RFC Small College Preview: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)--(NCAA Division III)

College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)

CCIW Football History

2014 Football Standings

Looking back: It proved to be a "down" year for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) in 2014, as only two teams: Wheaton (11-1 overall) and North Central (8-2 overall) finished with winning records.  The Thunder advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, where they fell at home to John Carroll in a heartbreaking 14-12 loss.

Looking ahead: The CCIW will see slight changes in its membership over the next several years, with Carroll (Wis.) returning to the conference in 2016 after an absence of more than 20 years, while Washington (Mo.) will join the league in 2018 as an associate member. That will give the CCIW 10 football-playing members by 2018.

Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):

1. Wheaton (11-1): The Thunder reached the double-digit win mark in 2014 after being stuck at 8-2 the previous three years. With a preseason ranking of No. 8 by The Sporting News, don't be surprised if it claims another CCIW crown this fall.

2. North Central (8-2): As this latest installment of the "RFC Small College Preview" was being posted, the Cardinals recently added a 10th game to its regular season schedule, as they'll square against perennial East Coast power Wesley at home on September 26. This late update to the schedule only adds to the high expectations going into the 2015 season, as they hope to win at least six games in CCIW play for the 11th straight year dating back to 2005. If that wasn't enough, Jeff Thorne will replace John Thorne as the Cardinals head coach.

3. Augustana (Ill.)--(5-5): After three straight seasons of finishing with exactly five wins each, the Vikings will look for a fresh start under new head coach Steve Bell. In yet another statistical oddity, they've finished CCIW play at no worse than 4-3 five times in the last six years.

4. Elmhurst (5-5): A three-game losing streak to end 2014 has the Bluejay faithful praying for a better ending to 2015. 

5. Illinois Wesleyan (4-6): The Titans hope to climb their way back to the top of the CCIW heap after suffering their first losing season since 2006, when they finished 3-7 overall. 

6. Carthage (3-7): The Red Men will look to grab their first winning season since 2010, when they finished 6-4 overall. 

7. Millkin (3-7): The Big Blue have their work cut out for them in the win column after struggling to a 1-6 mark in CCIW games last season. This season, though, they'll have plenty of chances to do just that, as they play against six teams that finished a combined 19-41 overall in 2014.

8. North Park (2-8): OK, does anyone know the last time the Vikings even finished at exactly .500, let alone had a winning season? For those that answered 1968, that's the correct answer. NPU finished 6-3 overall at the end of that campaign. They haven't won more than four games since then. With that said, they'll face an uphill battle to make that climb in the standings this fall.

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