KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Montana Tech and Friends (Kan.) moved into a tie at No. 4 and Grand View (Iowa) remained a unanimous No. 1 in the Oct. 20 edition of the Netting Professionals NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. Keiser (Fla.) picked up all 16 second-place votes to stay at No. 2, while Benedictine (Kan.) remained No. 3.
Two teams returned to the Top 25, as Concordia (Neb.) re-enters at No. 23 and Northwestern (Iowa) is back at No. 24, while Bethel (Tenn.) is a Top 25 team for the first time in the regular season, tied with Texas Wesleyan at No. 25.
Top 10 Capsules
Full Top 25
Poll Methodology & Key
 | 1. Grand View (Iowa), 6-0Remaining a unanimous No. 1, Grand View got behind early and trailed 20-7 at intermission last Thursday, but Casey Trudo’s interception return for a touchdown swung momentum, as the Vikings stormed back in the second half to beat Peru State (Neb.), 34-20. GVU will play in an NAIA-UEN Featured Game Saturday, a Heart of America crossover game at MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.). |
 | 2. Keiser (Fla.), 6-0Keiser scored the first three touchdowns – two on the ground by Jaden Miller – and the Seahawks never looked back in a 35-14 win over then-No. 8 St. Thomas (Fla.). Keiser is back in an NAIA-UEN Featured Game, on Urban Edge Network Saturday night, hosting Webber International (Fla.) at 6 p.m. ET. The Seahawks were No. 2 by all 16 voters. |
 | 3. Benedictine (Kan.), 6-1The Ravens endured a long weather delay and Christian Klobe kicked the longest field goal in Benedictine football history at 55 yards, as the Ravens picked up a Heart South win over Central Methodist (Mo.), 52-7. This week, it’s homecoming in Atchison, as Benedictine welcomes William Woods (Mo.), after the Owls picked up their first conference win in program history last week, over Missouri Valley. |
 | T-4. Friends (Kan.), 7-0The Falcons got a test from nationally ranked McPherson (Kan.), falling behind 21-7 in the first quarter before a 21-point outburst of their own in the second, turning a 28-24 halftime lead into a 56-32 win in Wichita. Friends continued to be one of the NAIA’s top rushing teams, going for 433 yards on the ground, as K’Vonte Baker scored three rushing touchdowns to maintain his NAIA lead. The Falcons get another Top 25 test Saturday, at Southwestern (Kan.) in an NAIA-UEN Featured Game. |
| T-4. Montana Tech, 7-0Montana Tech was the first team to seven wins in the NAIA this season and the Orediggers are 7-0 for the first time in program history, hosting Mayville State at 1 p.m. MT. Tech sits atop the NAIA Football Performance Index, after a bye last week. | |
 | 6. Campbellsville (Ky.), 6-0The Tigers collected a signature win Saturday, over then-No. 7 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.). Campbellsville never trailed, and Jett Engle threw three touchdown passes, including a 32-yard score to Jayseaon Pritch that make it 34-24 with 2:38 left in the game. The Tigers will be in an NAIA-UEN Featured Game this week at Cumberland (Tenn.). |
 | 7. Dordt (Iowa), 6-0Dordt fell behind 6-0 in the first quarter but scored 16 in the second and 17 more in the third, beating Mount Marty (S.D.), 33-13. Stephen Leinen hit a pair of field goals in the win, and Thomas Fritz ran for 120 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. The Defenders host Midland (Neb.), after the Warriors received votes in this week’s poll. |
 | 8. Marian (Ind.), 6-1Marian recorded the first shutout in the all-time series between the Knights and Saint Francis (Ind.), winning the Franciscan Bowl trophy on Homecoming, 49-0, to move into the top 10 for the first time this season. Keegan La Belle found the end zone four times on the ground, as the Knights scored all seven of their TDs on rushing plays. Marian visits Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), an NAIA-UEN Featured Game on Urban Edge Network. |
 | 9. Carroll (Mont.), 6-1The Fighting Saints are in the top 10 for the first time this season after shutting out Simpson (Calif.), 44-0. Kaden Huot threw five touchdown passes, including a two each to Lincoln Holmes and Chris Akulschin, ending the day 23-for-25 for 312 yards. Carroll is off this week before opening the month of November at Southern Oregon. |
 | 10. Lindsey Wilson, 6-1Lindsey fell in the Battle of Highway 55 last week, 34-31 at Campbellsville, the Blue Raiders’ first loss in 2025. The loss wasn’t without big numbers, though, as Tate Rice was 28-for-41 and 327 yards with three touchdowns, as Max Gainey hauled in five catches for 133 yards, and Khia Sherrard caught seven balls for 68, including a touchdown. On the ground, Davontaye Saunders carried 20 times for 127 yards and a score. Lindsey Wilson is back home Saturday, hosting Faulkner (Ala.). |
Receiving Votes: Kansas Wesleyan 65, Evangel (Mo.) 53, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 43, Saint Francis (Ind.) 41, Taylor (Ind.) 20, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 19, Peru State (Neb.) 15, Cumberland (Tenn.) 8, Faulkner (Ala.) 7, Florida Memorial 6, Midland (Neb.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 4, Reinhardt (Ga.) 4, Baker (Kan.) 2.
Dropped out of Top 25: MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Saint Francis (Ind.)
Poll Methodology
- The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
- A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
- The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:
- 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
- The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
- Teams receiving only one point are not listed as “receiving votes.”
- For a complete look at the Netting Professionals NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll throughout the regular season, and for historical rankings, click here.