State of champions: North Central, Illinois State ready to compete for national titles
The state of Illinois football has never been better.
This weekend will feature two teams from the Land of Lincoln battling for national championships: North Central will take on Wisconsin-River Falls in the Division III title game on Sunday; followed by Illinois State vs. Montana State for the FCS championship on Monday.
Sure, it would be nice if an Illinois squad made the Final Four of the College Football Playoff. The state of Indiana has done that twice already.
But one could argue it's tougher to win on the lower levels. The Division III playoffs feature 40 teams, while the FCS has 24 — with all games played on campus sites until the championship.
North Central (14-0) is the stand-alone power in Division III, playing in its sixth straight championship game and looking for its fourth title since 2019. One thing the Cardinals haven't done yet is repeat as champion, so there's a chance to make history Sunday in Canton, Ohio. There hasn't been a repeat champion in Division III since Wisconsin-Whitewater did it in 2013-14.
“Obviously, it's not just about winning back-to-back,” fourth-year North Central coach Brad Spencer said. “It's about winning.”
Illinois State (12-4) lost its regular-season finale to Southern Illinois 37-7, then went on the ultimate underdog run, winning four straight road games in the playoffs. The Redbirds pulled a stunning comeback against No. 1 North Dakota State in Round 2, then carried the momentum into decisive wins against Cal-Davis and Villanova. Monday's game is on a neutral field in Nashville.
“It's cliché, but it’s really true — a team that's led internally by the players probably has a stronger bond,” ISU coach Brock Spack said. “This team has done that.”
A double victory for Illinois would not be unprecedented. In 1983 SIU won the FCS title, while Augustana captured the first of four straight Division III national championships. Here's a closer look at this week's two matchups:
North Central vs. River Falls
The last time North Central lost, it was in the 2023 title game to SUNY-Cortland, 38-37, with the Cardinals failing on a late 2-point try. Like Cortland, River Falls is in the Division III championship for the first time.
In fact the Falcons (13-1) are a rags-to-riches story, going on a steep climb after 19 straight losing seasons from 2001-19. This was their first time in the NCAA playoffs since 1996.
River Falls quarterback Kaleb Blaha, a fifth-year senior, was named Gagliardi Trophy winner Friday, which is essentially the Division III Heisman. He's thrown for 4,680 yards this season and didn't slow down in single-digit temperatures during the playoffs.
“He's incredible,” Spencer said. “What's so dangerous about him is his ability to run and ability to operate their offense and RPOs. Their offense was designed for him.”
Head coach Matt Walker is in his 15th season, while offensive coordinator Joe Matheson has gotten credit for bringing the fast-paced “Top Gun” offense to northern Wisconsin.
River Falls scored at least 42 points in all four playoff games and needed a 79-yard TD pass with 45 seconds left to beat Johns Hopkins in a semifinal shootout.
North Central had to replace four-year starting quarterback Luke Lehnen and four offensive linemen this year. While that part has gone well, the defense might be the best the Cardinals have had, led by defensive tackle John Sullivan (Lakes), the AP national player of the year on defense.
Garret Wilson, a former walk-on at Oklahoma State, stepped in at quarterback, and North Central has its usual depth at the skill positions. Thomas Skokna (Hinsdale Central) is a first-team All-American at wide receiver, while running back Donovan McNeal (Warren) rushed for a combined 453 yards the past three weeks, while averaging 8.2 yards a carry.
Walker had an interesting description of what makes North Central so dominant.
“With all respect, they're just a little boringly better at everything than everybody else,” he said. “They don't stick out in a crazy way anywhere. They're so good and so solid, so well-coached, so fundamental, weapons everywhere, there's no hole in the football team.”
Illinois St. vs. Montana St.
Defense has been a key to Illinois State's playoff run. The team's leading tackler, linebacker Tye Niekamp, is the son of defensive coordinator Travis Niekamp. Another starting linebacker is Patrick Bauer from St. Viator.
On offense, receiver Daniel Sobkowicz (Rolling Meadows) might be MVP of the FCS playoffs. In four postseason games, he's caught 7 touchdowns from fellow fifth-year senior QB Tommy Rittenhouse (St. Francis) and threw for another.
“When our back is against the wall, I know who to go to,” Rittenhouse said. “He's always been my guy since Day 1.”
Montana State was ranked No. 2 behind North Dakota State for most of the season. The Bobcats are No. 4 in rushing offense at 234.5 yards a game and have two 1,000-yard rushers in Wisconsin transfer Julius Davis and sophomore Adam Jones.
“Those guys are dudes,” Tye Niekamp said. “I think the big thing for us is stopping the run, it's going to be a challenge.”
Quarterback Justin Lamson, a Stanford transfer, is second in FCS in completion percentage (72%). But the Redbirds see MSU a clone of North Dakota State and expect a power rushing game that will “test your toughness,” according to Spack.
Illinois State has never won a national title and is making its second appearance in the championship game, the first in 2014. Montana State last won a national title in 1984 but finished second in both 2021 and '24.