Northwestern Up To 3rd In NAIA Football Poll

Northwestern College climbed one more spot in this week’s edition of the NAIA Football Coaches’ poll released earlier today by the national office.

Fresh off its 40-28 win over Dordt last weekend, the Red Raiders move up to third in the Oct.8 coaches’ poll, the highest ranking for sure since the 1998 season. Head Coach Matt McCarty’s squad improved to 6-0 on the year, one of eight unbeaten teams left in the NAIA. They totaled 339 points, just 12 in back of Marian (Ind.). Morningside holds down the top spot for the second consecutive poll, earning 15 of the 16 possible first place votes.

Northwestern and Morningside are the only teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in this week’s coaches’ poll. Reinhardt (Ga.), the 2017 national runner-up, and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) are tied for fourth and round out the top five teams.

The Red Raiders have a bye this weekend as they prepare to host the top-ranked Mustangs on Oct. 20.

2018 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Poll Five (Oct. 8)

RANK	LAST WEEK	SCHOOL	RECORD	FINAL POINTS
1	1	Morningside (Iowa) [15]	6-0	366
2	3	Marian (Ind.) [1]	5-0	351
3	4	Northwestern (Iowa)	6-0	339
4	6	Reinhardt (Ga.)	5-1	308
4	7	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)	4-1	308
6	8	Evangel (Mo.)	7-0	299
7	2	Southern Oregon	4-1	282
8	9	Grand View (Iowa)	4-1	267
9	10	Bethel (Tenn.)	6-0	246
10	11	Kansas Wesleyan	6-0	226
11	14	Concordia (Mich.)	5-1	220
12	12	Benedictine (Kan.)	5-1	214
13	5	Saint Francis (Ind.)	4-2	198
14	13	Langston (Okla.)	4-1	189
15	15	Georgetown (Ky.)	4-2	167
16	21	Rocky Mountain (Mont.)	4-2	152
17	17	Baker (Kan.)	4-2	151
18	18	Cumberlands (Ky.)	6-1	143
19	22	Montana Western	4-1	117
20	23	Siena Heights (Mich.)	5-0	102
21	16	Dickinson State (N.D.)	4-2	65
22	NR	Ottawa (Kan.)	5-1	50
23	NR	Webber International (Fla.)	4-1	43
24	NR	Eastern Oregon	3-2	37
25	20	Montana Tech	3-2	33