The Pioneers of Carroll University in Waukesha — Wisconsin's oldest college — who returned to the CCIW in 2016 after 24 years away and grind in one of Division III's deepest conferences.
Quiet weeks in Pioneers country.
The Pioneers of Carroll University in Waukesha — Wisconsin's oldest college — who returned to the CCIW in 2016 after 24 years away and grind in one of Division III's deepest conferences.
Establish the Pioneers as a real CCIW contender again — the way they were when they won league titles in their earlier run.
Offseason
69 days
until kickoff · Sun Aug 30 · 17:00 UTC
The 2026 Outlook
Carroll University (WI) sits 6th in the CCIW and 135th of 240 in the CFB Zeitgeist — outside the at-large picture — the path runs through the conference title.
| Team | Conf | Overall | Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Central College | 9-0 | 14-1 | 76.9 |
| 2 | Wheaton | 8-1 | 11-3 | 68.7 |
| 3 | Washington University (St. Louis) | 7-2 | 8-3 | 60.8 |
| 4 | Augustana (IL) | 6-3 | 7-3 | 59.9 |
| 5 | Illinois Wesleyan | 4-5 | 4-6 | 48.8 |
| 6 | Carroll University (WI) | 4-5 | 4-6 | 48.3 |
| 7 | Carthage | 3-6 | 4-6 | 47.7 |
| 8 | North Park | 2-7 | 3-7 | 44.3 |
Win the CCIW for the automatic berth into the 40-team NCAA Division III bracket. Miss it and the path is an at-large bid, selected by NPI — the metric the CFB Index mirrors. Six wins survive the bracket to the Stagg Bowl.
Signature win 47-7 over Elmhurst; toughest day 7-64 against North Central College.
The Pulse on Carroll University (WI)
What moved it — offseason · last 30 days
Aspiration Ladder
Brief Part III §33.4 · Carroll University (WI)
The baseline for a successful season.
The primary goal and national bracket path.
One of 32 national tournament entries.
The Division III national championship game.
Carroll University (WI) · Next-Season Outcome Band
Floor / Base / Ceiling
Variance assumed at ±2 wins from last-season record. Replace with the season-path projection once preview data is built.
Who We Are
Home-Field Advantage · Carroll University (WI) · 2018-present
Elite
63% home win rate vs 38% on the road. margin runs +14.9 better at home.
Act IIILast Season Reviewed
2025 season · tap to expand
Recent Form · last 10 games
Cooling
Two of five. Schedule has caught up.
Schedule Strength · Carroll University (WI) · 2025
Balanced
Average opponent win rate 49% across 10 finalized games. Balanced slate across the conference slate.
Moment of the Year · Carroll University (WI) · 2025
Won 24-10 vs North Park
Week 7 of 2025. The single game that defined the season's arc.
From the Archive — Carroll University (WI)
2024: Won 45-14 at Elmhurst
In 2024, the program won 45-14 at Elmhurst — a blowout road result that left the 31-point margin on the books.
Go Pioneers.