Northwestern College holds a top five ranking in one of the first NAIA Football preseason polls, Street and Smith’s, released for the upcoming 2020 season.
The Red Raiders occupy the No.5 slot in the early poll, joining fellow GPAC member and two-time defending national champion, Morningside, in the top five. Marian (Ind.), last year’s national runner-up, is second, followed by Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and College of Idaho with Northwestern rounding out the top five.
Northwestern finished the 2019 season with a 9-2 record and ranked 10th in the final NAIA Coaches’ poll. They qualified for their third straight postseason, losing in the first round of the Football Championship Series to Saint Xavier 25-20.
Head Coach Matt McCarty‘s squad will begin fall camp August 17 and opens the 2020 season on Sept. 12 at No.1 Morningside.
| Ranking | School |
|---|---|
| 1 | Morningside (Iowa) |
| 2 | Marian (Ind.) |
| 3 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
| 4 | College of Idaho |
| 5 | Northwestern (Iowa) |
| 6 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) |
| 7 | Saint Francis (Ind.) |
| 8 | Concordia (Mich.) |
| 9 | Bethel (Kan.) |
| 10 | Kansas Wesleyan |
