The WashU Bears went 7-3 and finished in fourth place last season. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

With just a few weeks left before the start of the NCAA Division III football season, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW), announced its preseason coaches’ poll on Tuesday.

Washington University, which finished last season with a 7-3 overall record and a 6-3 conference mark, which earned the Bears fourth place, was picked to finish in third place this season.

Defending league champ and national championship runner-up, North Central, was picked to win the CCIW title for the third year in a row. The Cardinals, who were all named the No. 1 team in the country in D3Football.com’s preseason national poll, received eight first-place votes and totaled 80 points overall.

Wheaton was picked to finish second, after earning two first-place votes and 74 total points.

WashU came in third with 65 points, while Augustana (51 points) and Carroll (49) came in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Illinois Wesleyan, North Park, Carthage, Elmhurst, and Millikin were the teams predicted to finish sixth through tenth to bring out the poll.

Last season, WashU went 7-3 with its only losses coming to North Central, Wheaton, and Augustana.

2024 CCIW Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll
 Team (first-place votes) Points
 1. North Central (8)80
 2. Wheaton (2)74
 3. WashU65
 4. Augustana51
 5. Carroll49
 6. Illinois Wesleyan42
 7. North Park38
 8. Carthage24
 9. Elmhurst17
 10. Millikin10

This year, despite losing three-year starting quarterback Matt Rush to graduation, the Bears will bring back a number of top performers at the skill positions.

WashU’s trio of dynamic running backs — Kenneth Hamilton (senior), Fred Ward (junior), and Kenvorris Campbell (senior) — will all return, as will wide receiver talents Colling Goldberg and Collin Hoyhta.

Hamilton led the Bears with 683 rushing yards and six TDs. Ware rushed for 454 yards and five TDs, and Campbell had 296 yards and four TDs.

Receivers Goldberg and Hoyhta, both also three-year starters, are coming off fantastic seasons as well. Goldberg led WashU with 41 catches, 670 yards, and six receiving TDs, while Hoyhta finished just behind with 31 catches for 403 yards and three TDs.

Senior QB Clark Stephens is expected to start under center and will likely share duties with sophomore Levi Moore. Both appeared in nine games last year.

Stephens threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns, while Moore, who is more of a runner, threw for one touchdown pass, but rushed for a team-leading seven scores last season.

Clark Stephens is expected to be WashU’s starting quarterback this season. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

The Bears will begin the 2024 season, when they’ll travel to Memphis to take on Rhodes College in a non-conference game at Crain Field.

WashU’s 2024 home opener will be on September 21, when the Bears host Carroll at Francis Olympic Field. Kickoff that day is set for 1 p.m.

2024 WashU Bears Football Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
September 7, 20247 p.m.AwayRhodes CollegeMemphis, Tenn. / Crain Field
September 21, 20241 p.m.HomeCarroll UniversityFrancis Olympic Field
September 28, 202412 p.m.AwayNorth Central CollegeNaperville, Ill. / Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium
October 5, 20241 p.m.AwayIllinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, Ill. / Tucci Stadium
October 12, 20241 p.m.HomeCarthage CollegeFrancis Olympic Field
October 19, 20241 p.m.AwayElmhurst UniversityElmhurst, Ill. / Langhorst Field
October 26, 20241 p.m.HomeWheaton CollegeFrancis Olympic Field
November 2, 202412 p.m.HomeMillikin UniversityFrancis Olympic Field
November 9, 202412 p.m.AwayNorth Park UniversityChicago, Ill. / Holmgren Athletic Complex
November 16, 202412 p.m.HomeAugustana CollegeFrancis Olympic Field