III football. Revisit it all on D3football.com.
January 3, 2026 Where might you find 92? The River Falls offense faces a big challenge: Try to contain North Central defensive tackle J.P. Sullivan. That, of course, is easier said than done. Joe Sager has more in a Stagg Bowl feature.
December 20, 2025 North Central makes sixth straight Stagg North Central scored three touchdowns on big plays in the first half, including a pick-six by defensive end Eli Renick, and the Cardinals rolled into the Division III football national championship game for the sixth consecutive season, defeating John Carroll 41-21.
December 18, 2025 Can't keep up with Cortez Jones Cortez Jones started his career off as an offensive lineman for North Central, then moved to the defensive line and started there his entire sophomore year. But this year, when the Cardinals had jobs open up, Jones answered the call and moved back over, where he has shone. Greg Thomas has more in a Road to Canton feature.
December 10, 2025 Jeff Thorne's cancer battle ends Former North Central coach Jeff Thorne, who led the Cardinals to their first Division III football national championship, died on Tuesday night at the age of 53 after a 10-month battle with stomach cancer.
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