Dalton State (Ga.) Deemed Top Team in Preseason Poll
Aug 20, 2025
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The journey toward Orange Beach, Ala., kicks off today with the announcement of the preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The 192 men’s soccer programs ignite the 2025 campaign on Thursday, Aug. 21, with the 2025 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship in their sights.
Dalton State (Ga.), fresh off its first-ever Red Banner last December, opens the year at No. 1 after receiving 15 first-place votes, as they aim to defend their crown.
| 1. Dalton State, 472 points
2024 Record: 22-0-2 Week 1: The defending champs start off the 2025 campaign with five straight home games, competing against Brescia (Ky.) and Campbellsville (Ky.) in the Dalton Classic, Aug. 21 and 23. Stat to know: Won their first Red Banner last season after defeating William Penn (Iowa) in the championship game on penalties (3-2). |
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2. William Penn (Iowa), 462 points
2024 Record: 22-0-2 Week 1: The Statesmen have three contests in August, as they take on Indiana Tech, Bellevue (Neb.), and Ottawa (Kan.). Stat to know: WP was slated fifth in the last regular-season poll of 2024 in November at No. 6, before making it all the way to the championship game at the national tournament. |
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| 3. William Carey (Miss.), 447 points
2024 Record: 15-5-3 Week 1: William Carey opens their season on the road against LSU Alexandria (La.) on Aug. 21 before coming back to home base to challenge LSU Shreveport (La.) and Jarvis Christian (Texas) Stat to know: Carey was selected first in the SSAC Men’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll. |
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| 4. Cumberlands (Ky.), 429 points
2024 Record: 15-3-3 Week 1: The Patriots kick off this year’s campaign with a pair of games in the state of Indiana. They battle Grace (Ind.) on Aug. 21 and Bethel (Ind.) on Aug. 23 Stat to know: Cumberlands started last year’s preseason poll in 24th, and climbed all the way to 4th in the postseason poll. |
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| 5. Oklahoma Wesleyan, 420 points
2024 Record: 22-2-0 Week 1: OKWU opens their season with a set of home matches against John Brown (Ark.) on Aug. 21 and Baker (Kan.) on Aug. 30. Stat to know: Oklahoma Wesleyan has notched 11 all-time number one national rankings in NAIA Men’s Soccer since 2000. |
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| 6. Mobile (Ala.), 395 points
2024 Record: 18-4-1 Week 1: The Rams ignite this year’s schedule in the state of Alabama, as they host Cumberland (Tenn.) on Aug. 21 before hitting the road to challenge United States Sports University in Fairhope, Ala., on Aug. 23. Stat to know: Mobile went 10-0-1 at home last year, fueling their 18-win season. |
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| 7. Bellevue (Neb.), 378 points
2024 Record: 16-3-3 Week 1: Bellevue is set to play four matches in the month of August, starting this year’s action against Doane (Ne.) and Hastings (Ne.) in week one, followed by matchups in Iowa against William Penn and Clarke. Stat to know: The Bruins have maintained a spot in the Top 25 rankings for eight consecutive weeks. |
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| 8. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), 371 points
2024 Record: 11-5-5 Week 1: The Pioneers have a pair of road games this weekend against John Brown (Ark.) on Aug. 21 and Mississippi Christian (Aug. 23) to kick off the 2025 campaign. Stat to know: MidAmerica Nazarene was selected 24th in the last preseason poll of 2024 (Nov. 6), before making it to the quarterfinals of the national tournament. |
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| 9. Missouri Valley, 344 points
2024 Record: 16-3-3 Week 1: Missouri Valley opens the season on Aug. 26 against Columbia (Mo.), followed by a matchup with Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Aug. 30. Stat to know: The Vikings went 11-1-1 at home last season. |
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| 10. Indiana Wesleyan, 337 points
2024 Record: 14-3-3 Week 1: The Wildcats open 2025 action against Wittenberg (Ohio) on Aug. 21, followed by a contest on Aug. 25 against Lindsey Wilson (Ky.). Stat to know: Last season, Indiana Wesleyan ranked second nationally with 73 goals scored and seventh in assists with 55. |
| RANK | INSTITUTION | 2024 RECORD | POINTS |
| 11 | Bethel (Ind.) | 13-6-2 | 310 |
| 12 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 10-6-3 | 287 |
| 13 | LSU Shreveport (La.) | 14-4-4 | 276 |
| 14 | Spring Arbor (Mich.) | 13-7-3 | 266 |
| 15 | Baker (Kan.) | 11-6-1 | 254 |
| 16 | Oklahoma City | 14-2-4 | 237 |
| 17 | Mid-America Christian (Okla.) | 14-3-4 | 206 |
| 18 | Keiser (Fla.) | 9-4-3 | 190 |
| 19 | Indiana Tech | 13-2-5 | 188 |
| 20 | Milligan (Tenn.) | 13-1-5 | 159 |
| 21 | Marian (Ind.) | 14-5-3 | 137 |
| 22 | Rio Grande (Ohio) | 12-5-1 | 130 |
| 23 | Clarke (Iowa) | 11-6-1 | 107 |
| 24 | Governors State (Ill.) | 16-3-4 | 93 |
| 25 | Williams Baptist (Ark). | 12-3-6 | 78 |
Receiving Votes: Georgia Gwinnett 59, St. Thomas (Fla.) 42, Cumberland (Tenn.) 27, Louisiana Christian 23, Huntington University (Ind.) 22, Carroll (Mont.) 13, Bethel (Tenn.) 11, Westcliff (Calif.) 10, Life (Ga.) 8, William Woods (Mo.) 4, Madonna (Mich.) 3, Union Commonwealth (Ky.) 2
Poll Methodology
- The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
- A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
- The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:
- 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
- The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
- Teams receiving only one point are not listed as “receiving votes.”
- For the Preseason Poll, there is no “previous ranking” column since it is the initial poll and differs from the prior rating system.