The college football divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog kick off their 2025 season August 23rd. First up in my preseason rankings is the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).
*** 1. MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS ### 2. GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (Defending National Champions) ### 3. KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS 4. UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-WESTERN BULLDOGS ###
5. BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS ### 6. NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS ### 7. INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS ### 8. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS ### Continue reading
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS fought it out with the defending champs – the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS. Grand View U. led 7-0 to end the 1st Quarter and 21-7 come Halftime. The Vikings shut out Keiser the rest of the way, leading 28-7 in the 3rd Quarter before winning the game 35-7. * THE VIKINGS ARE 2024 NAIA CHAMPIONS * 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – This game pitted the defending national champs – the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS – against the visiting BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. A 6-0 Ravens lead in the 1st Quarter became a 14-14 tie by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Benedictine College up 28-14 but the Seahawks exploded in the 4th, coming from behind for a 42-38 triumph. 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS traveled to play the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. The Ravens were surprisingly dominant over the favored Wildcats, keeping them off the scoreboard until the 4th Quarter. BC was up 17-0 by Halftime and won the game by a final tally of 20-9. 
ROUND TWO: GAME ONE – The NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS visited the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS. A 6-0 1st Quarter edge for the Red Raiders became a 23-14 advantage by Halftime. After the break, the Orediggers rallied but came up just short as Northwestern College held on for a 32-29 win. 
NEPTUNE BOWL – The two Independent teams clashing in this Bowl Game were the NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (Shipbuilders) and the ATLANTIS UNIVERSITY ATLANTEANS. The 1st Quarter ended with the Builders up just 7-0 but they floored it from there. By Halftime the Apprentice School led 24-0 on their way to a 59-6 blowout victory. 
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS welcomed the UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. This tale of 2 Halves saw the Moundbuilders holding a midpoint lead of 24-10. From there the Cougars rallied but fell short as Southwestern College went on to win the game 31-24. 
The DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS (North Star Conference) will host the KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference).
DOWN GOES NUMBER TEN – In NCAA Division Two the BEMIDJI STATE BEAVERS welcomed the nation’s number 10 team – the AUGUSTANA (SD) VIKINGS. A scoreless 1st Quarter was followed by a 7-0 Beavers lead at Halftime. The Vikings went up 10-7 in the 3rd Quarter but the 4th saw Bemidji State come from behind to win the game 17-10. 
NUMBER EIGHT FALLS – Staying in the NAIA for right now, the number 15 BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS took it on the road against the 8th ranked MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS. MNU were on top 7-3 in the 1st Quarter, but the Wildcats went up 10-7 by the Half. A scoreless 3rd Quarter was followed by Baker U. winning out 20-14. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – For the THIRD week in a row the number one team in NCAA Division Two was upset. The UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES visited the (1) PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS. The Mules kicked the Gorillas in the teeth, leading them 24-10 at Halftime before consummating the Upset 37-13. 
“THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIVE!” – Staying in D2 for a moment, the SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CRIMSON STORM took it on the road against the country’s 5th ranked OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Tigers led 7-3, 10-6 and 17-9 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters, respectively. In the 4th, the Crimson Storm toppled OBU 18-17.
NUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – In the NAIA the 12th ranked MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS welcomed the number 7 team in the nation – the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. A 10-7 Ravens lead in the 1st became a 24-24 tie by the Half. In the 3rd the Pioneers went up 27-24 and an explosive 4th Quarter saw MNU edge BC 48-47. 
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