MANKATO, Minn. — The Minnesota State football team continues to hold its place among the nation's elite, remaining No. 5 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Top 25 and third in both the NCAA Power Index (NPI) Super Region Three rankings and the D2Football.com Top 25.

The Mavericks enter the final stretch of the regular season with an 8-0 overall record and a 7-0 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play following a 35-0 shutout victory over Wayne State. The win marked Minnesota State's first shutout since 2021 and its first home shutout since 2017.

Ferris State retained the No. 1 position in the AFCA poll, followed by Harding, Kutztown and Colorado State-Pueblo. Minnesota State rounded out the top five, while Western Colorado, Slippery Rock, Emporia State, Davenport and Northwood completed the top 10.

Within the NSIC, Minnesota Duluth climbed into the national rankings at No. 20 after earning a 27-12 victory over the University of Mary. Augustana, Northern State and Wayne State also received votes, although Wayne State dropped out of the poll following its loss to the Mavericks.

In the latest NCAA NPI rankings, Minnesota State remained third in Super Region Three and seventh nationally. Slippery Rock led the national rankings, followed by Ferris State, Harding, Northwood, Emporia State and Colorado State-Pueblo. Minnesota State and Kutztown rounded out the top eight, with Davenport ninth and Kentucky State 10th.

Ferris State moved into the top spot in Super Region Three following its win over Michigan Tech. Northwood ranked second, followed by Minnesota State, Davenport, Findlay, Michigan Tech, Minnesota Duluth, Tiffin, Northern State and Augustana.

The D2Football.com Top 25 also kept the Mavericks at No. 3. Ferris State held the top spot, followed by Harding, Minnesota State, Kutztown and Colorado State-Pueblo. Western Colorado, Central Washington, Slippery Rock, Emporia State and Northwest Missouri State completed the top 10. Minnesota Duluth ranked 16th, while Augustana was 25th.

Minnesota State returns to action Saturday with a noon road matchup against Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minnesota. The Mavericks will then host Augustana on Nov. 7 at noon before concluding the regular season against MSU Moorhead on Nov. 14 at noon at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota.

With the NCAA Division II postseason approaching, the current regional rankings project Minnesota State to host Michigan Tech in a potential first-round playoff matchup on Nov. 21. A first-round victory would set up a possible second-round meeting with the winner of a projected Northwood-Minnesota Duluth matchup on Nov. 28.

The regional championship is scheduled for Dec. 5, followed by the national semifinals on Dec. 12. The NCAA Division II National Championship Game is set for Dec. 19 at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.

Minnesota State owns a 20-16 all-time record in NCAA postseason play and is pursuing its 17th playoff appearance in 2026. The Mavericks have advanced to two national championship games, in 2014 and 2019, and their 20 postseason victories are tied for seventh among current Division II programs and ninth all-time in Division II history.