North Central, Wheaton learn Division III playoff path

Posted November 16, 2025 6:02 pm

Mike McGraw

One thing for certain in this year's Division III football playoffs: There won't be a championship rematch.

North Central beat Mount Union in last year's title game, which was North Central's third national championship since 2019.

This year's 40-team playoff field was unveiled Sunday, and it has North Central and Mount Union on the same side of the bracket, which means they would meet in the semifinals if both teams advance that far.

The Cardinals (10-0) have played in the last five championship games and were ranked No. 1 all season. But the NCAA seeds the field based on a ratings system that tries to estimate strength of schedule. Mount Union is the top seed and North Central No. 4, so a semifinal matchup would take place in Ohio.

North Central has a first-round bye and awaits the winner of Grove City, Pa. at Hanover, Ind. Grove City's second-leading receiver is Breck Peacock from Wheaton Academy.

Once again, the Cardinals rolled through the regular season. Their closest game was a 24-7 win over Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday. Donovan McNeal (Warren) has 1,009 rushing yards, while Luke Skokna (Hinsdale Central) added 934 receiving yards.

Wheaton (8-2) earned an at-large bid and will host Crown College of Minnesota next Saturday. Crown is one of the better underdog stories in Division III. The Polars went a combined 2-17 the past two seasons, and this is the school's first playoff appearance.

With a win, Wheaton would get a chance to face undefeated Wartburg, Iowa, the No. 2 seed in the tournament. The Thunder's two losses this season were against North Central and Mount Union.

The third Illinois school to make the field is Monmouth, which will travel to St. John's, Minn. on Nov. 29.

Four schools from the Wisconsin conference made the Division III playoffs — River Falls, Whitewater, LaCrosse and Platteville. Whitewater will host DePauw, Platteville hosts Alma, while LaCrosse will travel to Hope on Nov. 29. River Falls has a bye and will await the winner of Whitworth vs. Chapman. The LaCrosse-Hope winner could face North Central in the third round.