Nebraska Wesleyan University
1-9 2025 finalNebraska Wesleyan is the Lincoln Methodist university whose Prairie Wolves identity emerged in 2000 and whose 30-year Brian Keller era (1996–2025) became the definition of quiet, steady college football in the heartland.
The Prairie Wolves bide their time.
Nebraska Wesleyan is the Lincoln Methodist university whose Prairie Wolves identity emerged in 2000 and whose 30-year Brian Keller era (1996–2025) became the definition of quiet, steady college football in the heartland.
Nebraska Wesleyan went 1–9 (1–7 ARC) in 2025, Jacob Donohoe's first season after taking over from the retired Brian Keller. The transition year is expected to be difficult — Keller's 30-year tenure left large shoes to fill. Donoho…
Offseason
69 days
until kickoff · Sun Aug 30 · 17:00 UTC
The 2026 Outlook
Nebraska Wesleyan University sits 8th in the American Rivers Conference and 212th of 240 in the CFB Zeitgeist — outside the at-large picture — the path runs through the conference title.
| Team | Conf | Overall | Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wartburg | 8-0 | 10-1 | 71.1 |
| 2 | Coe College | 7-1 | 9-3 | 66.3 |
| 3 | Central College | 6-2 | 8-2 | 63.5 |
| 4 | Simpson College (IA) | 5-3 | 6-4 | 55.8 |
| 5 | Dubuque | 4-4 | 4-6 | 47.6 |
| 6 | Loras College | 3-5 | 3-7 | 44.5 |
| 7 | Buena Vista | 2-6 | 3-7 | 42.0 |
| 8 | Nebraska Wesleyan | 1-7 | 1-9 | 36.2 |
Win the American Rivers Conference for the automatic berth into the 40-team NCAA Division III bracket. Miss it and the path is an at-large bid, selected by NPI — the metric the CFB Index mirrors. Six wins survive the bracket to the Stagg Bowl.
Signature win 44-7 over Luther; toughest day 14-62 against Coe College.
The Pulse on Nebraska Wesleyan University
What moved it — offseason · last 30 days
Aspiration Ladder
Brief Part III §33.4 · Nebraska Wesleyan University
The baseline for a successful season.
The primary goal and national bracket path.
One of 32 national tournament entries.
The Division III national championship game.
Nebraska Wesleyan University · Next-Season Outcome Band
Floor / Base / Ceiling
Variance assumed at ±2 wins from last-season record. Replace with the season-path projection once preview data is built.
Who We Are
Home-Field Advantage · Nebraska Wesleyan University · 2018-present
Elite
20% home win rate vs 16% on the road. margin runs +20.3 better at home.
Act IIILast Season Reviewed
2025 season · tap to expand
Recent Form · last 10 games
Hibernating
Zero of five. Reset territory.
Schedule Strength · Nebraska Wesleyan University · 2025
Hard
Average opponent win rate 55% across 10 finalized games. Strong conference slate — wins here carry full weight in Super Region selection.
Moment of the Year · Nebraska Wesleyan University · 2025
Won 44-7 vs Luther
Week 5 of 2025. A statement margin. Recruiting boards re-rendered overnight.
From the Archive — Nebraska Wesleyan University
2024: Won 40-14 at Luther
In 2024, the program won 40-14 at Luther — a comfortable road result that left the 26-point margin on the books.
Go Prairie Wolves.