Northern State football coach Mike Schmidt, center, talks to some of his players during a game against Winona State University earlier this season at Dacotah Bank Stadium. The Wolves are now rated among the top 25 teams in different two polls. Photo by John Davis taken 9/3/2026
PRESS RELEASE
For the first time in program history the Northern State University football team is in the top-25 of the AFCA Poll, sitting at No. 25. Northern is 5-1 this season, following a win over Bemidji State, and earned 42 votes. In addition, the Wolves jumped three spots to No. 22 in this week’s D2Football.com Poll.
NSU will face-off against (RV)/#18 Minnesota Duluth this Saturday on the road. Kick-off is set for 12 p.m. in Duluth.
D2FOOTBALL.COM TOP-25 POLL 1. Ferris State (5-0) 2. Harding (5-0) 3. Minnesota State (6-0) 4. Kutztown (5-0) 5. Grand Valley State (5-0) 6. CSU Pueblo (6-0) 7. Western Colorado (6-0) 8. Central Washington (3-2) 9. Slippery Rock (5-0) 10. Emporia State (5-0) 11. Northwest Missouri State (3-1) 12. Northwood (5-0) 13. IUP (5-0) 14. Davenport (5-0) 15. Valdosta State (4-1) 16. North Greenville (5-0) 17. Findlay (4-1) 18. Minnesota Duluth (4-2) 19. Central Missouri (4-1) 20. Henderson State (5-0) 21. Mars Hill (5-0) 22. Northern State (5-1) 23. UT Permian Basin (4-1) 24. Michigan Tech (4-1) 25. Edward Waters (5-1)
AFCA TOP-25 POLL
Rank
School (1st votes)
Rec.
Pts.
Prev.
1.
Ferris St. (31)
5-0
775
1
2.
Harding
5-0
744
2
3.
Kutztown
5-0
704
3
4.
CSU Pueblo
6-0
672
4
5.
Minnesota St.
6-0
651
5
6.
Grand Valley St.
5-0
628
6
7.
Western Colorado
6-0
572
7
8.
Slippery Rock
5-0
554
8
9.
Emporia St.
5-0
499
10
10.
Indiana (Pa.)
5-0
476
9
11.
Davenport
5-0
464
11
12.
Northwood
5-0
385
14
13.
Central Washington
3-2
378
12
14.
Northwest Missouri St.
3-1
376
13
15.
North Greenville
5-0
325
17
16.
Findlay
4-1
308
16
17.
Henderson St.
5-0
273
19
18.
Valdosta St.
4-1
243
18
19.
Michigan Tech
4-1
213
20
20.
Mars Hill
5-0
190
21t
21.
Carson-Newman
5-1
146
23
22.
West Alabama
5-1
124
24
23.
UT Permian Basin
4-1
117
NR
24.
Central Missouri
4-1
59
NR
25.
Northern St.
5-1
42
NR
Others Receiving Votes: Virginia Union, 40; Benedict, 24; Minnesota-Duluth, 24; Northeastern St., 14; Shepherd, 14; Wayne St. (Neb.), 10; West Liberty, 9; Virginia St., 7; Newberry, 4; Midwestern St., 3; Tiffin, 3; Johnson C. Smith, 2; East Central, 1; Edward Waters, 1; South Dakota Mines, 1.
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