KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has released its final edition of the 2026 STADIONIC NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll. For the second straight week, Carroll College appears at No. 11 in the nation.
The Fighting Saints (6-1, 3-0) made their first-ever trip to Redding, Calif., this weekend, putting up their fifth straight 40-plus-point performance in a 45-31 win over Simpson.
While five teams ranked inside last week's Top 25 lost this weekend, there was little change in the top half of the poll. The biggest movement came from St. Thomas, who Carroll beat in the opening round of last year's NAIA Football Championship Series. The Bobcats jumped up five spots to No. 4 in the NAIA following a 52-7 win over then-No. 2 Keiser. The Seahawks had one of the biggest falls and now sit one spot in front of the Saints at No. 10.
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The Saints are still one of just three Frontier Conference teams appearing inside the NAIA Top 25. College of Idaho was the unanimous No. 1 this week. Montana Tech remains idle at No. 5. Dakota State remains in the receiving votes portion of the poll and is now joined by Frontier-West foe Eastern Oregon. EOU picked up a win over Southern Oregon and is now receiving votes following its 5-1 start to the year.
Next week's poll is slated for Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 27), accompanied by the first ARC ratings of the 2026 season.
The Saints will enjoy a well-deserved bye week and begin preparations for their final home game of the 2026 season, a 6 p.m. tilt with Southern Oregon on Oct. 31.
NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll
- 1. College of Idaho (13) – 6-0
- 2. Benedictine (Kan.) – 7-1
- 3. Grand View (Iowa) – 6-1
- 4. St. Thomas (Fla.) – 7-0
- 5. Montana Tech – 6-1
- 6. Morningside (Iowa) – 6-1
- 7. Friends (Kan.) – 7-0
- 8. Marian (Ind.) – 6-1
- 9. Indiana Wesleyan – 6-1
- 10. Keiser (Fla.) – 4-2
- 11. Carroll (Mont.) – 6-1
- T-12. Campbellsville (Ky.) – 6-1
- T-12. Dordt (Iowa) – 5-2
- 14. Louisiana Christian – 7-1
- 15. Georgetown (Ky.) – 4-2
- 16. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) – 5-2
- 17. McPherson (Kan.) – 6-1
- 18. Midland (Neb.) – 6-1
- 19. Northwestern (Iowa) – 6-2
- 20. Southeastern (Fla.) – 5-1
- 21. Baker (Kan.) – 5-1
- 22. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) – 5-1
- 23. Southwestern (Kan.) – 6-1
- 24. Cumberlands (Ky.) – 5-2
- 25. Taylor (Ind.) – 5-2
Dropped out of the Top 25: Cumberland (Tenn.), Evangel (Mo.), William Penn (Iowa)
Receiving votes: Cumberland (Tenn.), Dakota State (S.D.), Eastern Oregon, Evangel (Mo.), Kansas Wesleyan, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Ottawa (Kan.), OUAZ (Ariz.), William Penn (Iowa)
