Setting the Scene: The Cardinals look to clinch at least a share of their third straight conference championship and a 26th straight home win on Senior Day.
Series History: This is the 73rd football meeting between the two institutions. The Titans own a 38-31-3 advantage in the all-time series, though North Central has won the last 12 contests dating back to 2010.
The Cardinals traveled to Bloomington last season and departed with a 68-3 victory, running for 452 of their 517 yards on a windy afternoon at Tucci Stadium.
North Central owned a 48-3 lead by halftime as Ethan Greenfield ran for three touchdowns, Luke Lehnen ran for a score and threw to DeAngelo Hardy for two more, and Tyler Rich recovered an errant IWU snap in the end zone.
Dan Lester and Sam Taviani finished with seven tackles each for a defense which limited the Titans to 148 total yards and forced four turnovers.
The Cardinals have won 18 of their last 19 games against IWU since 2003. The Titans won a 28-22 overtime decision at home Oct. 31, 2009.
National Rankings: North Central was ranked No. 1 by D3football.com in this week's NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll, receiving all 25 first-place votes.
The Cardinals are the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) first Top 25 Poll of the campaign, receiving 48 of 49 first-place votes.
North Central has been ranked No. 1 in 28 of D3football.com's last 31 regular-season polls.
Scouting the Titans: A slow start put Illinois Wesleyan behind Saturday against Augustana, as the Vikings took a 31-0 first-half lead before finishing off the Titans, 44-14.
IWU gained just eight yards on its first four possessions while the Vikings scored on five straight drives to open the game. Augustana outgained the Titans, 539-172, and maintained possession for more than 42 minutes.
Quarterback Jay Lemenager threw for 133 yards and a touchdown to Tre Moore, while Jahari Scott returned a second-half kickoff 92 yards to the end zone.
The Titans are gaining 222 of their 308 yards per game and have scored 14 of their 24 touchdowns via the passing game. Four IWU quarterbacks have thrown for scores this season. Myles Kee is the team's leading receiver with 49 catches for 544 yards while Kevin Graham has a team-best five TD receptions. Seth Albin is the Titans' top rusher with 420 yards and four scores.
The IWU defense has yielded 378 yards and 35 points per game. Defensive back Arthur Chatt is the Titans' leading tackler (58) while lineman Zach McNees has a team-best 15.5 tackles for loss.
This Week for the Cardinals: North Central held a third straight opponent without a touchdown Saturday, dictating terms throughout a 56-0 victory at North Park.
Luke Lehnen accounted for six of the Cardinals' eight touchdowns, throwing three touchdown passes and tying a career high with three rushing scores. Lehnen threw TD passes to Joe Sacco, DeAngelo Hardy and Charles Coleman, while Sacco and Darius Byrd also scored rushing touchdowns.
Martin Egbo recorded six of North Central's 12 tackles for loss and made three of its five quarterback sacks, matching the third-highest single-game totals in program history in both categories, as the Cardinals outgained North Park, 631-128, and defeated the Vikings for the 27th straight time.
The Cardinals have won 34 straight regular-season games, including 31 CCIW contests.
North Central has scored touchdowns on 44 of 49 first-half possessions thus far this season and its outscoring opponents, 327-27, in the first two periods of play.
CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week: Wheaton's Giovanni Weeks was named this week's CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week, while WashU's Ryan Schmadtke received the award on defense and IWU's Jahari Scott was honored on special teams.
D3football.com Team of the Week: Egbo was one of two defensive ends named to the D3football.com Team of the Week, giving the Cardinals a selection to the honor roll for a fifth straight week.
Zack Orr was so honored following the Cardinals' victory over WashU, while Hardy was recognized with two straight selections following North Central's wins over Carroll and Millikin.
The Cardinals' offensive line was named to the Team of the Week following the Sept. 30 win at Wheaton.
National Statistical Rankings: The Cardinals currently lead all Division III teams in total offense (573.6 yards per game), passing efficiency (262.4) and pass completion percentage (73.7).
North Central ranks second nationwide in scoring offense (59.1 points per game) and yards per completion (20.31), third in fewest turnovers lost (4) and rushing offense (324.9 ypg), sixth in tackles for loss (74) and quarterback sacks (30), eighth in scoring defense (9.8 ppg), ninth in rushing defense (54.4 ypg) and 10th in total defense (216.5 ypg).
Hardy ranks fifth nationally in touchdown receptions (13) and 12th in total touchdowns (14), while Joey Lombardi ranks fifth in yards per reception (26.4), Nic Rummell sits ninth in punt return average (16.5) and Lehnen ranks ninth in touchdown passes (26).
North Central Career Rankings: Hardy ranks second in North Central history in receptions (200), receiving yards (3,624) and touchdown receptions (50), third in total touchdowns (56), fourth in points scored (336) and fifth in all-purpose yards (4,470).
Lehnen now sits second in the Cardinals' history in passing touchdowns (94) while ranking fourth in passing yards (7,626) and completions (457). Lehnen currently sits first in passing efficiency (206.3) and completion percentage (.685).
Lehnen is also poised to join North Central's all-time leaders in rushing. He currently sits third in yards per rushing attempt (6.89) and ranks eighth in career rushing touchdowns (28). Julian Bell is tied for seventh all-time in pass breakups (25).
National Career Rankings: Lehnen is the current active leader among all players in college football in career passing efficiency. Among Division III players, Lehnen ranks third in touchdown passes and ninth in passing yards.
Hardy ranks second nationwide among all divisions in career touchdown receptions and fourth in receiving yards while sitting 21st in receptions.
This Week in Cardinal Football History: 1995 vs. Carthage - The last North Central football game to end in a tie came in a late-season contest at Carthage, 7-7.
A 32-yard run on a punt fake by Matt Carlson set up the Cardinals' lone score, a one-yard touchdown run by Jeff Studnicka, in the first quarter. Carthage's touchdown came in the third period, and the Cardinals saw a 48-yard field-goal attempt come up short late in the contest.
Around the CCIW: North Central sits atop the CCIW with a perfect 7-0 in-conference record, while Augustana and Wheaton are a game back in the standings at 6-1.
Augustana visits Carthage this week, while Wheaton hosts WashU. Millikin travels to Carroll and North Park plays at Elmhurst.