Aurora University has been named the favorite to capture the 2025 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) football crown according to the annual preseason poll released today.
The Spartans secured 162 points with all 18 first-place tallies in the poll, which consists of votes from the league's head football coaches and athletics communications professionals. The 2024 Spartans finished the season with a 9-2 record, a perfect 8-0 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference and a 2024 NCAA Division III playoff appearance. The champions of the NACC, the AU football team headed to the NCAA Division III Football Championship for the ninth time in program history and fifth consecutive season of the NCAA hosting the playoffs. The Spartans made the 2024 NCAA Division III playoffs, falling in the second round at Hope College 49-21.
AU enters the 2025 season having won 46 consecutive league games.
St. Norbert College comes in second in the poll with 139 points, while Wisconsin Lutheran College sits third with 109 points. Concordia University Wisconsin was picked fourth with 104 points, ahead of Benedictine University (99), Lakeland University in sixth with 77 points, followed by Concordia University Chicago (50), Rockford University (49) and Eureka College (21).
Additionally, AU enters the 2025 season ranked 22nd in the D3football.com and 24th in the AFCA Preseason Top 25, while senior Senior defensive back
Andrew Nordland and junior defensive lineman
JP Chaney received preseason All-American recognition by D3football.com with Nordland being a Second-Team selection and Chaney a Third-Team.
The 2025 Spartans kickoff the season on Saturday, September 6 when they host the University of Wisconsin - Platteville at Spartan Athletic Park in Montgomery, Illinois. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m.
2025 NACC Football Preseason PollÂ
| Institution |
Points |
| Aurora University (18) |
162 |
| St. Norbert College |
139 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
109 |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
104 |
| Benedictine University |
99 |
| Lakeland University |
77 |
| Concordia Chicago |
50 |
| Rockford University |
49 |
| Eureka College |
21 |
Note:Â First-place votes in parentheses
