Northwestern College held down the fifth spot once again in this week’s edition of the NAIA Football Coaches’ poll released earlier this afternoon by the national office.
For the third straight rating, the Red Raiders, under the direction of Head Coach Matt McCarty, is fifth and totaled 309 points. They are one of two GPAC teams in the top five, joining Morningside (2), and are one of four conference teams recognized (Midland and Doane-RV). Northwestern is unbeaten (4-0) on the season, one of 16 teams in the NAIA still undefeated.
The top seven teams did not change from the last coaches’ poll (released Sept.17) as two-time defending champion University of Saint Francis (Ind.) is first and earned all 16 first place votes. Morningside is second, followed by Southern Oregon, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and the Red Raiders. Marian (Ind.) and 2017 national runner-up Reinhardt (Ga.) are sixth and seventh, respectively.
Northwestern plays host to unbeaten Doane on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1:30 pm for the Red Raiders Homecoming.
2018 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Poll Three (Sept. 24)
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL | RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Saint Francis (Ind.) [16] | 4-0 | 366 |
| 2 | 2 | Morningside (Iowa) | 4-0 | 351 |
| 3 | 3 | Southern Oregon | 4-0 | 339 |
| 4 | 4 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 3-0 | 323 |
| 5 | 5 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 4-0 | 309 |
| 6 | 6 | Marian (Ind.) | 3-0 | 294 |
| 7 | 7 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 3-1 | 281 |
| 8 | 10 | Evangel (Mo.) | 5-0 | 257 |
| 9 | 9 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 3-1 | 250 |
| 10 | 11 | Grand View (Iowa) | 2-1 | 237 |
| 11 | 12 | Baker (Kan.) | 3-1 | 216 |
| 12 | 14 | Kansas Wesleyan | 4-0 | 184 |
| 13 | 16 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 5-0 | 176 |
| 14 | 13 | Langston (Okla.) | 2-1 | 173 |
| 14 | 17 | Bethel (Tenn.) | 4-0 | 173 |
| 16 | 15 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 3-1 | 169 |
| 17 | 8 | Concordia (Mich.) | 3-1 | 161 |
| 18 | 19 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | 3-1 | 131 |
| 19 | 21 | Arizona Christian | 4-0 | 121 |
| 20 | 24 | Montana Tech | 3-1 | 81 |
| 21 | 25 | Faulkner (Ala.) | 3-1 | 67 |
| 22 | NR | Webber International (Fla.) | 4-0 | 62 |
| 23 | 23 | Rocky Mountain (Mont.) | 3-2 | 47 |
| 24 | 22 | Montana Western | 3-1 | 33 |
| 25 | NR | Siena Heights (Mich.) | 4-0 | 30 |
Dropped from the Top 25: Southeastern (Fla.), Saint Xavier (Ill.)
Others Receiving Votes: Avila (Mo.) 25, Southeastern (Fla.) 20, Midland (Neb.) 17, Eastern Oregon 7, Doane (Neb.) 5, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 4, Tabor (Kan.) 3
