After receiving the Gagliardi Trophy, the NCAA Division III equivalent of the Heisman, for the second time on Friday, Lehnen threw four touchdown passes and also ran for a TD as the Cardinals beat Mount Union 41-25 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston to win their third national championship in their fifth straight appearance in the game.

Mount Union has won 13 D-III championships in 23 title game appearances, both of which are records. North Central — which captured its first title in 2019, the first championship-game berth in program history — beat the Purple Raiders 28-21 in the 2022 title game.

North Central College quarterback Luke Lehnen ended his record-breaking college football career in the best way possible: as a national champion. The Cardinals, led by five total touchdowns from their All-American quarterback,

North Central College's football team won its third NCAA D-III title in five seasons on Sunday. North Central defeated Mount Union (Ohio) 41-25 after a big scoring output in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals finished their season undefeated with a 15-0 overall record.

North Central College is headed to its fifth national title game in six years. On Sunday, the Cardinals face off against the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders from Alliance, Ohio, in the Stagg Bowl at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

The state of Illinois has a college football national champion. Naperville-based North Central College wins the NCAA Division III title.

Luke Lehnen finishes with five total touchdowns as North Central College defeats Mount Union to win the Division III national football title.

Luke Lehnen throws four touchdown passes and runs for a TD to lead North Central football to a win over Mount Union in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.