Photo by Doug Sasse, d3photography.com

For the second consecutive year, North Central quarterback Luke Lehnen is the recipient of the Gagliardi Trophy, presented by Stearns Bank. Lehnen will be leading his Cardinals into Sunday’s Stagg Bowl – the NCAA Division III national championship game – in Houston, Texas on ESPN.

Lehnen is the 18th quarterback to win the Gagliardi Trophy in the 32-year history of the award. He is North Central’s fourth Gagliardi Trophy recipient and third at the quarterback position. Quarterback Broc Rutter won the award in 2019 and running back Ethan Greenfield was the 2022 recipient.

The graduate student and native of Chatham, Illinois, Lehnen is having another huge year for the Cardinals. Heading into Sunday’s title game against Mount Union he has already established new all-divisions records for consecutive games with a touchdown pass (58) and touchdowns responsible for (208). Lehnen has increased his career total offense yardage total to 15,632, bettering the previous standard of 14,568. Lehnen is the national all-divisions active leader in passing efficiency (211.8) and is on pace to establish a new collegiate career record. The current record (202.6) is held by Mount Union’s D’Angelo Fulford (2016-19). Lehnen has thrown for 158 touchdown passes as a collegian, tying Mount Union’s Braxton Plunk (2019-23) for the all-time Division III record (158).

We have an announcement to make! @NCC_Athletics quarterback Luke Lehnen is the winner of the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy, and Jim Gagliardi was here to present the award. #d3fb pic.twitter.com/dDfvWEnRxY

— D3football.com (@d3football) January 4, 2025

Of the 42 voters, 75 percent had Lehnen as a top three pick. Saint John’s University’s record setting quarterback, Aaron Syverson was a close second in voting. Syverson lead the nation in passing yards per game (355.9) and completion percentage (.765) while throwing for nearly 4,400 yards, 55 touchdowns (to only four interceptions). Senior quarterback Nathan McCahill from DePauw was the D3football.com Fan Vote winner.

Mount Union quarterback Kevin Burke, who won the award in 2013 and 2014, is the only other person to win the Gagliardi Trophy twice.

Lehnen beat out other finalists Syverson, Cortland quarterback Zac Boyes, Carnegie Mellon linebacker Robert Coury and Illinois College quarterback Destin Chance.

The all-time winners: