The Statesmen football squad is only third in its own division, but the Heart of America Athletic Conference is really good, therefore the navy and gold still find themselves on the national radar as the NAIA’s preseason top-25 poll was released Monday.

William Penn, which was 7-4 last fall (3-2 MSFA MWL), fell one spot from the spring’s national rating to #19 with 95 points. The Statesmen are one of six programs from within the Heart to be in the top 25, highlighted by Grand View at #6, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) at #8, and Missouri Valley at #9.

Defending national champion Southern Oregon is sharing the top spot with national runner-up Marian (Ind.). SOU has eight first place votes, while Marian has five; the teams both have 304 points. The rest of the top five includes Morningside, Saint Xavier, and Carroll (Mont.), which has the last first-place vote. Saint Xavier and Carroll are tied for fourth.

The 2015 campaign has a harsh start with WPU traveling to #9 Missouri Valley on August 29. The following week, the Statesmen come home to face #8 MidAmerica Nazarene. #15 Baker (Kan.) concludes the school’s welcome to the Heart with a road matchup on September 12.

NAIA Football Preseason Rating – August 10, 2015
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Southern Oregon (8)
1. Marian (Ind.) (5)
2. Morningside
4. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
4. Carroll (Mont.) (1)
6. Grand View
7. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
8. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
9. Missouri Valley
10. Faulkner (Ala.)
11. Georgetown (Ky.)
12. Northwestern
13. Eastern Oregon
14. Ottawa (Kan.)
15. Baker (Kan.)
16. Campbellsville (Ky.)
17. Valley City State (N.D.)
18. Langston (Okla.)
19.William Penn
20. Robert Morris (Ill.)
21. Friends (Kan.)
22. Doane (Neb.)
22. Tabor (Kan.)
24. Webber International (Fla.)
25. Benedictine (Kan.)

Others receiving votes: Sterling (Kan.) 9; Saint Francis (Ind.) 9; Montana Western 9; Reinhardt (Ga.) 3.

Story provided by WPU Sports Information Director Wade Steinlage