Two longtime rivals from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin will collide this Saturday when Carroll University visits Wheaton College. The Pioneers and Thunder renew their historic rivalry, which dates back to 1937, for the 43rd time in that span.
Wheaton holds a commanding 24-18 advantage over Carroll in the all-time series. However, the Thunder have won the last nine meetings, with Carroll’s most recent victory coming in a 43-27 triumph back in 1990.
Carroll (WI) Takes on Wheaton (IL): Viewing Options
Last season, 1,549 fans packed Schneider Stadium to witness another chapter in this storied rivalry. After Wheaton jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead, Carroll’s defense found cracks in the Thunder attack, storming back to tie the game at 10-10 with 7:55 remaining in the third quarter. From that point forward, Wheaton’s team dominated on both sides of the ball, shutting out Carroll for the final 22:55 of the contest.
Saturday’s renewal takes place at McCully Stadium in Wheaton, Illinois, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. Central Time. Fans can catch action clips on NCAA.com and the Wheaton team site.
Carroll enters Saturday’s contest searching for its first victory of the 2025-26 campaign. After falling 29-7 to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and dropping a 41-29 decision to Washington University in St. Louis, head coach Mike Budziszewski looks to guide his Pioneers into the win column. Meanwhile, the Thunder will be playing their home opener after two road contests to begin the season.
In their season opener, Wheaton traveled to face perennial powerhouse Mount Union. Despite trailing 37-7 in the fourth quarter, the Thunder mounted an impressive comeback, scoring 22 points in just over eight minutes to cut the deficit to eight points before ultimately falling 37-29. The following week, Wheaton traveled to Rock Island for CCIW action against Augustana College. The Thunder offense exploded for a 29-0 halftime lead before cruising to a dominant 50-7 victory over the Vikings.
Wheaton hopes to emerge victorious in front of an anticipated larger crowd due to homecoming festivities.
Wheaton could start making noise. https://t.co/QPNr8ejYS0
— Add/Drop Podcast (@AddDropPodcast) September 26, 2025
Both programs share a common goal: ending North Central College’s stranglehold on the CCIW. The Cardinals have captured the last three conference championships and claimed two of the past three Division III national titles. Head coach Brad Spencer has compiled a perfect 28-0 record in CCIW play and boasts an impressive 46-1 overall mark since taking over the program.
With North Central looming on the horizon for both teams later in the season, Saturday’s contest provides each program an opportunity to secure a crucial conference win and build momentum for the remainder of their schedules. A victory could provide the confidence needed to navigate the challenging road ahead.
The question remains: Can Carroll pull off the upset and earn their first win of the season, or will Wheaton continue their dominance in this rivalry with another home victory?