NAIA Football Power Rankings: Grand View Remains Unanimous No. 1 as Playoff Picture Takes Shape
The fifth regular season poll from the Netting Professionals NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 reveals a tightening race for playoff positioning, with several key matchups slated for the coming week. Grand View University (Iowa) continues its dominant reign, receiving a unanimous No. 1 ranking, while teams from Florida, Kansas, and Kentucky vie for crucial wins that will define their postseason hopes.
Several pivotal contests highlight the week ahead, including top-10 clashes between No. 2 Keiser (Fla.) and No. 8 St. Thomas (Fla.), No. 7 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at No. 9 Campbellsville (Ky.), and No. 5 Friends (Kan.) hosting No. 20 McPherson (Kan.). All three games are part of the Oct. 18 Featured Series lineup on the Urban Edge Network (UEN).
Top 10 Breakdown
Grand View (5-0) maintains its stronghold at the top, demonstrating a remarkable ability to protect the football. The Vikings have forced 10 opponent turnovers while committing only three, setting the stage for their Thursday night showdown with Peru State (Neb.) on UEN.
Keiser (Fla.), currently ranked No. 2 with a 5-0 record, boasts a potent offense led by Shea Spencer, who recently became the program’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 63. Spencer and the Seahawks will face a tough test against St. Thomas (Fla.) this week, also an NAIA-UEN Featured Game.
Benedictine (Kan.) holds steady at No. 3 (5-1), preparing for a road contest against Central Methodist (Mo.) on Saturday. Senior quarterback Jackson Dooley is a key player to watch, currently averaging over 300 passing yards per game and ranking fifth in the NAIA with 1,802 total passing yards.
Morningside (Iowa) sits at No. 4 (5-1) after a dominant performance against Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), scoring 28 points in the second half. The Mustangs will be featured on UEN this week in a game against Northwestern (Iowa).
Friends (Kan.) remains undefeated at 6-0 and occupies the No. 5 spot. The Falcons’ ground game is a force to be reckoned with, averaging a NAIA-best 488 rushing yards per game – over 200 yards more than any other program. Their defense is equally impressive, limiting opponents to under 20 yards rushing per game. They will host McPherson (Kan.) in a KCAC showdown.
Montana Tech (7-0) climbed to No. 6 after becoming the first NAIA team to reach seven wins this season, defeating Montana State-Northern 49-7. Quarterback Jarrett Wilson threw three touchdown passes in the victory.
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (6-0) dropped to No. 7 despite a convincing 62-13 win over Cumberlands (Ky.). Davontaye Saunders had a standout performance, scoring five touchdowns. The Blue Raiders will travel to No. 9 Campbellsville (Ky.) in a featured UEN matchup.
St. Thomas (Fla.) (4-1) moved up to No. 8, riding a defensive streak of nine consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown. They will look to continue that momentum in their game against No. 2 Keiser (Fla.).
Campbellsville (Ky.) (5-0) ascended to No. 9, showcasing a strong passing attack that averages 287.4 yards per game. They will host No. 7 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) on Saturday.
Rounding out the top 10 is Dordt (Iowa) (5-0), which joined the elite group after a 59-7 victory over Waldorf (Iowa). Thomas Fritz was instrumental in the win, gaining 108 rushing yards on just four carries.
Newcomer and Movement
William Penn (Iowa) re-entered the Top 25 at No. 25 (5-1) after receiving votes in the previous poll. Several other teams also made upward movement, including Marian (Ind.), Carroll (Mont.), Southeastern (Fla.), Georgetown (Ky.), and Texas Wesleyan. Montana Western dropped from No. 8 to No. 15. Concordia (Neb.) dropped out of the Top 25 this week.
The NAIA football landscape is becoming increasingly competitive as teams battle for playoff positioning. With several key matchups on the horizon, the coming weeks promise to deliver thrilling action and further shake up the rankings.
