OSKALOOSA — The William Penn football team heads into the new season as a national contender as the NAIA released its preseason top-25 poll Monday, sponsored by STADIONIC.
WPU, which was 11-2 last season, is No. 13 in the ranking. It marks the eighth straight time the navy and gold have been featured in the top 25.
Five programs from the Heart of America Athletic Conference are in the rating. Defending national champion Grand View is No. 1 with all 13 first-place votes, while Benedictine is third. Baker and MidAmerica Nazarene are in the receiving votes section as well.
Keiser (Fla.) is second in the NAIA, while College of Idaho and Montana Tech are fourth and fifth, respectively, to conclude the top five.
WPU opens the season Thursday by hosting Heart North Division foe Graceland at 7 p.m. in Statesmen Community Stadium.
NAIA Football Preseason Rating – August 24, 2026
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Grand View (13)
2. Keiser (Fla.)
3. Benedictine (Kan.)
4. College of Idaho
5. Montana Tech
6. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
7. Morningside
8. Dordt
9. Friends (Kan.)
9. Indiana Wesleyan
11. Carroll (Mont.)
12. Marian (Ind.)
13. William Penn
14. Campbellsville (Ky.)
15. Southeastern (Fla.)
16. St. Thomas (Fla.)
17. Saint Francis (Ind.)
18. Montana Western
19. Evangel (Mo.)
20. Georgetown (Ky.)
21. McPherson (Kan.)
22. Southwestern (Kan.)
23. Reinhardt (Ga.)
24. Northwestern
25. Dakota State (S.D.)
