November 4, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three Frontier Conference football teams remained ranked in the second edition of the STADIONIC NAIA Football National Selection Committee (NSC) Top 15 poll, announced Tuesday by the NAIA national office.

College of Idaho remained at No. 2 nationally, followed by Montana Tech at No. 5 and Carroll (Mont.) at No. 12.

College of Idaho (8-0 overall record, 4-0 FC West) maintained its No. 2 ranking after extending its unbeaten season with a commanding 61-7 road victory over Arizona Christian on Oct. 31. The Yotes rank third nationally in scoring offense at 53.3 points per game and second in rushing offense with 297.9 yards per contest.

College of Idaho also leads the NAIA in third-down conversion percentage at 60 percent. Ryleigh Byington is tied for the national lead with 20 rushing touchdowns.

The Yotes return home Saturday to host No. 12 Carroll (Mont.) in a pivotal Frontier Conference West Division showdown between nationally ranked opponents.

Montana Tech (8-1 overall record, 4-0 FC East) slipped one position from No. 4 to No. 5 despite posting a 41-0 shutout victory over Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Oct. 31. It marked the Orediggers' second shutout in their last three games.

Montana Tech continues to feature one of the nation's strongest defensive units, ranking second in total defense at 219.2 yards allowed per game. The Orediggers are third nationally in scoring defense (11.9 points allowed per game) and rushing defense (77.3 yards allowed per game).

Montana Tech has also collected 15 interceptions this season, while kicker Casey Kautzman has converted 12 field goals.

The Orediggers continue their Frontier Conference East Division schedule Saturday when they host Dickinson State (N.D.).

Carroll (Mont.) (7-1 overall record, 4-0 FC West) held steady at No. 12 nationally after recording its sixth consecutive victory with a 38-7 home win over Southern Oregon on Oct. 31.

The Fighting Saints rank fifth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 13.3 points per game. Carroll is also third nationally in passing efficiency at 196.7 and tied for seventh in yards per play at 7.3. The Saints have thrown just three interceptions this season and own a plus-10 turnover margin.

Carroll travels to No. 2 College of Idaho Saturday in one of the nation's marquee NAIA football matchups.

The NAIA also released its second Area Rating Committee (ARC) standings alongside the latest national selection committee rankings.

The National Selection Committee Top 15 poll is used to evaluate teams for the upcoming NAIA Football Championship Series. The 20-team national championship field will be announced Nov. 15, following the conclusion of regular-season competition Nov. 14.

A team's ranking in the NSC Top 15 does not guarantee qualification or selection to the NAIA Football Championship Series.

The Frontier Football action continues Saturday (times in Mountain Time Zone):

• MSU-Northern at Valley City State (N.D.) – 11 a.m.
• Dakota State (S.D.) at Rocky Mountain (Mont.) – 12 p.m.
• (12) Carroll (Mont.) at (2) College of Idaho – 12 p.m.
• Dickinson State (N.D.) at (5) Montana Tech – 1 p.m.
• Eastern Oregon at Simpson (Calif.) – 2 p.m.
• Montana Western at Arizona Christian – 2 p.m.

 

NSC - No. 2 - Nov. 3	#2	#5	#12	----	----	----	----
NSC - No. - 1 - Oct. 27	#2	#4	#12	----	----	----	----
Final (No. 6) - Oct. 19	#1	#5	#11	RV	RV	----	----
No. 5 - Oct. 12	#1	#5	#11	RV	----	----	----
No. 4 - Oct. 5	#1	#6	#12	#23	----	----	----
No. 3 - Sept. 28	#1 (tie)	#6	#13	#22	----	RV	----
No. 2 - Sept. 21	#3	#2	#13	#21	----	RV	----
No. 1 - Sept. 14	#4	#3	#15	#23	----	#21	----
Pre - Aug. 24	#4	#5	#11	#25	----	#18	RV