Apparently the nation took notice of Montana Tech’s 37-20 win over Carroll College Saturday.
The Orediggers (1-1) are ranked 20th in the NAIA’s first Top 25 coaches poll, which was released Monday afternoon. It marks the first time the Orediggers have cracked the Top 25 since 2007, when the Orediggers were ranked No. 20.
Saint Zavier is ranked No. 1, a spot the school held in the preseaon poll.
Carroll College fell from No. 2 in the preseason to No. 12. That marks to first time the Saints have been out of the Top 10 since 2004. The Saints, by the way, won the nation championship that season.
Also, Eastern Oregon is ranked No. 8, while Rocky Mountain is No. 19.
“We got a seat at the table,” Tech coach Chuck Morrell said. “We’ve just got to see if we can keep it rolling.”
2012 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – No. 1 (Sept. 10)
| RANK | LAST TIME | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | 2012 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) (14) | 2-0 | 314 |
| 2 | 3 | Marian (Ind.) | 3-0 | 301 |
| 3 | 4 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 2-0 | 291 |
| 4 | 8 | Morningside (Iowa) | 2-0 | 273 |
| 5 | 9 | Missouri Valley | 2-0 | 271 |
| 6 | 13 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 2-0 | 244 |
| 7 | 14 | William Penn (Iowa) | 3-0 | 241 |
| 8 | 16 | Eastern Oregon | 2-0 | 213 |
| T9 | 20 | St. Ambrose (Iowa) | 2-0 | 199 |
| T9 | 18 | Baker (Kan.) | 3-0 | 199 |
| 11 | 6 | Saint Francis (Ind.) | 2-1 | 187 |
| 12 | 2 | Carroll (Mont.) | 1-2 | 186 |
| 13 | 5 | MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) | 1-1 | 185 |
| 14 | 19 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 2-0 | 154 |
| 15 | 15 | Grand View (Iowa) | 2-1 | 139 |
| 16 | 21 | Doane (Neb.) | 2-0 | 128 |
| T17 | 7 | St. Francis (Ill.) | 1-2 | 112 |
| T17 | 10 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 1-1 | 112 |
| 19 | NR | Rocky Mountain (Mont.) | 3-0 | 106 |
| 20 | NR | Montana Tech | 1-1 | 84 |
| 21 | 17 | Valley City State (N.D.) | 1-1 | 54 |
| 22 | NR | Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) | 2-0 | 52 |
| 23 | NR | Taylor (Ind.) | 2-0 | 22 |
| 24 | RV | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 2-1 | 21 |
| 25 | 22 | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 1-1 | 19 |
Others receiving votes:
Kansas Wesleyan 18; Hastings (Neb.) 13; Langston (Okla.) 11; Kentucky Christian 11; Faulkner (Ala.) 11; Menlo (Calif.) 8; McPherson (Kan.) 7; Friends (Kan.) 3; Graceland (Iowa) 3; Midland (Neb.) 3.
