Statesmen at No. 18 in Fourth Poll

Oskaloosa–After its biggest victory of the year, the William Penn football team climbed back up the ladder as the NAIA released its fourth top-25 poll Monday, sponsored by STADIONIC.

WPU (5-1, 2-0 Heart North) moves up two spots to No. 18. It marks the 12th straight time the navy and gold have been featured in the top 25.

Five Heart of America Athletic Conference programs are now featured in the ranking. Benedictine leads the group at No. 4, while Grand View is No. 5 and Baker is No. 24. MidAmerica Nazarene is also in the receiving votes section.

College of Idaho has taken sole possession of No. 1 in the country, claiming eight first-place votes. Keiser (Fla.) is second with the last four top ballots, while Indiana Wesleyan completes the top five at No. 3.

WPU is idle this week, returning to action next Saturday in Canton, Mo. to take on Culver-Stockton in a Heart North division game at 12:30 p.m.

NAIA Football Rating No. 4 — October 5, 2026
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. College of Idaho (8)
2. Keiser (Fla.) (4)
3. Indiana Wesleyan
4. Benedictine (Kan.)
5. Grand View (Iowa)
6. Montana Tech
7. Morningside
8. Friends (Kan.)
9. St. Thomas (Fla.)
10. Marian (Ind.)
11. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
12. Carroll (Mont.)
13. Campbellsville (Ky.)
14. McPherson (Kan.)
15. Dordt
16. Louisiana Christian
17. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
18. William Penn
19. Midland (Neb.)
20. Northwestern (Iowa)
21. Southeastern (Fla.)
22. Georgetown (Ky.)
23. Dakota State (S.D.)
24. Baker (Kan.)
25. Evangel (Mo.)

Receiving votes: Cumberland (Tenn.), Cumberlands (Ky.), Florida Memorial, Kansas Wesleyan, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), OUAZ (Ariz.), Southwestern (Kan.), Taylor (Ind.), Texas Wesleyan.