Football National Championship Preview

The undefeated Cardinals football team will play in its fifth straight Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 5 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas. Intent on raising their third title trophy, North Central will face Mount Union (14-0) in the Division III championship. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m., Central Time, with a live broadcast on ESPN.

Historically, the Cardinals have had four previous meetings with Mount Union. All have all occurred in the postseason. 

In the semifinal on Saturday, Dec. 21, North Central delivered one of the most decisive victories in the history of the NCAA Division III Football Championship. Playing at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, the Cardinals routed Susquehanna University (Pennsylvania), 66-0 — their largest margin of victory in a postseason game, tying the Division III record for the largest in a national semifinal. 

Coming into this season, North Central was ranked No. 1 nationally in the most recent NCAA Division III Top 25 Polls by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Mount Union was ranked No. 3 by the AFCA and No. 5 by D3football.com.

The Cardinals have been ranked No. 1 in the last 32 AFCA regular-season polls and 41 of the last 44 D3football.com regular-season polls.

Find full coverage at northcentralcardinals.com.