Grinnell
2-8 2025 finalThe Pioneers of Grinnell, an elite Iowa liberal-arts college that played the first intercollegiate football game west of the Mississippi in 1889 — a 24-0 win over Iowa — and went perfect again in 1998.
Quiet weeks in Pioneers country.
The Pioneers of Grinnell, an elite Iowa liberal-arts college that played the first intercollegiate football game west of the Mississippi in 1889 — a 24-0 win over Iowa — and went perfect again in 1998.
Win the Midwest Conference again and prove a famously brainy college can still play — turn pioneering heritage into a modern winning season.
Offseason
69 days
until kickoff · Sun Aug 30 · 17:00 UTC
The 2026 Outlook
Grinnell sits 8th in the Midwest Conference and 217th of 240 in the CFB Zeitgeist — outside the at-large picture — the path runs through the conference title.
| Team | Conf | Overall | Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monmouth (IL) | 9-0 | 9-2 | 63.2 |
| 2 | Illinois College | 7-2 | 8-3 | 56.7 |
| 3 | Chicago | 7-2 | 7-3 | 56.0 |
| 4 | Lake Forest College | 7-2 | 7-3 | 55.0 |
| 5 | Ripon | 5-4 | 5-5 | 47.3 |
| 6 | Cornell College (IA) | 4-5 | 4-6 | 45.7 |
| 7 | Knox College | 2-6 | 2-7 | 37.3 |
| 8 | Grinnell | 2-7 | 2-8 | 35.1 |
Win the Midwest Conference 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 63-6 over Lawrence University; toughest day 0-70 against Lake Forest College.
The Pulse on Grinnell
What moved it — offseason · last 30 days
Aspiration Ladder
Brief Part III §33.4 · Grinnell
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.
Grinnell · 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 · Grinnell · 2018-present
Elite
22% home win rate vs 21% on the road. margin runs +14.1 better at home.
Act IIILast Season Reviewed
2025 season · tap to expand
Recent Form · last 10 games
Cold
One of five. The film room is busy this week.
Schedule Strength · Grinnell · 2025
Soft
Average opponent win rate 44% across 10 finalized games. Lighter schedule — the committee weighs wins against strength of field.
Moment of the Year · Grinnell · 2025
Won 24-0 vs Beloit
Week 3 of 2025. A statement margin. Recruiting boards re-rendered overnight.
From the Archive — Grinnell
2023: Lost 14-48 vs Chicago
In 2023, the program lost 14-48 vs Chicago — a stinging home result, 34 points either way.
Go Pioneers.