Aurora University has been named the favorite to capture the 2026 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) football crown according to the annual preseason poll released today.
The Spartans secured 149 points with 12 first-place tallies in the poll, which consists of votes from the league's head football coaches and athletics communications professionals. The 2025 Spartans finished the season with an 8-3 record, 6-2 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference and a 2025 SmileyCookie.com Bowl Championship.Â
Concordia University Wisconsin, the 2025 NACC champions comes in second in the poll with 231 points and three first-place votes, St. Norbert College is second with 122 points, Benedictine University fourth with 115 points and two first-place votes. Wisconsin Lutheran College sits fifth with 90 points, Lakeland University in sixth with 74 points, followed by Concordia University Chicago (59), Rockford University (38) and Eureka College (31 and the final first-place vote).
Additionally, AU enters the 2025 season with senior defensive lineman
JP Chaney receiving preseason All-American recognition by D3football.com.
The 2026 Spartans kickoff the season on Saturday, September 5 when they travel to ranked University of Wisconsin - Platteville with kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m.
2026 NACC Football Preseason PollÂ
| Institution |
Points |
| Aurora University (12) |
149 |
| Concordia Wisconsin (3) |
132 |
| St. Norbert College |
122 |
| Benedictine University (2) |
115 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
90 |
| Lakeland University |
74 |
| Concordia Chicago |
59 |
| Rockford University |
38 |
| Eureka College (1) |
31 |
Note:Â First-place votes in parentheses
