NAPERVILLE — The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) released its preseason Coaches' Poll, with the Carthage College Firebirds football team selected eighth with 26 points.

Entering his second season as head coach, Matt Popino will lead the Firebirds into their 2025 opener at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Lakeland — a program Carthage has not faced since a 29-28 victory in 2015.

The Firebirds open CCIW play on Saturday, Sept. 20, at defending conference champion and poll favorite North Central (Ill.). Carthage will then host Illinois Wesleyan in its home opener and Homecoming game at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27.

October begins on the road with a 1 p.m. matchup at Elmhurst on Oct. 4, followed by a return to Kenosha to host WashU at 1 p.m. on Oct. 11. The Firebirds then visit Wheaton (Ill.) for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 18.

Carthage's final three games include Millikin on Oct. 25 (1 p.m.) and North Park on Nov. 1 (1 p.m.), The Firebirds' lone November road contest is at Augustana (Ill.) at noon on Nov. 8. before closing the regular season with the Battle for the Musket against Carroll (Wis.) at 1 p.m. on Nov. 15. 

Tickets for all Carthage home games are available here.