Oct. 8, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The fifth regular season National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Football Top 25 Poll was announced this afternoon and the University of Sioux Falls once again held strong at No. 1 for the sixth straight week. USF (6-0) earned all 17 first-place votes and 425 total points this week after winning its 20^th straight game over then-No. 13 Nebraska Wesleyan. In six polls this year, Sioux Falls has notched 100 of a possible 102 total first-place votes.

The rest of the top 10 this week had a few minor changes with the notable one between No. 3 Ohio Dominican and No. 6 St. Xavier (Ill.). ODU went on the road and snatched a 42-41 win at then-No. 2 St. Xavier. It was the second straight win over a top five opponent in as many weeks for the Panthers - they out-lasted then-No. 2 St. Francis (Ind.) 30-20 on Sept. 29.

No. 2 Carroll (Mont.), No. 4 Bethel (Tenn.) and No. 5 St. Francis all moved up one spot with the loss of St. Xavier. Carroll posted 13 sacks, one shy of the NAIA single-game record, in the 17-0 win over Montana Tech. Carroll leads the country in scoring defense (1.5 points allowed/game) without a allowing a touchdown in any of the six games this year.

Entering the poll for the first time this year is No. 24 Shorter (Ga.). The Hawks have won four straight and stand 5-1 on the year. Also, No. 25 McKendree gets back into the Top 25 after a two-week absence.

Several Top 25 head-to-head games are scheduled this week: No. 6 St. Xavier hosts No. 19 Urbana (Ohio), No. 7 Lindenwood (Mo.) travels to No. 13 Graceland (Iowa), No. 10 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) visits No. 18 Missouri Valley and No. 15 St. Ambrose (Iowa) heads to No. 25 McKendree.

The poll was voted upon by a 17 member-panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and independents.

A composite football schedule listing all Top 25 games around the country can be viewed here.

The sixth regular season poll (seventh overall) will be released on Monday, Oct. 15.

2007 NAIA Football Top 25 Poll - Oct. 8 (Rating #5)

Others receiving votes:

Georgetown (Ky.) 16; Walsh (Ohio) 16; Evangel (Mo.) 13; Bethany (Kan.) 11; Southern Nazarene (Okla.) 8; Southern Oregon 6; Northwestern Oklahoma State 5; Minot State (N.D.) 4; Kansas Wesleyan 1