KANSAS CITY, Mo. – There’s a new No. 1 as the NAIA Football season moves into its final week in 2026, as the College of Idaho displaced St. Thomas (Fla.) at the top of the year’s final STADIONIC NAIA Football National Selection Committee Top 15.
At 9-0, the Yotes move back into the top spot, a place they occupied in the final coaches’ edition of the poll on Oct. 19. St. Thomas is now No. 2, one of two 10-win teams in the NAIA, the other at No. 3 in Benedictine (Kan.).
Friends (Kan.) made the only move into the top 15, at No. 15, and no previously ranked team moved up more than a spot. The only two-spot move was Carroll (Mont.), dropping to No. 14 after its loss last week to College of Idaho.
The Nov. 10 poll is the final NSC poll of the 2026 season, as ARC standings and seeds for the 2026 NAIA Football Championship Series will be announced on Sunday (Nov. 16) at NAIA.org and at YouTube.com/PlayNAIA.
College of Idaho remained unbeaten with a 49-41 victory over Carroll (Mont.) last Saturday. Quarterback Caden Young earned NAIA Offensive Player of the Week honors following his performance against the Fighting Saints, running for 292 yards and throwing for 155 more, accounting for five TDs, in all, in the win. The Yotes rank third nationally in scoring (52.8 points per game) and second in rushing offense (309.0 yards per game). College of Idaho has secured the Frontier West automatic berth and closes the regular season at Southern Oregon
St. Thomas looks to complete a perfect regular season this week at Florida Memorial after a 44-21 victory last week over Webber International (Fla.). The Bobcats lead all teams in the poll in scoring defense, allowing just 10.9 points per game, and have secured The Sun Conference automatic berth to the NAIA Football Championship Series.
Benedictine recorded a 48-0 shutout of Missouri Baptist to conclude its regular season at 10-1. The Ravens rank fifth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 12.8 points per game, and have secured the Heart South automatic berth.
Morningside defeated Hastings 24-9 and enters the final weekend tied with Northwestern (Iowa) and Dordt (Iowa) atop the GPAC standings. The Mustangs rank among the NAIA’s top 10 scoring offenses and host Briar Cliff (Iowa) on Saturday, with the conference’s automatic berth still to be determined.
Montana Tech defeated Dickinson State (N.D.) 59-16 to extend its winning streak to five games. The Orediggers rank among the nation’s top defenses, allowing just 12.3 points per game, and have secured the Frontier East automatic berth. Tech closes the regular season at Valley City State (N.D.).
Marian defeated Saint Xavier (Ill.) 70-14 for its ninth consecutive victory. The Knights rank among the NAIA’s top 10 scoring defenses and have secured the MSFA Midwest automatic berth. Marian concludes the regular season Saturday at Judson (Ill.).
Indiana Wesleyan defeated Saint Francis (Ind.) 21-10 to secure the MSFA Mideast automatic berth. The Wildcats rank second nationally in scoring (53.9 points per game), third in rushing offense (279.8 yards per game) and lead ranked teams in passing offense (304.8 yards per game). Indiana Wesleyan closes the regular season at Lawrence Tech (Mich.).
Grand View recorded a 48-0 shutout of St. Ambrose (Iowa) for its sixth consecutive victory. The Vikings rank among the nation’s top 10 scoring defenses and have secured the Heart North automatic berth. Grand View concludes the regular season at Mount Mercy (Iowa).
Lindsey Wilson defeated Bethel (Tenn.) 42-10 and remains tied with Campbellsville (Ky.) atop the Mid-South standings. The Blue Raiders rank among the NAIA’s top 10 scoring defenses and hold the head-to-head advantage following their Oct. 3 victory over Campbellsville. Lindsey Wilson closes the regular season at Cumberlands (Ky.).
Campbellsville edged Georgetown (Ky.) 24-21 to remain tied with Lindsey Wilson in the Mid-South standings. The Tigers have completed their regular-season schedule and await the outcome of Lindsey Wilson’s finale against Cumberlands (Ky.).
Dordt defeated Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 44-17 and enters the final weekend in a three-way tie atop the GPAC standings. The Defenders rank among the nation’s top 10 scoring offenses and travel to Northwestern (Iowa) on Saturday in a matchup with direct implications for the conference’s automatic berth.
Northwestern enters the regular-season finale tied with Morningside and Dordt atop the GPAC standings. The Red Raiders host Dordt on Saturday, with the result helping determine the conference’s automatic qualifier.
Southwestern defeated Saint Mary (Kan.) 83-0 to improve to 9-1. The Moundbuilders have secured the KCAC Bissell automatic berth and conclude the regular season Saturday at home against Kansas Wesleyan.
Carroll fell 49-41 at College of Idaho last Saturday, ending its six-game winning streak. The Fighting Saints close the regular season at Eastern Oregon, which also enters the contest at 7-2 overall and 4-1 in Frontier West play.
Friends is back in the NSC Top 15 after defeating Sterling (Kan.), 53-14, getting a lift from NAIA Defensive Player of the Week Zamarion Manuel, who returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the Falcons’ final road game of the regular season. The Falcons lead the NAIA in scoring (56.7 points per game) and rushing offense (443.9 yards per game). Friends concludes the regular season at home against Saint Mary (Kan.).
Dropped out of the poll: Keiser (Fla.)
A team’s ranking in the NAIA National Selection Committee (NSC) Poll does not guarantee qualification or selection to the NAIA Football Championship Series. Click here to view this week’s STADIONIC NAIA Football National Selection Committee Poll in the traditional grid format.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small college athletics programs dedicated to character-driven, education-based athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has balanced high-level competition with holistic student-athlete development through its commitment to The Right Way to Play®. Each year more than 87,000 NAIA student-athletes compete in college athletics, earn over $1.3 billion in financial aid, and pursue opportunities to participate in 30 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA | #TheRightWayToPlay
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