In their 11th season under head coach Ron Schipper, the Dutch compiled an 11–0 record and won both the Iowa Conference championship and the NCAA Division III national championship.
[1][2] The team participated in the second annual NCAA Division III playoff, defeating Evansville (17–16) in the semifinal and Ithaca (10–8) in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl championship game.
Linebacker Al Dorenkamp led a defense that allowed an average of only 6.9 points per game and was selected as the most valuable player in the IIAC.
[3] Eight Central players received first-team honors on the All-IIAC team: Dorenkamp; offensive linemen Don Knock and Dan Wright; wide receiver Randy Busscher; running back Mike Hodges; quarterback Gary Cutler; defensive lineman Ron Merema; and defensive back Cliff Marlow.
[5] His 1974 pass efficiency rating of 174.3 remains a single-season school record (minimum 100 attempts).