North Central College football took home its third Division III national championship since 2019. The Cardinals ended their historic 15-0 run by beating the University of Mount Union, a fellow traditional D-III power, 41-25 on Jan. 5.
North Central is located approximately two hours northwest of Peoria in Naperville, one of the most thriving and prominent of the Chicago suburbs. And its where former area football stars Kenny Rutherford and Kaden Hartnett have found their home.