WAVERLY, Iowa -- The Wartburg College football team secured the program's 22nd football title in program history today in addition to the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. This year's postseason appearance will mark the 19th in program history. Additionally, today marks the Knights historic fifth consecutive A-R-C conference title joining the Central College Dutch (1983-1987).
The Knights finished the conference slated 7-0 as they stand No. 12 in the national rankings at No. 44 in NPI rankings ahead of the playoff selections tomorrow.
Wartburg, picking up its 41st straight league win, defeated Coe 21-10 in the regular season finale in Waverly.
Chris Winter, in his sixth season at the helm of Wartburg football, led the Knights to their fifth consecutive conference title. He will be leading the Knights to another NCAA playoff.
Wartburg will learn their matchup in the NCAA Division III Playoff on Sunday, November 15 at 4:00 p.m. (CT), when the 40-team bracket is announced on NCAA.com.
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to eight full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. The A-R-C also includes two affiliate members for men’s and women’s swimming & diving: Illinois Tech and University of Minnesota Morris.
