NAIA Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After winning its first-ever red banner in program history the Blue Raiders start the 2021 season in the No. 1 spot of the 2021 NAIA Coaches’ Postseason Top 25 poll. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) finished last season with a record of 11-0 defeating Northwestern (Iowa) in the NAIA FCS National Championship Game. Rounding out the top five this week was Northwestern (Iowa), Morningside (Iowa), Keiser (Fla.) and Grand View (Iowa).
2021 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Preseason
| Rank | Postseason Poll | School [First-Place Votes] | Record | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) [18] | 11-0 | 418 |
| 2 | 2 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 11-2 | 402 |
| 3 | 3 | Morningside (Iowa) | 10-1 | 386 |
| 4 | 4 | Keiser (Fla.) | 9-1 | 366 |
| 5 | 5 | Grand View (Iowa) | 7-1 | 356 |
| 6 | 6 | Concordia (Mich.) | 6-1 | 338 |
| 7 | 7 | Baker (Kan.) | 7-1 | 317 |
| 8 | 8 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 9-1 | 310 |
| 9 | 10 | Marian (Ind.) | 5-2 | 286 |
| 10 | 9 | Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) | 8-1 | 279 |
| 11 | 11 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | 9-1 | 244 |
| 12 | 12 | Bethel (Kan.) | 9-2 | 232 |
| 13 | 13 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 6-2 | 220 |
| 14 | 15 | Dordt (Iowa) | 8-3 | 188 |
| 15 | 14 | Arizona Christian | 9-2 | 184 |
| 16 | 17 | Saint Francis (Ind.) | 2-2 | 180 |
| 17 | 16 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 8-2 | 174 |
| 18 | 21 | Eastern Oregon | 3-1 | 143 |
| 19 | 18 | College of Idaho | 3-1 | 131 |
| 20 | 20 | Roosevelt (Ill.) | 6-1 | 110 |
| 21 | 19 | Avila (Mo.) | 8-1 | 90 |
| 22 | RV | Southeastern (Fla.) | 8-1 | 53 |
| 23 | 23 | Ottawa (Ariz.) | 4-1 | 44 |
| 24 | 25 | Kansas Wesleyan | 8-2 | 43 |
| 25 | 24 | Southwestern (Kan.) | 7-2 | 37 |
Receiving Votes: Montana Western 30, Carroll (Mont.) 24, Valley City State (N.D.) 14, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 5.