Aug. 13, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2007 NAIA Football Preseason Poll, as voted upon by a 17 member-panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and independents. The University of Sioux Falls (S.D.), defending national champions with a 14-0 record last season, received 15 first-place votes to earn the top spot. St. Francis (Ind.), who was edged out by Sioux Falls in the 2006 National Championship, followed in at the No. 2 spot.

The first regular season Top 25 poll will be released on Monday, Sept. 10.

2007 NAIA Preaseason Football Top 25 - Aug. 13

RANK	SCHOOL	1st Place Votes	2006 Record	Total Points
1	Sioux Falls (S.D.)	15	14-0	397
2	St. Francis (Ind.)	1	13-1	385
3	Missouri Valley		13-1	360
4	Carroll (Mont.)		11-2	339
5	Saint Xavier (Ill.)		10-3	329
6	Bethel (Tenn.)		10-3	313
7	Northwestern (Iowa)		11-2	300
8	Georgetown (Ky.)		9-2	293
9	St. Ambrose (Iowa)		10-1	264
10	Black Hills State (S.D.)		8-3	234
11	Morningside (Iowa)		9-3	229
12	Montana State-Northern		9-3	220
13	Ohio Dominican		7-3	193
14	Friends (Kan.)		10-1	187
15	Walsh (Ohio)		9-3	153
16	Jamestown (N.D.)		8-3	131
17	MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)		7-3	130
18	McKendree (Ill.)		5-4	107
19	Benedictine (Kan.)		8-3	102
20	Kansas Wesleyan		8-2	94
21	Northwestern Oklahoma		2-8*	74
22	Virginia-Wise		8-3	69
23	Malone (Ohio)		7-4	64
24	Montana Tech		6-4	54
25	Langston (Okla.)		5-4	30

 

Others receiving votes: Bethel (Kan.) 25; Shorter (Ga.) 22; Cumberlands (Ky.) 21; Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 20; Nebraska Wesleyan 19; Belhaven (Miss.) 10; Cumberland (Tenn.) 9; Quincy (Ill.) 8; Dickinson State (N.D.) 6; Lindenwood (Mo.) 3; Southern Nazarene (Okla.) 3; Webber International (Fla.) 3; Sterling (Kan.) 1.

* NW Oklahoma ended the season 6-4 before it had to forfeit four games and for record purposes, was 2-8 in 2006.