The Victory Sports Network has released this week’s NAIA Football ranking for September 15, 2025. Losses by St. Thomas University and Northwestern College sent both programs stumbling out of the Top 10. St. Thomas University’s road loss to previous No. 18 Lindsey Wilson moved the Bobcats to No. 14 in the ranking while the win moved LWU up to No. 11. It’s the second win of the season for the Blue Raiders over a Top 10 program.
The loss by Northwestern to previously unranked Mount Marty caused the Red Raiders to fall to No. 23. With the victory, the Lancers move into the VSN NAIA Top 25 for the first time ever at No. 22.
Also entering the ranking this week is Evangel University after the Valor defeated Southwestern College 35-25 in a KCAC crossover matchup. EU is now 3-0 and will face McPherson College next weekend, who is also 3-0. The loss moves Southwestern out of the ranking. Baker University also fell out of the VSN NAIA Top 25.
| Rank | LW | Team | W-L |
| 1 | 1 | Grand View | 2-0 |
| 2 | 2 | Keiser (Fla.) | 2-0 |
| 3 | 3 | Benedictine (KS) | 2-1 |
| 4 | 4 | Morningside (Iowa) | 1-1 |
| 5 | 7 | Montana Tech (MT) | 3-0 |
| 6 | 6 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 3-0 |
| 7 | 8 | Indiana Wesleyan | 2-1 |
| 8 | 10 | Montana Western (MT) | 1-1 |
| 9 | 11 | Friends (KS) | 3-0 |
| 10 | 14 | Campbellsville (KY) | 3-0 |
| 11 | 18 | Lindsey Wilson | 3-0 |
| 12 | 12 | MidAmerica Nazarene (KS) | 3-0 |
| 13 | 13 | Dickinson State (ND) | 2-0 |
| 14 | 5 | St. Thomas (Fla.) | 1-1 |
| 15 | 15 | Marian (IN) | 2-1 |
| 16 | 16 | OUAZ | 2-0 |
| 17 | 17 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 3-0 |
| 18 | 23 | Dordt (IA) | 2-0 |
| 19 | 19 | Southern Oregon | 1-1 |
| 20 | 22 | Texas Wesleyan | 1-1 |
| 21 | 24 | Concordia (Neb.) | 2-0 |
| 22 | NR | Mount Marty | 3-0 |
| 23 | 9 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 1-1 |
| 24 | 25 | College of Idaho | 2-0 |
| 25 | NR | Evangel (Mo.) | 3-0 |
Why are one loss teams ranked higher than no loss teams early in the season? Look at Evangel and Mount Marty hitting top 25. Things are always changing in NAIA football.
You have to look at the losses and determine, should a team really be punished for a loss? I look at these losses and can’t justify putting someone who played two or three unranked opponents ahead of them, just because they are 2-0 or 3-0.
Benedictine – loss to No. 1 Grand View
Morningside – Loss at No. 3 Benedictine
IWU – loss to No. 2 Kesier
Montana Western – loss at No. 5 Montana Tech
St. Thomas – Loss at No. 11 Lindsey Wilson
Marian – Loss to rated DII Indy
SOU – Loss at D2 Western Oregon
Texas Wesleyan – Loss at No. 11 Lindsey Wilson
Friends is 3-0 and ranked #9. How does this team compare with other Friends teams of the past 20 years or so? Would this team be competitive with others in the top ten or are they just a good KCAC team.?
Tough to say three game in, but I’d probably say one of the better in the last 20 years. What they do is hard to prepare for in one week.