Willamette Jumps to #11 in D3Football.com Top 25

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University, 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Northwest Conference, jumped five spots to #11 in this week's D3Football.com Top 25. The Bearcats earned the higher ranking with a 52-28 win at Linfield College on Saturday, Oct. 25. Linfield, ranked #23 last week, fell out of the Top 25.

Mount Union College (Ohio), 7-0, remained the #1 team in the Top 25 and received all 25 first place votes (625 points). The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the defending NCAA Division III national champion, fell to 6-1 with a 17-16 loss to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and dropped from #2 to #6.

Likewise, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas), fell from #3 to #8 and went to 6-1 overall, after losing to Southern Oregon, 40-28. Wheaton College (Ill.), ranked #4 a week ago, fell to #15 and is now 6-1, following a 44-21 loss to last week's #7 team, North Central College (Ill.), 44-21.

With #2, #3 and #4 losing, Mount Union is followed by a new group of challengers this week. North Central moved up to #2 with 575 points. Wabash College (Ohio) shifted three spots higher to #3 with 550 points, and Muhlenberg College (Pa.) advanced one spot to #4 with 540 points. All three teams are 7-0 on the season.

Willamette is one of 14 undefeated teams in this week's poll, but WU is the only undefeated team to have played eight games. The Bearcats are averaging 43.2 points, 384.9 total yards and 264.5 rushing yards per game.

WU does not play this weekend. The 'Cats will play again on Saturday, Nov. 8, when they host the University of Puget Sound at McCulloch Stadium in Salem, Ore. Game time is set for 1 p.m. (PDT). Willamette will conclude the regular season with another home game on Saturday, Nov. 15, against Menlo College. Kickoff against Menlo is slated for 2 p.m. (PST).

The D3Football.com Top 25 is compiled from voting by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media representatives from throughout the nation.