Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — Monmouth College is ranked first among Midwest Conference (MWC) football teams in the 2025 preseason coaches’ poll, announced Thursday, July 31.
The Fighting Scots received six first-place votes and 78 points to lead the polling. Monmouth has gone 32-4 in MWC play over the last four full seasons and is looking for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2019.
In second place, Lake Forest College picked up the four remaining first-place votes and 75 points. In 2024, the Foresters went 9-0 in league play to win their third MWC crown in the last four years. Lake Forest received a top-eight seed in the 2024 NCAA Division III Football Championship, earning a bye to the second round.
Illinois College and University of Chicago tied for third place, each tallying 61 points, while Cornell College was fifth with 51 points.
The poll rounded out with Ripon College (42 points), Knox College (30 points), Grinnell College (27 points), Beloit College (15 points) and Lawrence University (10 points).
The 2025 season opens on Thursday, September 4 with two teams in action. The remaining eight teams kick off on Saturday, September 6.
Midwest Conference play begins the following Saturday, September 13. 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:
2025 MWC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Monmouth College (6) - 78 points
2. Lake Forest College (4) - 75 points
T3. Illinois College - 61 points
T3. University of Chicago - 61 points
5. Cornell College - 51 points
6. Ripon College - 42 points
7. Knox College - 30 points
8. Grinnell College - 27 points
9. Beloit College - 15 points
10. Lawrence University - 10 points
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Kyle Langhoff (1st Season)
2024: 1-9 (overall), 1-8 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Curt Ritchie (1st Season)
2024: 5-5 (overall), 5-4 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Devin Quirarte, OL (Sr)
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Brent Barnes (6th Season)
2024: 2-8 (overall), 2-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
Illinois College Blueboys
Head Coach: Ray DeFrisco (10th Season)
2024: 8-2 (overall), 7-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Cam Dailey, LB (Sr); Malik Byndom, DB (Sr); Tanner Spencer, RB (Sr); Drake Stuart, LB (Sr)
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Aaron Willits (5th Season)
2024: 3-7 (overall), 2-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Colin Finnigsmier, DB (Jr)
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Jim Catanzaro (17th Season)
2024: 10-1 (overall), 9-0 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Vinny Colasacco, OL (Sr); Blake Ware, LB (Jr); Thomas DeChesaro, DB (Sr); Jackson Sander, LB (Jr)
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Adam Gonzaga (1st Season)
2024: 1-9 (overall), 1-8 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Jahlan Paul, DB (So –
2024 Newcomer of the Year)
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Chad Braun (11th Season)
2024: 9-2 (overall), 8-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Anthony Cikauskas, DL (Sr –
2023 Defensive Line MVP); James Conner, OL (Sr); Brayden Deem, QB (Sr); Derek Chandler, DB (Sr); Carson Starting, LB (So)
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Jake Marshall (3rd Season)
2024: 4-6 (overall), 4-5 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
University of Chicago Maroons
Head Coach: Craig Knoche (1st Season)
2024: 6-4 (overall), 6-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Walter Kilgore, K (So); Josh Minton, KR/PR (Sr); Stirling Sakashita, DB (Sr)