KANSAS CITY, Mo. – No team remained at the same rank from the preseason poll as Missouri Baptist overtook the No. 1 spot in the first regular-season Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
The Spartans claimed the No. 1 spot in the poll for the third time in school history. The last time the team was ranked No. 1 was during the 2015 season. Northwestern (Iowa) landed at No. 2 for only the second time in school history. The team was tied for second in 2009. Northwestern, Indiana Wesleyan and Marian (Ind.) are the only teams in the Top 25 Poll that remain undefeated.
Other ranked GPAC teams include Midland at #9, Jamestown jumped to thirteenth, Dordt fell to the 19 spot, and Morningside and Doane each received votes. Hastings fell from the 14 spot out of the rankings.
| RANK | LAST TIME | SCHOOL [FIRST PLACE VOTES] | RECORD | POINTS |
| 1 | 4 | Missouri Baptist [11] | 11-3 | 577 |
| 2 | 7 | Northwestern (Iowa) [9] | 12-0 | 564 |
| 3 | 1 | Park (Mo.) [3] | 8-1 | 557 |
| 4 | NR | Indiana Wesleyan | 12-0 | 536 |
| 5 | 6 | Southern Oregon | 11-1 | 524 |
| 6 | 5 | Viterbo (Wis.) | 13-3 | 473 |
| 7 | 3 | Grand View (Iowa) | 6-5 | 463 |
| 8 | 10 | Eastern Oregon | 11-1 | 451 |
| 9 | 8 | Midland (Neb.) | 8-3 | 439 |
| 10 | 9 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 8-2 | 438 |
| 11 | 19 | Corban (Ore.) | 5-3 | 382 |
| 12 | 2 | Columbia (Mo.) | 6-2 | 376 |
| 13 | 20 | Jamestown (N.D.) | 10-2 | 366 |
| 14 | 22 | Bellevue (Neb.) | 10-3 | 323 |
| 14 | 17 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 11-2 | 323 |
| 16 | 21 | Providence (Mont.) (Mont.) | 9-1 | 322 |
| 17 | 23 | Westmont (Calif.) | 10-2 | 315 |
| 18 | NR | Montana Tech | 12-2 | 261 |
| 19 | 11 | Dordt (Iowa) | 8-4 | 250 |
| 20 | 12 | College of Idaho | 6-3 | 232 |
| 21 | 18 | Vanguard (Calif.) | 10-2 | 205 |
| 22 | 24 | Marian (Ind.) | 10-0 | 196 |
| 23 | 13 | Rocky Mountain (Mont.) | 8-4 | 195 |
| 24 | NR | Oklahoma City | 8-1 | 114 |
| 25 | NR | College of Saint Mary (Neb.) | 15-3 | 112 |
| 25 | 15 | The Master’s (Calif.) | 6-5 | 112 |
Others receiving votes: Saint Francis (Ind.) 84, Morningside (Iowa) 71, Lawrence Tech (Mich.) 46, Evangel (Mo.) 43, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 35, Reinhardt (Ga.) 28, Ottawa (Kan.) 20, SAGU (Texas) 11, Aquinas (Mich.) 10, Doane (Neb.) 3
