Chicago colleges with football teams?

Hey guys! I've been on the hunt for colleges in Chicago that have football teams. Does anyone know which schools have a football team and how competitive they are at the college level? Thanks!

Hello! There are several colleges in the Chicago area with football teams, and the level of competition varies between them. Here's a brief overview of some notable colleges with football programs in or near Chicago:

1. University of Chicago - The University of Chicago Maroons are a NCAA Division III team that competes in the Midwest Conference. As a Division III team, the emphasis is more on the student-athlete experience, and the level of competition is generally lower than at Division I and II schools, but you're sure to get a top-tier education alongside your football achievements.

2. Northwestern University - Located in Evanston, a suburb just north of Chicago, Northwestern's football team, the Wildcats, participates in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The team competes in the highly competitive Big Ten Conference, and their games are often against top national teams like the University of Michigan and Ohio State University.

3. Illinois Institute of Technology - IIT, located in Chicago, competes in NCAA Division III within the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Similar to the University of Chicago, the focus is on the overall student-athlete experience, rather than a high level of competition.

4. North Central College - Situated in Naperville, a suburb west of Chicago, North Central College's football team, the Cardinals, competes in NCAA Division III within the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). The team has had success on the national stage, including a Division III national championship in 2019.

5. Wheaton College - Wheaton College, located in the Chicago suburb of Wheaton, is home to the Thunder football team. They participate in NCAA Division III and are part of the CCIW, just like North Central College. Although the competition level is not as intense as Division I, the Thunder are historically a strong team within their conference.

These are some of the more well-known colleges in and around Chicago with football teams. The competitiveness will depend on whether the school is Division I or Division III, but keep in mind that even at the Division III level, college athletes are still dedicated and skilled players. Good luck with your college search!