KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwestern College moved up four spots in this week’s edition of the NAIA Football coaches’ poll released earlier today by the national office.
Off to a 4-0 start, the Red Raiders climbed four more spots to 15th in this week’s poll, matching the highest ranking since the 2015 season (Sept. 28). Northwestern was unranked at the start of the season, moved into the top 25 in the first poll (Sept.11) and rose to the No.19 spot last week. They are one of seven teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) to be recognized in the Sept.25 poll; Morningside (4), Doane (14), Midland (24), Dakota Wesleyan (25), Concordia (RV) and Hastings (RV).
The top six teams remain unchanged from last week as Saint Francis (Ind.) held down the top spot, receiving all 15 first place votes. Baker (Ind.) is second, followed by Reinhardt (Ga.), Morningside and Montana Tech.
| RANK | LAST TIME^ | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | 2017 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Saint Francis (Ind.) (15) | 4-0 | 340 |
| 2 | 2 | Baker (Kan.) | 5-0 | 327 |
| 3 | 3 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 3-0 | 311 |
| 4 | 4 | Morningside (Iowa) | 4-0 | 301 |
| 5 | 5 | Montana Tech | 4-0 | 290 |
| 6 | 6 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 4-0 | 274 |
| 7 | 8 | Grand View (Iowa) | 4-1 | 258 |
| 8 | 9 | Marian (Ind.) | 2-1 | 247 |
| 9 | 13 | Southern Oregon | 4-0 | 236 |
| 10 | 12 | Arizona Christian | 4-0 | 228 |
| 11 | 15 | Langston (Okla.) | 3-0 | 197 |
| 12 | 16 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 3-0 | 185 |
| 13 | 11 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 3-1 | 182 |
| 14 | 7 | Doane (Neb.) | 3-1 | 152 |
| 15 | 19 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 4-0 | 148 |
| 16 | 10 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 3-1 | 145 |
| 17 | 17 | Tabor (Kan.) | 2-1 | 138 |
| 18 | 14 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 4-1 | 137 |
| 19 | 18 | Sterling (Kan.) | 3-1 | 128 |
| 20 | 20 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | 3-1 | 102 |
| 21 | 25 | Concordia (Mich.) | 4-0 | 82 |
| 22 | 21 | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 4-1 | 61 |
| 23 | RV | Peru State (Neb.) | 4-1 | 48 |
| 24 | RV | Midland (Neb.) | 4-0 | 22 |
| 25 | RV | Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) | 3-2 | 14 |
Dropped from the Top 25: MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (No. 22); Eastern Oregon (No. 23); Kansas Wesleyan (No. 24); Hastings (Neb.) (No. 25)
Others Receiving Votes: Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 10; Kansas Wesleyan 5; Dakota State (S.D.) 5; Concordia (Neb.) 4; Hastings (Neb.) 4; Cumberlands (Ky.) 3.
