KANSAS CITY, Mo. –Just ahead of their season opener on Saturday, the Red Raider football team was ranked No. 7 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Defending champion Grand View (Iowa) took the top spot. Keiser (Fla.) was second, followed by Morningside, Benedictine (Kan.), and Montana Western rounding out the top five.
Four GPAC teams rank in the top 25
GPAC IN THE TOP 25
No. 3 Morningside Mustangs
No. 7 Northwestern Red Raiders
No. 19 Dordt Defenders
No. 21 Concordia Bulldogs
Northwestern has been in the top 25 in 99 consecutive ratings dating back to August 7, 2017, which ranks fourth in the NAIA.
The Raiders will open their season under the lights this Saturday, hosting Waldorf for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff inside De Valois Stadium.
RANK INSTITUTION 2024 RECORD FINAL POINTS
1. Grand View (Iowa), 14-0 420
2. Keiser (Fla.), 12-1 406
3. Morningside (Iowa), 12-2 385
4. Benedictine (Kan.), 11-3 382 5. Montana Western, 10-2 363
6. Indiana Wesleyan, 11-2 343
7. Northwestern (Iowa), 9-3 327
8. St. Thomas (Fla.), 9-2 307
9. Georgetown (Ky.), 9-3 299
10. Texas Wesleyan, 9-3 291
11 Montana Tech 9-3 283
12 Friends (Kan.) 11-2 273
13 Dickinson State (N.D.) 10-2 215
14 Southwestern (Kan.) 11-2 213
15 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 9-2 212
16 Baker (Kan.) 9-2 204
17 Southeastern (Fla.) 7-2 199
18 OUAZ (Ariz.) 8-2 171
19 Dordt (Iowa) 8-2 158
20 Campbellsville (Ky.) 9-2 134
21 Concordia (Neb.) 8-2 132
22 Southern Oregon 8-3 129
23 Marian (Ind.) 8-2 118
24 Saint Francis (Ind.) 8-4 106
25 Carroll (Mont.) 7-3 83
Receiving Votes: Taylor (Ind.) 67, Pikeville (Ky.) 65, Evangel (Mo.) 35, Reinhardt (Ga.) 20, College of Idaho 20, Cumberland (Tenn.) 15, Kansas Wesleyan 12, Bethel (Tenn.) 7, St. Francis (Ill.) 4, Cumberlands (Ky.) 2.
