Northwestern Enters 2023 as the Top-Ranked NAIA Team

For the first time since 1999, Northwestern tabbed No. 1 in NAIA poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2023 Football Preseason Top-25 ranking, which featured the Northwestern College football team at No. 1 to begin the campaign. The Red Raiders find themselves in the top-5 for the 25^th straight poll and marks the first poll, since 1999, that Northwestern has been ranked No. 1 in the nation.

🏈| The reigning #NAIAFootball champs @nwcraiders
begin the 2023 season atop the Coaches' Top 25!

Where does your team rank? --> https://t.co/kgVmApgqca #collegefootball #NAIAPoll pic.twitter.com/hpU17SmMJh
— NAIA (@NAIA) August 21, 2023

Northwestern has made it to the NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) Semifinals for back-to-back seasons prior to 2022 for the first time since the program achieved four straight semifinal appearances from 1982 to 1985; then breaking through and winning the program's third national title last season.

The top-5 includes two Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) squads in Northwestern (No. 1) and Morningside (No. 4), followed by a third Iowa school in Grand View (No. 3). 2022 National runner-up, the Seahawks from Keiser University (Fla.) check in at No. 2, with Indiana Wesleyan rounding out the top-5 at No. 5.

Head coach Matt McCarty returns key pieces all over the field heading into the season, including starting quarterback and Second Team All-Conference performer Jalyn Gramstad (Jr., Lester, Iowa), running backs Konner McQuillan (Sr., Leavenworth, Kan.) and Logan Meyer (Jr., Alvord, Iowa), linebackers Ben Kingery (Jr., Casey, Iowa) and Ben Egli (So., Fort Dodge, Iowa), and kicker Eli Stader (Sr., Cedar Grove, Wis.).

GPAC IN THE TOP-25
No. 1 Northwestern Red Raiders
No. 4 Morningside Mustangs
No. 25 Dordt Defenders

The full top-25 list can be found at the link at the top of the story. Northwestern takes their 13-game winning streak into 2023 with a trip to Seward, Nebraska to battle the Bulldogs of Concordia (Neb.) on Saturday, September 2.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

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Players Mentioned

#34 Ben Egli: LB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#12 Jalyn Gramstad: QB; 6' 0"; Junior

#38 Ben Kingery: LB; 5' 11"; Junior

#3 Konner McQuillan: RB; 6' 0"; Senior

#2 Logan Meyer: RB; 6' 1"; Junior

#9 Eli Stader: K/P; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#34 Ben Egli
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: LB

#12 Jalyn Gramstad
: 6' 0"; Junior
: QB

#38 Ben Kingery
: 5' 11"; Junior
: LB

#3 Konner McQuillan
: 6' 0"; Senior
: RB

#2 Logan Meyer
: 6' 1"; Junior
: RB

#9 Eli Stader
: 6' 0"; Senior
: K/P