Northwestern continues to ascend in the weekly NAIA Football Coaches’ poll released Monday by the national office.
One week after moving into the top 10, Northwestern climbed two more spots to eighth in the Sept. 23 edition of the national poll. The Red Raiders came up with an impressive 52-7 road win against Dakota Wesleyan last weekend in Mitchell, S.D., improving their record to 3-0 on the season. They are one of two teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference in the weekly poll (Morningside – 1).
The top four teams remained unchanged from last week with Morningside claiming the top spot an all 17 first place votes. Benedictine (Kan.), Saint Francis (Ind.), Kansas Wesleyan and Concordia (Mich.) round out the top five.
Northwestern will host the University of Jamestown (N.D.) this weekend for its Homecoming game.
2019 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Poll 2 (September 23)
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL [1st Place Votes] | RECORD | FINAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Morningside (Iowa) [17] | 3-0 | 392 |
| 2 | 2 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 4-0 | 377 |
| 3 | 3 | Saint Francis (Ind.) | 2-0 | 362 |
| 4 | 4 | Kansas Wesleyan | 4-0 | 344 |
| 5 | 6 | Concordia (Mich.) | 3-0 | 329 |
| 6 | 7 | Marian (Ind.) | 2-0 | 318 |
| 7 | 9 | Grand View (Iowa) | 4-0 | 292 |
| 8 | 10 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 3-0 | 276 |
| 9 | 5 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 1-1 | 262 |
| 10 | 11 | College of Idaho | 3-0 | 257 |
| 11 | 12 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 4-0 | 254 |
| 12 | 14 | Evangel (Mo.) | 4-0 | 219 |
| 13 | 14 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 2-0 | 216 |
| 14 | 8 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 3-1 | 193 |
| 15 | 17 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 2-0 | 171 |
| 16 | 16 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | 2-1 | 167 |
| 17 | 18 | Bethel (Tenn.) | 2-1 | 142 |
| 18 | 19 | Langston (Okla.) | 2-1 | 141 |
| 19 | 20 | Montana Western | 3-0 | 127 |
| 20 | 22 | Siena Heights (Mich.) | 3-0 | 96 |
| 21 | 23 | Ottawa (Ariz.) (AZ) | 3-0 | 85 |
| 22 | 13 | Baker (Kan.) | 2-2 | 65 |
| 23 | 25 | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 3-0 | 58 |
| 24 | NR | Keiser (Fla.) | 2-0 | 51 |
| 25 | NR | Montana Tech | 2-1 | 38 |
Dropped Out: Ottawa (Kan.)
Others Receiving Votes: Keiser (Fla.) 51, Montana Tech 38, Sterling (Kan.) 27, Carroll (Mont.) 10, Pikeville (Ky.) 3, Ottawa (Kan.) 3, Bethel (Kan.) 3
