Northwestern College held its position in this week’s NAIA Football Coaches’ poll released by the national office Monday.
The unbeaten Red Raiders are ranked fifth for the second straight week, totaling 308 points. They are one of two teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in the top five (Morningside-2nd) and one of four league teams recognized in this week’s poll (Briar Cliff, Midland-receiving votes). Northwestern is 3-0 on the season.
Saint Francis (Ind.), the two-time defending national champion, owns the top spot once again, earning all 16 first place votes. Morningside, Southern Oregon, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and the Red Raiders round out the top five. 15 of the teams ranked in the top 25 are still unbeaten.
Northwestern heads to Mitchell, S.D. to play Dakota Wesleyan for a night game on Saturday, Sept. 22.
2018 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Poll Two (Sept. 17)
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL [1st Place Votes] | RECORD | FINAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Saint Francis (Ind.) [16] | 3-0 | 366 |
| 2 | 2 | Morningside (Iowa) | 3-0 | 351 |
| 3 | 3 | Southern Oregon | 3-0 | 339 |
| 4 | 4 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 3-0 | 324 |
| 5 | 5 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 3-0 | 308 |
| 6 | 6 | Marian (Ind.) | 2-0 | 294 |
| 7 | 7 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 2-1 | 278 |
| 8 | 8 | Concordia (Mich.) | 3-0 | 253 |
| 9 | 9 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 2-1 | 237 |
| 10 | 11 | Evangel (Mo.) | 4-0 | 234 |
| 11 | 10 | Grand View (Iowa) | 2-1 | 231 |
| 12 | 12 | Baker (Kan.) | 2-1 | 204 |
| 13 | 13 | Langston (Okla.) | 1-0 | 194 |
| 14 | 16 | Kansas Wesleyan | 3-0 | 165 |
| 15 | 15 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 2-1 | 161 |
| 16 | 17 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 3-0 | 155 |
| 17 | 19 | Bethel (Tenn.) | 3-0 | 145 |
| 18 | 18 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 2-0 | 139 |
| 19 | 20 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | 2-1 | 106 |
| 20 | 21 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 2-2 | 98 |
| 21 | 22 | Arizona Christian | 3-0 | 87 |
| 22 | NR | Montana Western | 3-0 | 85 |
| 23 | 14 | Rocky Mountain (Mont.) | 2-2 | 41 |
| 24 | 23 | Montana Tech | 2-1 | 33 |
| 25 | NR | Faulkner (Ala.) | 2-1 | 26 |
Dropped from the Top 25: Midland (Neb.), Sterling (Kan.)
Others Receiving Votes: Webber International (Fla.) 23, Avila (Mo.) 11, SAGU (Texas) 9, Midland (Neb.) 5, Briar Cliff (Iowa) 3, Tabor (Kan.) 3, Siena Heights (Mich.) 3.
