Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa — Illinois College is ranked first among Midwest Conference (MWC) football teams in the 2024 preseason coaches’ poll, announced Thursday, August 1. 

The Blueboys received seven first-place votes and 79 points to claim the top spot. Last season, Illinois College went 8-1 in league play to win its program's first MWC football championship and make its second NCAA Division III Football Championship Tournament appearance. Illinois College won the head-to-head tiebreaker over Monmouth to secure the title.
 
In second place, Monmouth College picked up the three remaining first-place votes and 74 points. The Fighting Scots finished second in the 2023 season standings, posting an 8-1 record against league opponents. 
 
Lake Forest College earned 65 points to take third place ahead of Ripon College and the University of Chicago who tied for fourth place with 51 points. 
 
The poll rounds out with Cornell College (45), Knox College (29), Beloit College (25), Grinnell College (20), and Lawrence University (11). 
 
The 2024 season opens on Saturday, September 7, with all ten teams competing in non-conference action. 
 
League play begins the following Saturday, September 14. Throughout the season, all ten league teams will play nine conference games to determine the MWC Football Champion and winner of the automatic qualifier to the NCAA postseason tournament. 
 
The MWC preseason coaches’ poll is voted on by the league’s ten football head coaches. Full results and quick facts for all ten teams can be found below:
 
2024 MWC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Illinois College (7) – 79 points
2. Monmouth College (3) – 74 points
3. Lake Forest College – 65 points
T4. University of Chicago – 51 points
T4. Ripon College – 51 points
6. Cornell College – 45 points
7. Knox College – 29 points
8. Beloit College – 25 points
9. Grinnell College – 20 points
10. Lawrence University – 11 points
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Ted Soenksen (6^th Season)
2023: 2-8 (overall), 1-8 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Chris Croft Jr., LB (Sr); Gavin Thorpe, DB/ST (Sr)
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Dan Pifer (5^th Season)
2023: 6-4 (overall), 6-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Jacob Baggs, OL (5^th Year); Tony Gomez, RB/P (Sr); Luca Schoensee, LB (Jr); John Smith, QB (5^th Year)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Brent Barnes (5^th Season)
2023: 2-8 (overall), 2-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Illinois College Blue Boys
Head Coach: Ray DeFrisco (9^th Season)
2023: 9-2 (overall), 8-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Aaron Willits (4^th Season)
2023: 3-7 (overall), 3-6 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Creed Justice, OL (5th Year); Jonathan Sarich, DL (Sr), Jonathan Walker, K/P (So)
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Jim Catanzaro (16^th Season)
2023: 7-3 (overall), 6-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Trenton Brail, DB (5^th Year); Ian Ramey, OL (5^th Year); Sean Brady, OL (Sr); A.J. Jackson, KR (Grad); Jaylen Johnson, DL (Grad); Trevor Land, WR (Sr); Braxton Matteson, OL (5^th Year); Donnevan Plummer, DL (Sr); Nik Rieck, LB (Sr)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Tony Aker (5^th Season)
2023: 0-10 (overall), 0-9 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Chad Braun (10^th Season)
2023: 9-2 (overall), 8-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Tevin Baker, DE (Sr); Jackson Bergren, WR (Sr); McKade Brooks, OL (So); Anthony Cikauskas, DL (Jr – 2023 Defensive Line MVP); James Conner, OL (Jr); Nick Harris, DB (Sr); Colby McMillan, OL (Sr); Nate Thornton, WR (Sr)
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Jake Marshall (2^nd Season)
2023: 5-5 (overall), 5-4 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Alex Mosqueda, WR (Sr)
 
University of Chicago Maroons
Interim Head Coach: Max Andrews (1^st Season)
2023: 6-4 (overall), 6-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A