MIDWEST CONFERENCE

2026 Season Preview, Presented by Hansen Ratings
Monmouth
MonmouthMonmouth, IL
Lake Forest
Lake ForestLake Forest, IL
Chicago
ChicagoChicago, IL
Illinois College
Illinois CollegeJacksonville, IL
Ripon
RiponRipon, WI
Cornell
CornellMount Vernon, IA
Luther
LutherDecorah, IA
Grinnell
GrinnellGrinnell, IA
Beloit
BeloitBeloit, WI
Knox
KnoxGalesburg, IL
Lawrence
LawrenceAppleton, WI
2025 Season Recap
Team | W-L (Conf) Rating
1. Monmouth | 9-2 (9-0) 24.9
2. Illinois College | 8-3 (7-2) -3.0
2. Lake Forest | 7-3 (7-2) 13.8
2. Chicago | 7-3 (7-2) 4.7
5. Ripon | 5-5 (5-4) -15.3
6. Cornell | 4-6 (4-5) -19.1
7. Knox | 2-7 (2-6) -40.3
8. Grinnell | 2-8 (2-7) -25.0
9. Beloit | 1-9 (1-8) -41.3
10. Lawrence | 0-9 (0-8) -57.6
Postseason Results
Auto Bid
0-1
Monmouth
At-Large
0-0
Bowl(s)
0-1
Illinois College
W-L
0-2
Conference Summary
-16.2
Avg. Rating
66%
Avg. Ret.
68%
Offense
64%
Defense
Players to Watch
YARP/G = Yards Above
Replacement per Game
Ethan Springer - QB, Jr
Lake Forest - 30.4 YARP/G
Nate Wrublik - RB, Sr
Monmouth - 16.3 YARP/G
Chase Newman - WR, Jr
Monmouth - 24.9 YARP/G
James Jordan - TE, So
Lake Forest - 17.1 YARP/G
Acen Akers - OL, So
Monmouth - 22.1 YARP/G
Gavin Carpenter - LB, Jr
Monmouth - 40.2 YARP/G
Jackson Sander - LB, Sr
Lake Forest - 24.8 YARP/G
Kaden Kern - DB, Jr
Lake Forest - 20.0 YARP/G
Tyler Ragan - DB, Sr
Luther - 19.6 YARP/G
Jeremiah Hardnett - DL, Sr
Monmouth - 19.0 YARP/G
Games to Watch
Game Score = Measure of
Quality & Competitiveness
9/5: Wartburg (-7) @ Monmouth ARC Game Score: 20.1 Wartburg 28.4-21.6 - 66%
9/12: Monmouth (-8.5) @ Hampden-Sydney ODAC Game Score: 8.3 Monmouth 40.7-32.3 - 71%
9/3: Chicago (-1) @ Trine MIAA Game Score: 4.0 Chicago 26.5-25.5 - 52%
11/14: Lake Forest (-7.5) @ Chicago Game Score: 4.0 Lake Forest 28.9-21.6 - 68%
9/26: Lake Forest (-10.5) @ Illinois College Game Score: -0.6 Lake Forest 35.8-25.5 - 74%
2026 Season Preview
: New Head Coach : New Conference Member
Monmouth
Projected W-L: 8.7-1.3 (7.6-0.4)
Return
Prod.
Total
53%
(149)
Returning Production
National #149 of 243
Conference 10th of 11
66%
(90)
Returning Offense
National #90 of 243
Conference 6th of 11
Off.
38%
(212)
Returning Defense
National #212 of 243
Conference 10th of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
57%
Auto Bid Odds
National #14 of 243
Conference 1st of 11
18%
At-Large Odds
National #18 of 243
Conference 2nd of 11
At-Large
18%
Bowl Odds
National #44 of 243
Conference 3rd of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
21.9
(35)
Rating
National #35 of 243
Conference 1st of 11
42.0
(21)
Adjusted Offense
National #21 of 243
Conference 1st of 11
AdjO
20.0
(69)
Adjusted Defense
National #69 of 243
Conference 2nd of 11
AdjD
Lake Forest
Projected W-L: 9.2-0.8 (7.3-0.7)
Return
Prod.
Total
68%
(62)
Returning Production
National #62 of 243
Conference 5th of 11
73%
(60)
Returning Offense
National #60 of 243
Conference 5th of 11
Off.
61%
(99)
Returning Defense
National #99 of 243
Conference 7th of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
31%
Auto Bid Odds
National #34 of 243
Conference 2nd of 11
40%
At-Large Odds
National #4 of 243
Conference 1st of 11
At-Large
10%
Bowl Odds
National #70 of 243
Conference 4th of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
16.1
(57)
Rating
National #57 of 243
Conference 2nd of 11
37.6
(39)
Adjusted Offense
National #39 of 243
Conference 2nd of 11
AdjO
21.6
(82)
Adjusted Defense
National #82 of 243
Conference 3rd of 11
AdjD
Chicago
Projected W-L: 7.4-2.6 (5.9-2.1)
Return
Prod.
Total
67%
(68)
Returning Production
National #68 of 243
Conference 6th of 11
56%
(130)
Returning Offense
National #130 of 243
Conference 9th of 11
Off.
80%
(16)
Returning Defense
National #16 of 243
Conference 3rd of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
6%
Auto Bid Odds
National #92 of 243
Conference 3rd of 11
13%
At-Large Odds
National #31 of 243
Conference 3rd of 11
At-Large
37%
Bowl Odds
National #19 of 243
Conference 1st of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
6.0
(92)
Rating
National #92 of 243
Conference 3rd of 11
25.3
(128)
Adjusted Offense
National #128 of 243
Conference 4th of 11
AdjO
19.3
(60)
Adjusted Defense
National #60 of 243
Conference 1st of 11
AdjD
Illinois College
Projected W-L: 7.5-2.5 (5.6-2.4)
Return
Prod.
Total
78%
(20)
Returning Production
National #20 of 243
Conference 3rd of 11
84%
(22)
Returning Offense
National #22 of 243
Conference 1st of 11
Off.
71%
(52)
Returning Defense
National #52 of 243
Conference 5th of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
5%
Auto Bid Odds
National #96 of 243
Conference 4th of 11
9%
At-Large Odds
National #38 of 243
Conference 4th of 11
At-Large
24%
Bowl Odds
National #29 of 243
Conference 2nd of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
2.2
(115)
Rating
National #115 of 243
Conference 4th of 11
28.8
(103)
Adjusted Offense
National #103 of 243
Conference 3rd of 11
AdjO
26.6
(119)
Adjusted Defense
National #119 of 243
Conference 4th of 11
AdjD
Ripon
Projected W-L: 5.0-5.0 (4.4-3.6)
Return
Prod.
Total
73%
(39)
Returning Production
National #39 of 243
Conference 4th of 11
80%
(33)
Returning Offense
National #33 of 243
Conference 3rd of 11
Off.
65%
(78)
Returning Defense
National #78 of 243
Conference 6th of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #169 of 243
Conference 5th of 11
1%
At-Large Odds
National #126 of 243
Conference 5th of 11
At-Large
7%
Bowl Odds
National #75 of 243
Conference 5th of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-12.1
(172)
Rating
National #172 of 243
Conference 5th of 11
19.6
(178)
Adjusted Offense
National #178 of 243
Conference 5th of 11
AdjO
31.8
(158)
Adjusted Defense
National #158 of 243
Conference 5th of 11
AdjD
Cornell
Projected W-L: 4.5-5.5 (3.6-4.4)
Return
Prod.
Total
58%
(121)
Returning Production
National #121 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
57%
(126)
Returning Offense
National #126 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
Off.
59%
(109)
Returning Defense
National #109 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #190 of 243
Conference 6th of 11
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
At-Large
2%
Bowl Odds
National #90 of 243
Conference 6th of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-20.0
(197)
Rating
National #197 of 243
Conference 6th of 11
14.2
(212)
Adjusted Offense
National #212 of 243
Conference 7th of 11
AdjO
34.2
(179)
Adjusted Defense
National #179 of 243
Conference 6th of 11
AdjD
Luther
Projected W-L: 4.4-5.6 (3.1-4.9)
Return
Prod.
Total
81%
(13)
Returning Production
National #13 of 243
Conference 2nd of 11
80%
(36)
Returning Offense
National #36 of 243
Conference 4th of 11
Off.
83%
(10)
Returning Defense
National #10 of 243
Conference 2nd of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #190 of 243
Conference 6th of 11
0%
At-Large Odds
National #163 of 243
Conference 6th of 11
At-Large
2%
Bowl Odds
National #91 of 243
Conference 7th of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-22.6
(206)
Rating
National #206 of 243
Conference 7th of 11
14.7
(209)
Adjusted Offense
National #209 of 243
Conference 6th of 11
AdjO
37.4
(196)
Adjusted Defense
National #196 of 243
Conference 7th of 11
AdjD
Grinnell
Projected W-L: 4.0-6.0 (3.3-4.7)
Return
Prod.
Total
54%
(147)
Returning Production
National #147 of 243
Conference 9th of 11
50%
(161)
Returning Offense
National #161 of 243
Conference 11th of 11
Off.
58%
(113)
Returning Defense
National #113 of 243
Conference 9th of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
0%
At-Large Odds
National #177 of 243
Conference 7th of 11
At-Large
1%
Bowl Odds
National #97 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-28.2
(219)
Rating
National #219 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
9.2
(224)
Adjusted Offense
National #224 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
AdjO
37.4
(197)
Adjusted Defense
National #197 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
AdjD
Beloit
Projected W-L: 2.3-7.7 (1.5-6.5)
Return
Prod.
Total
85%
(7)
Returning Production
National #7 of 243
Conference 1st of 11
81%
(29)
Returning Offense
National #29 of 243
Conference 2nd of 11
Off.
89%
(6)
Returning Defense
National #6 of 243
Conference 1st of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #112 of 243
Conference 9th of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-36.4
(227)
Rating
National #227 of 243
Conference 9th of 11
5.0
(234)
Adjusted Offense
National #234 of 243
Conference 9th of 11
AdjO
41.4
(222)
Adjusted Defense
National #222 of 243
Conference 9th of 11
AdjD
Knox
Projected W-L: 1.9-8.1 (1.4-6.6)
Return
Prod.
Total
62%
(100)
Returning Production
National #100 of 243
Conference 7th of 11
54%
(139)
Returning Offense
National #139 of 243
Conference 10th of 11
Off.
72%
(48)
Returning Defense
National #48 of 243
Conference 4th of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #112 of 243
Conference 9th of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-42.2
(237)
Rating
National #237 of 243
Conference 10th of 11
4.1
(236)
Adjusted Offense
National #236 of 243
Conference 10th of 11
AdjO
46.2
(230)
Adjusted Defense
National #230 of 243
Conference 10th of 11
AdjD
Lawrence
Projected W-L: 0.2-9.8 (0.2-7.8)
Return
Prod.
Total
49%
(172)
Returning Production
National #172 of 243
Conference 11th of 11
62%
(107)
Returning Offense
National #107 of 243
Conference 7th of 11
Off.
34%
(227)
Returning Defense
National #227 of 243
Conference 11th of 11
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 8th of 11
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 11th of 11
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-63.0
(243)
Rating
National #243 of 243
Conference 11th of 11
-0.8
(243)
Adjusted Offense
National #243 of 243
Conference 11th of 11
AdjO
62.2
(243)
Adjusted Defense
National #243 of 243
Conference 11th of 11
AdjD
Auto Bid = Conference AQ; At-Large = Pool C at-large bid; Bowl = automatic bowl tie-ins (ECAC bowls are not included)
Note: Projections use prelim. returning production. Ranks in parentheses are national, of 243 teams. Data: stats.ncaa.org | Analysis: Logan Hansen