MANKATO, Minn. – With a 7-0 record this season, the Minnesota State football team learned Sunday afternoon that it is ranked third in the initial NCAA Division II Super Region Three NPI rankings and seventh overall nationally.
Newly instituted for 2026, the NCAA Power Index (NPI) will determine this year's NCAA Championship tournament field, replacing ranking committees and previously used selection criteria. The NCAA will release NPI rankings each Sunday throughout the remainder of the regular season leading up to the NCAA Selection Show Sunday, Nov. 15.
The NPI ranks all Division II programs based on results and the strength of its opponents. Each game produces a value based on the game outcome (win, lose, tie) and the opponent's NPI.
MSU's initial NPI ranking is 61.783 for third in the region behind Northwood (63.760) and Ferris State (63.531). MSU's best win to date, according to the NPI, is against Northern State (No. 46 overall) as the Wolves are 11th in the region rankings.
Northwood (Mich.) leads the regional rankings, followed by Ferris State, Minnesota State, Davenport (Mich.) and Michigan Tech. Findlay (Ohio) is sixth, followed by Minnesota Duluth, Augustana, MSU Moorhead and Tiffin (Ohio), which rounds out the top 10.
The Mavericks host Wayne State College (11th in region rankings) this weekend for Family Weekend at Blakeslee Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. Wayne State sits just outside the regional top 10 at No. 12.
Minnesota State closes the regular season with games at Southwest Minnesota State, at home against Augustana and on the road at MSU Moorhead. MSU and Wayne State are currently tied atop the NSIC South Division standings, making Saturday's matchup a pivotal contest in the race for the division title.
Slippery Rock (Pa.) holds the top spot, followed by Harding (Ark.), Northwood, CSU Pueblo, Ferris State, Emporia State (Kan.), Minnesota State and Kutztown (Pa.) in the top eight. Northwest Missouri State ranks ninth, while Davenport is 10th.
If the NCAA postseason began today, Minnesota State would likely host Findlay in a first-round playoff game on Nov. 21. With a win, the Mavericks would advance to face the winner of the No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchup between Ferris State and Minnesota Duluth during Thanksgiving weekend on Nov. 28.
The regional championship game is scheduled for Dec. 5, followed by the national semifinals on Dec. 12. The NCAA Division II National Championship Game will be played Dec. 19 at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.
Minnesota State owns a 20-16 all-time record in NCAA postseason play and is seeking its 17th playoff appearance in 2026. The Mavericks have advanced to two national championship games, in 2014 and 2019. Their 20 NCAA playoff victories are tied for seventh among current Division II institutions and tied for ninth all-time in Division II history.
