KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fighting Tigers have reached their highest national ranking in over 20 years, climbing to #9 in the latest Netting Professionals NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The new rating reflects the team's dominant undefeated start to the season and sets the stage for a monumental showdown.
This marks the program's third-highest NAIA DI ranking of all time and their highest since being ranked #7 in 2001. That #7 ranking is tied for the best in program history, a mark also reached in August 1998. The Tigers moved up from their #10 spot last week despite being on a bye, a jump that speaks to the strength of their perfect 5-0 record.
A high-powered offense has been the catalyst for Campbellsville's perfect start. The Tigers boast the eighth-best passing attack in the NAIA, averaging 287.4 passing yards per game. The offense has been remarkably efficient through the air, scoring 16 of their 29 total touchdowns via the pass.
The attack is well-balanced, complemented by a rushing game that averages 192.4 yards per contest. Overall, the Tigers are averaging an impressive 43.2 points per game. The offense is led by quarterback Jett Engle, who has thrown for 1,320 yards and 14 touchdowns, and senior running back Tre' Bass, who leads the team with 10 total touchdowns and 555 rushing yards.
Coming off their bye week, the #9 Tigers now face their biggest test of the season. They will host rival and #7 ranked Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) in a battle of Top 10 teams. The highly anticipated conference match-up will be Saturday, October 18th, at 1:30 p.m. ET at Finley Stadium.
| Trend |
Rank |
Last Poll |
Institution [First-Place Votes] |
Record |
Points |
| ● |
1 |
1 |
Grand View (Iowa) [16] |
5-0 |
436 |
| ● |
2 |
2 |
Keiser (Fla.) |
5-0 |
422 |
| ● |
3 |
3 |
Benedictine (Kan.) |
5-1 |
406 |
| ● |
4 |
4 |
Morningside (Iowa) |
5-1 |
387 |
| ● |
5 |
5 |
Friends (Kan.) |
6-0 |
371 |
| ▲ |
6 |
7 |
Montana Tech |
7-0 |
369 |
| ▼ |
7 |
6 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
6-0 |
364 |
| ▲ |
8 |
9 |
St. Thomas (Fla.) |
4-1 |
335 |
| ▲ |
9 |
10 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
5-0 |
311 |
| ▲ |
10 |
11 |
Dordt (Iowa) |
5-0 |
304 |
| ▲ |
11 |
12 |
Marian (Ind.) |
5-1 |
295 |
| ▲ |
12 |
T-14 |
Carroll (Mont.) |
5-1 |
284 |
| ● |
13 |
13 |
OUAZ (Ariz.) |
5-0 |
265 |
| ● |
14 |
T-14 |
Indiana Wesleyan |
4-2 |
252 |
| ▼ |
15 |
8 |
Montana Western |
4-2 |
240 |
| ● |
16 |
16 |
Southwestern (Kan.) |
6-0 |
218 |
| ▲ |
17 |
18 |
Southeastern (Fla.) |
4-1 |
201 |
| ▲ |
18 |
19 |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
4-2 |
190 |
| ▲ |
19 |
20 |
Texas Wesleyan |
4-2 |
187 |
| ▲ |
T-20 |
21 |
McPherson (Kan.) |
6-0 |
166 |
| ▲ |
T-20 |
22 |
College of Idaho |
4-1 |
166 |
| ▲ |
22 |
23 |
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) |
5-1 |
138 |
| ▲ |
23 |
24 |
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) |
4-1 |
131 |
| ▲ |
24 |
25 |
Saint Francis (Ill.) |
5-1 |
110 |
| ▲ |
25 |
RV |
William Penn (Iowa) |
5-1 |
100 |
Receiving Votes: Concordia (Neb.) 88, Bethel (Tenn.) 61, Evangel (Mo.) 48, Kansas Wesleyan 44, Peru State (Neb.) 18, Northwestern (Iowa) 15, Cumberland (Tenn.) 11, Mount Marty (S.D.) 10, Taylor (Ind.) 8, Florida Memorial 5, Midland (Neb.) 2.
Dropped out of Top 25: Concordia (Neb.)
