North central, wheaton named to d3football.com preseason top 25

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The North Central Cardinals and Wheaton Thunder, both of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW), will begin the 2008 football season nationally ranked after D3Football.com released its preseason rankings Tuesday.

North Central enters the season ranked 15th after finishing 9-3 in 2007, including a trip to the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship. The Cardinals shared the CCIW title last season with Illinois Wesleyan after both finished 6-1 in conference play. Wheaton begins the season ranked 17th after going 8-2 in 2007.

Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage both earned spots in the "others receiving votes" category with 15 and four votes respectively.

Wheaton opens its season Sept. 13, at home against fifth-ranked Bethel. North Central opens its season the same day, hosting 16th-ranked Ohio Northern. Both games are slated for a 1 p.m. start.

For the complete list of the D3Football.com Preseason Top 25, visit www.d3football.com.