2026 NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll - No. 2 edition - Sept. 21, 2026

Four teams rise in latest STADIONIC NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll

9/21/2026 4:09:25 PM

2026 NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll - No. 2 edition - Sept. 21, 2026

September 21, 2026

HELENA, Mont. – Four Frontier Conference football teams are represented in the latest STADIONIC NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, released Monday by the national office.

Montana Tech and College of Idaho headline the conference’s representation, occupying the No. 2 and No. 3 positions, respectively. Carroll (Mont.) moved up to No. 13, while Dakota State (S.D.) climbed to No. 21. Montana Western received votes in this week’s poll.

Montana Tech (4-0 overall record) moved up one spot from No. 3 to No. 2 and collected four first-place votes. The Orediggers remained unbeaten after rolling to a 58-10 victory over Southern Oregon. Montana Tech has been one of the nation’s top defensive teams through four games, allowing just 7.8 points per contest.

College of Idaho (3-0 overall record) climbed one position to No. 3 and received one first-place vote. The Yotes remained perfect after defeating Montana State-Northern 59-14. College of Idaho is averaging 53.0 points per game, third-best in the NAIA, while allowing 11.3 points per contest.

The two nationally ranked Frontier programs will meet Saturday when College of Idaho hosts Montana Tech at Simplot Stadium in Caldwell, Idaho.

Carroll (2-1 overall record) continued its rise in the national rankings, moving two spots from No. 15 to No. 13. The Fighting Saints piled up 42 points in the first half, rolling to a 42-7 home victory over Dickinson State (N.D.).

Dakota State (3-1 overall record) also moved up two positions, climbing from No. 23 to No. 21. The Trojans improved to 3-1 on the season with a 30-20 victory over Arizona Christian.

Montana Western (1-2 overall record) dropped out of the Top 25 after being ranked No. 21 last week. The Bulldogs fell to Rocky Mountain (Mont.) last Saturday in Dillon.

Keiser (Fla.) took over the No. 1 ranking for the first time since Nov. 17, 2024. The Seahawks received eight of the 13 first-place votes. Montana Tech earned four first-place votes, while College of Idaho collected the remaining first-place vote.
The Frontier Conference football members play their final cross-over contests on Saturday before starting the divisional play on Oct. 3.
Saturday’s schedule includes (times in Mountain Time Zone):