KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fighting Tiger Football received their highest NAIA ranking since 2017 Monday, sitting at #20 in the 2025 Netting Professionals NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, the national office announced.
Following a record-setting year, Campbellsville University finds themselves the second highest-ranked Mid-South Conference team in the national poll behind the reigning MSC Champion Georgetown Tigers in 9th. The two teams last faced in the penultimate game of the 2024 season where Georgetown emerged victorious in overtime, 24-17.
"The #1 goal in our program remains the same, and that is to win a National Championship," said Coach Russell. "We had the highest number of players in school history stay for summer workouts, and after completing the longest, most grueling, and best preseason fall camp that I've ever been a part of, there is a real belief that we can accomplish that goal this season."
As written in the team's season preview, "that belief is well-founded, beginning with a defense that refused to break last season. The 2024 Fighting Tiger defense was a record-shattering force, establishing itself as one of the most dominant units in the nation. The defense finished first in program history by allowing zero punt or kick return touchdowns and holding opponents to just 11.4 yards per completion. They were second all-time in opponent rushing yards allowed (958) and opponent total offense per game (285.5). This suffocating unit allowed a mere 16.2 points per game while generating an impressive 18 interceptions and 25 sacks."
At the top of the ranking sits the reigning champions: Grand View (Iowa).
| RANK |
INSTITUTION |
2024 RECORD |
FINAL POINTS |
| 1 |
Grand View (Iowa) |
14-0 |
420 |
| 2 |
Keiser (Fla.) |
12-1 |
406 |
| 3 |
Morningside (Iowa) |
12-2 |
385 |
| 4 |
Benedictine (Kan.) |
11-3 |
382 |
| 5 |
Montana Western |
10-2 |
363 |
| 6 |
Indiana Wesleyan |
11-2 |
343 |
| 7 |
Northwestern (Iowa) |
9-3 |
327 |
| 8 |
St. Thomas (Fla.) |
9-2 |
307 |
| 9 |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
9-3 |
299 |
| 10 |
Texas Wesleyan |
9-3 |
291 |
| 11 |
Montana Tech |
9-3 |
283 |
| 12 |
Friends (Kan.) |
11-2 |
273 |
| 13 |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
10-2 |
215 |
| 14 |
Southwestern (Kan.) |
11-2 |
213 |
| 15 |
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) |
9-2 |
212 |
| 16 |
Baker (Kan.) |
9-2 |
204 |
| 17 |
Southeastern (Fla.) |
7-2 |
199 |
| 18 |
OUAZ (Ariz.) |
8-2 |
171 |
| 19 |
Dordt (Iowa) |
8-2 |
158 |
| 20 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
9-2 |
134 |
| 21 |
Concordia (Neb.) |
8-2 |
132 |
| 22 |
Southern Oregon |
8-3 |
129 |
| 23 |
Marian (Ind.) |
8-2 |
118 |
| 24 |
Saint Francis (Ind.) |
8-4 |
106 |
| 25 |
Carroll (Mont.) |
7-3 |
83 |
| Receiving Votes: Taylor (Ind.) 67, Pikeville (Ky.) 65, Evangel (Mo.) 35, Reinhardt (Ga.) 20, College of Idaho 20, Cumberland (Tenn.) 15, Kansas Wesleyan 12, Bethel (Tenn.) 7, St. Francis (Ill.) 4, Cumberlands (Ky.) 2. |
