Oct. 1, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) notched all 17 first-place votes and 425 total points to stick at No. 1 for the fifth straight week in the 2007 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Football Top 25 Poll, announced this afternoon. USF (5-0), who faces No. 13 Nebraska Wesleyan this week, has earned 83 of a possible 85 total first-place votes in five polls this year.

With the loss of then-No. 2 St. Francis (Ind.) to No. 6 Ohio Dominican, the Top 5 had some re-shuffling. No. 2 St. Xavier (Ill.), No. 3 Carroll (Mon.) both moved up one spot this week. Ohio Dominican snapped St. Francis's 54-game regular season winning streak with a 30-20 win last Saturday and jumped two spots to No. 4. ODU can't rest long as it travels to No. 2 St. Xavier (Ill.) this Saturday for a battle of unbeatens in the Mid-State Football Association - Mideast. Bethel (Tenn.) stayed at No. 5 to close out the first five teams this week.

No. 21 Morningside (Iowa) re-enters the Top 25 after spending last week in the "others receiving" category. No. 22 (tie) Cumberlands (Ky.) cracked the poll for the first time in 2007 as the Patriots were in the "others receiving" list in each of the first four polls. No. 24 Urbana (Ky.) also is a newcomer after it defeated Taylor (Ind.) 51-6 last Saturday.

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 fifth regular season poll (sixth overall) will be released on Monday, Oct. 8.

2007 NAIA Football Top 25 Poll - Oct. 1 (Rating #4)

Others receiving votes:

Kansas Wesleyan 33; Shorter (Ga.) 26; Georgetown (Ky.) 20; McKendree (Ill.) 7;

Montana Tech 6; Bethany (Kan.) 4; Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 3; Evangel (Mo.) 3;

Southern Nazarene (Okla.) 1