Top 25 - No. 2
September 13, 2011
The top-nine programs were the only ones to retain their positions among the Top 25. No. 24 La Sierra (Calif.) notched its first-ever Top-25 ranking in school history. In its second year of existence, La Sierra makes an impression with a 4-1 record.
In addition to La Sierra, No. 15 The Master's (Calif.) and No. 25 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) are making their first marks in the Top 25 this season. Both schools were ranked three times during the 2010 season.
Bethel (Ind.) (No. 19), Vanguard (Calif.) (No. 20) and Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (No. 21) dropped out of the Top 25. Vanguard had its streak of 13-straight polls stopped, which marked the fifth-longest active stretch.
Hastings continues to roll through its competition and is off to a 5-0 start. After defeating then-No. 13 Oklahoma Baptist, 3-2 in overtime, on Sept. 9, the Broncos set the NAIA all-time mark for consecutive wins with 29. Their streak currently stands at 30 as they prep to take on No. 8 Kansas Wesleyan on Tuesday.
The Southern States Athletic Conference takes home the most schools in the Top 25 with five: Mobile, Southern Poly, No. 6 Belhaven (Miss.), No. 11 William Carey (Miss.) and Auburn Montgomery. Both the Golden State Athletic Conference and Heart of America Athletic Conference claim three programs apiece. Overall, 14 of the 22 conferences/independents/unaffiliated groups are represented.
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conference/ independents/unaffiliated groups. The third regular-season Coaches' Top 25 Poll will be announced on Sept. 20.
Notes: (All information dates back to 2000) With three No. 1 rankings since 2000, all coming in the last three polls, Hastings (Neb.) is one of 11 programs that have held the top spot multiple times in that time span... No. 3 Rio Grande (Ohio) has been ranked in the top 10 for the last 26-straight polls, dating back to the start of the 2009 season... Rio Grande holds the most No. 1 mentions since 2000 with 35... Overall, there have been 16 different teams to claim the No. 1 spot, after Rio Grande there is Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is second (31) and is followed by Bethel (Tenn.) (11), Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (9), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (5) and Concordia (Calif.) (5)... Lindsey Wilson holds the distinction of being consecutively ranked the longest among active schools - 47-straight polls, dating back to the 2007 Preseason Top 25 Poll... Rio Grande is next in line with 41, followed by Azusa Pacific with 34 and Hastings with 32... Since 2000, two teams have rattled through the entire season ranked No. 1 - Bethel in 2009 and Rio Grande during the 2004 season.
| RANK | LAST WEEK^ | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | 2011 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Hastings (Neb.) (22) | 7-0-0 | 622 |
| 2 | 2 | Mobile (Ala.) | 4-0-0 | 602 |
| 3 | 3 | Rio Grande (Ohio) | 5-0-0 | 582 |
| 4 | 4 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 4-0-0 | 562 |
| 5 | 6 | Belhaven (Miss.) | 6-0-0 | 539 |
| 6 | 7 | Azusa Pacific (Calif.) | 5-1-0 | 518 |
| 7 | 5 | Southern Poly (Ga.) | 7-1-0 | 489 |
| 8 | 10 | Missouri Valley | 5-0-0 | 482 |
| 9 | 9 | Grand View (Iowa) | 6-1-0 | 456 |
| 10 | 13 | Baker (Kan.) | 8-0-0 | 439 |
| 11 | 11 | William Carey (Miss.) | 4-0-0 | 423 |
| 12 | 15 | The Master's (Calif.) | 6-0-0 | 396 |
| 13 | 14 | Concordia (Ore.) | 6-0-0 | 378 |
| 14 | 8 | Kansas Wesleyan | 4-2-0 | 358 |
| 15 | 18 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 6-0-0 | 333 |
| 15 | 17 | Northwood (Fla.) | 4-0-1 | 333 |
| 17 | 20 | Columbia (Mo.) | 5-1-0 | 287 |
| 18 | RV | Concordia (Calif.) | 5-1-0 | 263 |
| 19 | 12 | Bryan (Tenn.) | 4-2-0 | 245 |
| 20 | 21 | Bethel (Tenn.) | 2-1-2 | 229 |
| 21 | 19 | Biola (Calif.) | 5-1-1 | 216 |
| 22 | RV | Embry-Riddle (Fla.) | 3-2-1 | 121 |
| 23 | RV | Graceland (Iowa) | 4-1-1 | 118 |
| 24 | 24 | La Sierra (Calif.) | 5-2-0 | 115 |
| 25 | RV | Oklahoma Wesleyan | 6-1-0 | 107 |
Others receiving votes: Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 88; Park (Mo.) 83; Graceland (Iowa) 59; Indiana Tech 54; Illinois Tech 54; Oklahoma Wesleyan 49; Concordia (Calif.) 40; Reinhardt (Ga.) 25; Huston-Tillotson (Texas) 18; Westminster (Utah) 17; Taylor (Ind.) 13; Cumberlands (Ky.) 12; Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) 11; Saint Xavier (Ill.) 11; Rogers State (Okla.) 9; Shorter (Ga.) 8; McPherson (Kan.) 7; Aquinas (Mich.) 3; Cal State San Marcos 3; Bethel (Kan.) 1; Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 1; Florida Memorial 1; Indiana Wesleyan 1; Lee (Tenn.) 1; SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 1.
