Oct. 22, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After a bye week, the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) still was awarded with the No. 1 ranking in the seventh regular season National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Football Top 25 Coaches' Poll, announced this afternoon (Oct. 22). The defending national champions, who hold a 21-game winning streak, once again received all 17 first-place votes and 425 points.

In eight polls this year, Sioux Falls has notched 134 of a possible 136 total first-place votes. USF's streak of eight straight polls at No. 1 to start a season tie's the longest stretch that Carroll (Mont.) accomplished to begin 2006. Carroll hit the No. 1 spot for the first eight weeks last year before St. Francis (Ind.) vaulted to No. 1.

No. 2 Carroll moved to 8-0 with a 28-7 win at Eastern Oregon. The second-quarter touchdown by EOU was the first allowed this season by Carroll. The Fighting Saints went 29 quarters, dating back to 2006, without allowing a touchdown and have allowed a mere 16 total points through eight games (2.0 ppg). No. 3 Ohio Dominican, No. 4 Bethel (Tenn.) and No. 5 St. Francis (Ind.) all won in blow-out fashion over the weekend.

The Top 10 changed in one spot, which was due to an upset on Saturday - unranked Black Hills State (S.D.) came from behind to defeat then-No. 8 Jamestown (N.D.), 19-16. Losing its first game this year, Jamestown slid down to No. 13 while BHSU is on the top of the "others receiving votes" category with 17.

Entering the poll for the first time this year is No. 25 Minot State (N.D.). The Beavers were in the "receiving votes" category for the last two weeks and are riding a five-game winning streak. Dropping out this week is Urbana (Ohio) after losing to No. 12 Malone (Ohio), 21-7 last Saturday - Urbana was No. 22.

Five teams sit with a perfect record heading into Week 9 action: Sioux Falls (7-0), Carroll (8-0), Ohio Dominican (8-0), No. 7 Lindenwood (Mo.) (8-0) and No. 10 Bethel (Kan.) (6-0).

In Top 25 head-to-head action this week: No. 2 Carroll (Mont.) hosts No. 22 Montana State-Northern; No. 11 Malone (Ohio) at No. 6 St. Xavier (Ill.) and No. 19 Georgetown (Ky.) visits No. 17 Cumberlands (Ky.).

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 eighth regular season poll (ninth overall) will be released on Monday, Oct. 29.

2007 NAIA Football Top 25 Coaches' Poll - Oct. 22 (Rating #7)

Others receiving votes:

Black Hills State (S.D.) 17; Sterling (Kan.) 15; McKendree (Ill.) 9; Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 7; Shorter (Ga.) 6; Urbana (Ohio) 4; Nebraska Wesleyan 2; Baker (Kan.) 1