From the WIAC —
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its preview and predictions for the 2025 football season. The predictions were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is predicted to claim the conference title. The Eagles made their fourth consecutive NCAA appearance a year ago and enter this season ranked No. 10 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Preseason Poll, presented by Hudl, and No. 11 in the D3football.com Top 25 Preseason Poll.
UW-Platteville is pegged for second in the conference standings after claiming its first WIAC championship since the 1980 campaign a year ago. The Pioneers enter the season ranked No. 14 by the AFCA and No. 15 by D3football.com.
UW-River Falls is slotted for third in the conference race. The Falcons are ranked No. 19 by D3football.com and the AFCA.
UW-Whitewater is predicted to place fourth in the conference standings. The Warhawks enter the 2025 campaign ranked No. 22 by the AFCA and No. 24 by D3football.com.
The remaining order in the conference predictions features: UW-Oshkosh; UW-Stout; UW-Eau Claire; and UW-Stevens Point.
Conference individuals named to the 2025 D3football.com Preseason All-America Team include: UW-La Crosse’s Gabe Lynch (Third Team) and Trent Mullen (Third); UW-Oshkosh’s Walleye Ratliff (Third); UW-Platteville’s Benjamin Younker (First); UW-River Falls’ Kaleb Blaha (First); UW-Stout’s Brooks Brewer (Second); and UW-Whitewater’s Tyler Vasey (First).
The 2025 season is set to begin Sept. 4, with the conference slate kicking-off Oct. 4.
The WIAC will be represented in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl for the fifth 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 doesn’t secure an NCAA bid. This year’s event will be held at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field in Sun Prairie, Wis., Nov. 22.
2025 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
2024 Record
1. UW-La Crosse (8-4 overall, 5-2 WIAC)
2. UW-Platteville (9-2, 6-1)
3. UW-River Falls (7-3, 4-3)
4. UW-Whitewater (6-4, 4-3)
5. UW-Oshkosh (6-4, 4-3)
6. UW-Stout (6-5, 4-3)
7. UW-Eau Claire (2-8, 1-6)
8. UW-Stevens Point (1-9, 0-7)
Team Capsules
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Rob Erickson; 3rd season at UWEC; 4-16
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 22/19
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 24/16
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 4/7
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 8/3
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/1
Returning All-WIAC: Brady Hoffner, Sr., LB (2024-Honorable); Gunnar Hurlburt, Sr., OL (2024-Honorable); Gyanni Kannellakis, Sr., LB (2023-Honorable); Brady Puls, So., DL (2024-Newcomer of the Year)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Yaach Chuol, Sr., WR; Jacob Donohue, Jr., QB; Ben Halleen, Sr., OL; EJ Locke, Jr., WR
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Chase Cadotte, Sr., DL; Cole Hendrickson, Sr., DL; O’Maryo Krause-Nurnurdin, Jr., LB; Ryan Porebski, Sr., DL
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Nolan Kays, Jr., P; Connor Radaj, Jr., K
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach: Matt Janus; 5th season at UWL; 37-11
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 38/14
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 34/28
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 3/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 7/4
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 5/6
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 3/0
Returning All-WIAC: Gabe Lynch, Sr., RB (2024-First); Trent Mullen, Jr., DB (2024-First); Tate Pitcher, Sr., DB (2023-Second); Marko Rajkovic, Sr., TE (2023-Honorable); Michael Stack, Sr., K (2023-First/Special Teams Player of the Year); Dain Walter, Sr., OL (2024-Second)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Kyle Haas, Jr., QB; Jack Janke, Jr., WR; Alex Kulie, Sr., OL; Braedon Ott, Jr., RB
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Nicholas Jordnt, Sr., LB; Bodie Schanhofer, Sr., DL; Tyr Severson, Sr., DB; Aaron Winters, Sr., LB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Maddox Pratt, Jr., K/P; Ethan Tranel, So., K/P; Ben Walsh, Sr., LS
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach: Peter Jennings; 4th season at UWO; 18-12
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 19/14
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 25/10
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 7/4
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 8/3
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/1
Returning All-WIAC: Kyle Dietzen, Sr., LB (2023-Second/LB, 2023-Honorable/Spec., 2024-First); Londyn Little, Sr., WR (2024-Second); JoJo Nathaniel, Sr., OL (2024-Honorable); Walleye Ratliff, Jr., P (2023-Second, 2024-Second); Clayton Schwalbe, Sr., TE (2023-First, 2024-First)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Edwin Beilke, Sr., OL; Jon Mathieu, Sr., WR; Tristian Taylor, Jr., RB; Cole Warren, So., QB
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Eli Curry, So., DB; Dayshawn Henry, Jr., LB; Curtis Jaskulke, Sr., DL; Ben Wellhoefer, Sr., DB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: None
UW-Platteville
Head Coach: Ryan Munz; 4th season at UWP; 21-11
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 22/11
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 27/12
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 3/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 7/4
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Zackary Bothun, Jr., RB (2024-Honorable); Beau Kopp, Sr., LS (2024-Honorable); Harrison Meyer, Jr., DB (2024-Second); Garrett Stare, Sr., WR (2024-Honorable); Benjamin Younker, Jr., P (2024-First); Joshua Zitzer, Sr., OL (2024-Second)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Nick Brattleaf, So., OL; Jonah Larson, Jr., OL; Carter Olson, Jr., WR; Trevor Syse, Jr., WR
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Riley Christensen, Sr., DL; Logan Drone, Sr., DL; Ollie Hughes, Jr., DB; Elijah Krantz, Jr., LB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: None
UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Matt Walker; 17th season (14th at UWRF); 75-87 (overall) / 53-79 (UWRF)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 35/17
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 33/18
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 6/5
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 4/7
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/0
Returning All-WIAC: Kaleb Blaha, Sr., QB (2022-Second/All-Purp., 2022-Honorable/QB, 2023-First/All-Purp., 2023-Second/QB); Justin Scheberl, Sr., K (2024-Second); Gage Timm, Sr., LB (2023-Honorable, 2024/Spec. Teams Player, 2024-Second/LB); Ben Wesolowski, Sr., WR (2024-Second)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Trevor Asher, Jr., RB; Jake Hilton, Jr., WR; Adam Johnstone, Jr., TE; Stephen Reifenberger, Jr., WR
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Kody Curtis, Jr., DL; Andre Hall, Sr., DB; Connor McKenzie, Sr., DL; Jack Olson, Sr., DL
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Brandon Bedalov, Jr., LS
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Luke Venne; 4th season at UWSP; 3-27
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 23/11
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 16/15
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 1/1
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 Getgen, Sr., TE (2023-Honorable); Jacob Scott, Jr., OL (2024-Honorable)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Brycen Cashin, Sr., RB
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Brodie Overbeck, Sr., DL; Zander Popp, Jr., DB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Grant Kirsch, Sr., LS
UW-Stout
Head Coach: Clayt Birmingham; 15th season at UWST; 60-80
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 24/13
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 18/13
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 0/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 5/6
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 0/1
Returning All-WIAC: Walker Beyerl, Jr., DL (2024-Second); Brooks Brewer, Jr., DB (2024-Second); Adam Moen, Sr., QB (2024-Second)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Sam Brouillet, Sr., OL; Devonte Evans, Jr., WR; TJ Scott, Sr., OL; Ben Tolkinen, Sr., RB
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Dawson Goodman, Jr., DB; Abe Helsell, Sr., DL; Braxton Munnikuysen, Jr., LB; Blaine Siedl, Sr., LB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: None
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach: Jace Rindahl; 3rd season at UWW; 17-6
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 39/17
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 29/21
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 0/2
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 4/7
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 5/6
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 0/2
Returning All-WIAC: Ethan Gallagher, Sr., LB (2023-Honorable, 2024-First); Paul Kim, So., DB (2024-Honorable); Karsten Libby, Jr., LB (2024-Honorable); Noah Moris, Jr., DL (2024-Honorable); Evan Oberg, Sr., OL (2024-Second); Alex Pethan, Sr., OL (2023-First, 2024-Second); Tyler Vasey, Jr., WR/RET (2023-Second/Newcomer of the Year, 2024-First/Co-Special Teams Player of the Year)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Blake Haggerty, Jr., WR; Colin Krzeczkowski, Jr., OL; Brian Stanton, Jr., RB
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Braeden Barrett, Sr., DL; Lucas Sadler, Sr., DL; Kaden Sleets, Sr., DB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Seth Adams, So., K
Travis Wilson serves as the Bound Wisconsin Manager. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisBound or reach him at [email protected].