MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the winner of two consecutive conference championships, has been tabbed to win the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football title, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Eagles claimed the 35th conference championship in program history last season and enter the 2024 campaign ranked fifth in Lindy’s Sports Annuals Preseason Top 25 Poll and sixth in the D3football.com Top 25 Preseason Poll. UW-La Crosse reached the quarterfinals of last year’s NCAA Division III Championship and brings back a pair of D3football.com Preseason All-Americans. Michael Stack is a first team selection – and claimed WIAC Special Teams Player of the Year recognition in 2023 – while Jack Studer is a second team honoree. UW-La Crosse’s 11 wins a season ago were the most since 1996 (11-2).
UW-Whitewater is slotted for second in conference poll and owns a WIAC-best 39 first-place finishes. The Warhawks advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championship a season ago and are ranked third by D3football.com and sixth by Lindy’s Sports Annuals. UW-Whitewater has a trio of D3football.com Preseason All-Americans, including second team selection John Pekar, and third team picks Alex Pethan and Tamir Thomas. Tyler Vasey was the WIAC Newcomer of the Year last season, while Kyle Koelblinger secured the distinction in 2021.
UW-River Falls is expected to place third in the conference standings, and ranked 17th by D3football.com and 22nd by Lindy’s Sports Annuals. The Falcons have won 23 games in the last three seasons – matching the best three-year stretch since 1995-97. In 2023, their 5-0 start was the best since the 1993 campaign. Kaleb Blaha established program records with 134 points and 3,882 yards of total offense a year ago.
The remaining order in the conference predictions features: UW-Platteville; UW-Oshkosh; UW-Stout; UW-Eau Claire; and UW-Stevens Point.
The 2024 season is set to begin Sept. 5, with the conference slate kicking-off Oct. 5.
The WIAC will be represented in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl for the fourth consecutive season against an opponent from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The game will feature the highest-placing team in each conference’s standings that isn’t selected for the NCAA Division III Championship. This year’s event will be held at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field in Sun Prairie, Wis., Nov. 23.
2024 Preseason Predictions–Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
2023 Record
- UW-La Crosse (11-2 overall, 7-0 WIAC)
- UW-Whitewater (11-2, 6-1)
- UW-River Falls (7-3, 4-3)
- UW-Platteville (7-4, 4-3)
- UW-Oshkosh (6-4, 4-3)
- UW-Stout (4-6, 2-5)
- UW-Eau Claire (2-8, 1-6)
- UW-Stevens Point (1-9, 0-7)
Team Capsules
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Rob Erickson; 2nd season at UWEC; 2-8
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 26/15
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 31/11
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 9/2
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 0/2
Returning All-WIAC: Trey Fitzgerald, Sr., TE (2023-Second); Isaac Garside, Sr., WR (2023-Honorable); Gyanni Kanellakis, Sr., S (2023-Honorable); Ivan Ruble, Sr., RB (2022-Second, 2023-Second)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Harry Roubidoux, Sr., QB; Noah Strauss, Sr., OL; Jake Thompson, Sr., OL; Landon Tonsager, So., WR
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Peyton Erikson, So., CB; Joel McGrane, Sr., CB; Noah Nephew, Sr., LB; Caden Tonsager, So., CB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Evan Rettowski, Jr., KR/PR
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach: Matt Janus; 4th season at UWL; 29-7
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 36/19
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 44/11
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 6/5
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 8/3
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/1
Returning All-WIAC: Ryan Daines, Sr., LB (2022-Second); Nate Hietpas, Sr., DL (2023-Honorable); Levi Liedke, Sr., OL (2023-Second); Tanner Newlin, Sr., LB (2023-First); Tate Pitcher, Jr., DB (2023-Second); Marko Rajkovic, Jr., TE (2023-Honorable); Aaron Schmitz, Sr., DB (2023-Honorable); Michael Stack, Jr., K (2023-First/Special Teams Player of the Year); Jack Studer, Sr., WR (2023-First)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Brendan Harder, Sr., OL; Wyatt LeMoine, Sr., WR; Gabe Lynch, Jr., RB; Zach Weir, Jr., QB
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Brennan Goralski, Sr., DB; Austin Knade, Sr., LB; Trent Mullen, So., DB; Adam Quam, Sr., LB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Jack Janke, So., WR; Ben Walsh, Jr., LS; Zach Watson, Sr., WR
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach: Peter Jennings; 3rd season at UWO; 12-8
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 24/7
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 19/14
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 9/2
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 5/6
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/0
Returning All-WIAC: Walleye Ratliff, So., P (2023-Second); John Schirger, Sr., OL (2022-Second, 2023-Second); Clayton Schwalbe, Jr., TE (2023-First); Eli Sergott, Jr., OL (2023-Honorable); Trae Tetzlaff, Sr., WR (2022-First, 2023-First); Trae Tetzlaff, Sr., WR (2022-First, 2023-First)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Dan Fynaardt, Sr., WR; Jon Mathieu, Jr., WR
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Mitch Borkovec, Sr., LB; Bryce Edwards, Sr., LB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Londyn Little, Jr., R; Jon Mathieu, Jr., R; Nolan Mobley, Jr., K
UW-Platteville
Head Coach: Ryan Munz; 3rd season at UWP; 12-9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 23/4
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 22/12
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 3/2
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 9/2
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 1/10
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 3/2
Returning All-WIAC: Ryan Pearson, Sr., OL (2023-Honorable); Brandt Stare, Sr., WR (2021-Honorable, 2023-First)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Zach Bothun, So., RB; Michael Priami, Sr., QB; Garrett Stare, Jr., WR
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Nick Alberico, Sr., CB; Logan Drone, Jr., LB; Aidan Sproule, Sr., DL; Will Straka, Jr., LB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Beau Kopp, Jr., LS; Trevor Schulz, So., K
UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Matt Walker; 16th season (13th at UWRF); 68-84 (overall) / 46-76 (UWRF)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 31/12
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 29/9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 6/5
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 8/3
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/0
Returning All-WIAC: Kaleb Blaha, Sr., QB (2022-Second/All-Purp., 2022-HM/QB, 2023-All-Purp., 2023-Second/QB); Aaron Borgerding, Sr., DB (2022-Second, 2023-Honorable); Dylan Brown, Sr., DB (2021-Honorable, 2022-Honorable, 2023-Second); Michael Brown, Sr., DB (2021-Second, 2022-First); Ben Hollister, Sr., LS (2023-Honorable); Michael Krueger, Sr., RB ( 2023-Honorable); Luke Kush, Sr., WR (2022-Honorable); Brody McKnight, Sr., TE (2023-Honorable); Cade Schmidt, Sr., LB (2023-Second); Andrew Schumacher, Sr., DB (2023-Second); Gage Timm, Jr., LB (2023-Honorable)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Ethan Chromy, Jr., WR; Jake Hilton, So., WR; Adam Johnstone, So., TE; Ethan Sigler, Jr., OL
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Conrad Gingg, Sr., DB; John Klefstad, Jr., DL; Jack Olson, Jr., DL; Carson Steen, Sr., DL
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Dawson Kriske, Jr., K; Justin Scheberl, Jr., K
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Luke Venne; 3rd season at UWSP; 2-18
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 22/5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 25/4
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 6/5
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/1
Returning All-WIAC: Matt Getgen, Jr., TE (2023-Honorable)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Brycen Cashin, Jr., RB; Miles Gallagher, Jr., WR; Jacob Leair, Jr., QB
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Caleb DeJong, Sr., LB; Gavino Lopez, Sr., CB; Christian Nickel, Sr., DL; Tyriq Sims, Sr., DL
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Grant Kirsch, Jr., LS; Aleks Sauer-Milli, So., K/P
UW-Stout
Head Coach: Clayt Birmingham; 14th season at UWST; 54-75
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 28/9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 31/9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 4/7
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 5/6
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/0
Returning All-WIAC: Luke Cool, Sr., K (2023-Second); Patrick Corcoran, Sr., WR/RET (2023-First/Kick Returner); Will Hammen, Sr., FB (2023-Second/Long Snapper)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Tucker Haakonson, Jr., WR; Luke Mertens, Sr., OL; Luke Parzyck, Sr., OL; Ben Tolkinen, Jr., RB
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Richie Murphy, Sr., DB; Nate Rewald, Sr., LB; Blaine Seidl, Jr., LB; Nathan Williamson, Sr., LB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Ben Karls, Sr., P/WR
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach: Jace Rindahl; 2nd season at UWW; 11-2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 15/7
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 16/6
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/2
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 7/4
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 9/2
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/2
Returning All-WIAC: Matt Burba, Sr., DL (2023-First); Ethan Gallagher, Jr., LB (2023-Honorable); Steven Hein, Sr., WR (2023-Second); Kyle Koelblinger, Sr., DB (2021-Second/Newcomer of the Year, 2023-Second); Nehemiah Lomax, Sr., DL (2023-Second); Drake Martin, Sr., RB/ST (2022-First, 2023-Second); John Pekar, Sr., C (2023-First); Alex Pethan, Jr., OL (2023-First); Mason Stepanski, Jr., LB/Spec. Teams (2023-Second); Tamir Thomas, Sr., RB (2022-Second, 2023-First); Tyler Vasey, So., WR/Spec. Teams (2023-Second/Newcomer of the Year)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Jason Ceniti, Sr., QB; Alijah Maher-Parr, Jr., RB; Evan Oberg, Jr., OL; Nick Wind, Sr., WR
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Trey Castella, Sr., LB; Tyson Harvey, Jr., DB; Lucas Sadler, Jr., DL; Cole Yocum, Sr., DL
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Dyson Klubertanz, Sr., DB/RET
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