Northwestern College climbed two spots in this week’s edition of the NAIA Football Coaches’ poll released today by the national office.
Off to a 2-0 start, the Red Raiders moved up to fifth in the Sept. 10 poll, matching the highest ranking since the 2007 season (Sept. 10 poll of 2007). Northwestern was tied for seventh in the preseason poll. They join another GPAC team, Morningside, in the top five and both Midland (24) and Hastings (RV) also represent the conference in this week’s poll.
Two-time defending champion Saint Francis (Ind.) maintains the top spot, earning all 16 first place votes. Morningside follows at No.2, and Southern Oregon, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Northwestern round out the top five.
2018 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Poll One (Sept. 10, 2018)
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL [1st Place Votes] | RECORD | FINAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Saint Francis (Ind.) [16] | 2-0 | 366 |
| 2 | 3 | Morningside (Iowa) | 2-0 | 351 |
| 3 | 4 | Southern Oregon | 2-0 | 339 |
| 4 | 5 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 2-0 | 324 |
| 5 | 7 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 2-0 | 308 |
| 6 | 15 | Marian (Ind.) | 2-0 | 289 |
| 7 | 2 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 1-1 | 274 |
| 8 | 16 | Concordia (Mich.) | 2-0 | 246 |
| 9 | 7 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 1-1 | 227 |
| 10 | 10 | Grand View (Iowa) | 1-1 | 218 |
| 11 | NR | Evangel (Mo.) | 3-0 | 217 |
| 12 | 9 | Baker (Kan.) | 1-1 | 196 |
| 13 | 14 | Langston (Okla.) | 1-0 | 189 |
| 14 | 20 | Rocky Mountain (Mont.) | 2-1 | 165 |
| 15 | 12 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 2-1 | 151 |
| 16 | 21 | Kansas Wesleyan | 2-0 | 147 |
| 17 | NR | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 3-0 | 127 |
| 18 | 11 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 1-1 | 126 |
| 19 | NR | Bethel (Tenn.) | 2-0 | 111 |
| 20 | 13 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | 1-1 | 106 |
| 21 | 6 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 1-2 | 101 |
| 22 | 22 | Arizona Christian | 2-0 | 96 |
| 23 | NR | Montana Tech | 1-0 | 88 |
| 24 | NR | Midland (Neb.) | 2-0 | 44 |
| 25 | 17 | Sterling (Kan.) | 1-1 | 30 |
Dropped from the Top 25: Faulkner (Ala.), Tabor (Kan.), SAGU (Texas), Campbellsville (Tenn.), Dakota State (S.D.)
Others Receiving Votes: Montana Western 14, Faulkner (Ala.) 10, Webber International (Fla.) 7, St. Ambrose (Iowa) 7, Tabor (Kan.) 7, SAGU (Texas) 6, Keiser (Fla.) 5, Avila (Mo.) 5, Hastings (Neb.) 4, Siena Heights (Mich.) 3.
