RIPON, Wisconsin – The Ripon College football program has been picked to finish in the upper echelon of the Midwest Conference this upcoming season as announced in the MWC Preseason Poll on Thursday morning.
 
Illinois College, a co-champion of the league in 2023 and the NCAA Tournament participant, has been picked to win the league once again in 2024 following a historic 2023 campaign that saw the Blueboys shatter nearly every offensive record in the conference. Monmouth –  the 2023 MWC co-champion and two-time Lakefront Bowl champion – was picked to finish second, while Lake Forest was third in the poll and Chicago was tied for fourth with Ripon.
 
The full poll is listed below.
 
Last season, Ripon went 5-5 overall and 5-4 in MWC play under first-year head coach Jake Marshall. The Red Hawks won four of their final six games – and three of their last four – and scored 50+ points in the final two contests. All-Midwest Conference wide receiver Alex Mosqueda highlights Ripon's group of returners, which also includes quarterback Jack Berens, running back Connor Ramage, linebacker Clay Ritschard and defensive lineman Gavin Engh.
 
Ripon opens the 2024 season at North Park on Saturday, September 7 with a 6 p.m. kickoff. The Red Hawks' first of five home games at Hopp Stadium is slated for Saturday, September 14 as Ripon battles Grinnell at 1 p.m.
 
2024 Midwest Conference Preseason Poll
 
1. Illinois College (7 first-place votes) - 79 points
2. Monmouth College (3) - 74 points
3. Lake Forest College - 65 points
T4. Ripon College - 51 points
T4. University of Chicago - 51 points
6. Cornell College - 45 points
7. Knox College - 29 points
8. Beloit College - 25 points
9. Grinnell College - 20 points
10. Lawrence University - 11 points
 
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