October 19, 2026
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dakota State (S.D.) continued to receive votes (RV) in the final edition of the 2026 STADIONIC-NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll, announced Monday by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
The Trojans remained in the receiving votes (RV) category for the second consecutive week after falling out of the Top 25 rankings in the previous poll. Dakota State opened the 2026 season ranked No. 25 in the preseason national poll and has maintained national recognition throughout the season, either in the Top 25 or receiving votes category.
Dakota State was among nine teams receiving votes outside the Top 25, joining Cumberland (Tenn.), Eastern Oregon, Evangel (Mo.), Kansas Wesleyan, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Ottawa (Kan.), OUAZ (Ariz.) and William Penn (Iowa).
The Trojans earned their first Frontier East Division victory of the season after rolling past Valley City State (N.D.) 42-21 on the road on Oct. 17. DSU extended their winning streak to four games in the series with VCSU, scoring at least 40 points in the last two meetings. Dakota State improved to 5-3 overall record and 1-2 record in Frontier East.
Three Frontier Conference teams remained nationally ranked, highlighted by College of Idaho earning the unanimous No. 1 ranking with all 13 first-place votes. The Yotes improved to 6-0 overall and maintained the top spot for the third consecutive week.
Montana Tech (6-1 overall record) remained at No. 5 nationally, while Carroll (Mont.) (6-1 overall record) held steady at No. 11. Both teams continued to represent the Frontier Conference among the nation's top programs.
The final Coaches' Top 25 Poll marks the transition toward the NAIA Football National Selection Committee (NSC) rankings. The next national poll, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27, will feature the Top 15 teams along with the first NAIA Football ARC ratings of the 2026 season.
Dakota State will be off this weekend and return to action on Halloween (Oct. 31). The Trojans play their final home regular season game at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field versus Mayville State (N.D.). Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. in Madison.
