MANKATO, Minn. – Following a 44-9 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday, the Minnesota State football team remained third in the latest NCAA Super Region Three NPI rankings released Sunday. The Mavericks also climbed from fifth to fourth in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Poll while holding steady at No. 3 in the D2Football.com Top 25.

Ferris State maintained its position as the top-ranked team in Super Region Three after a dominant win over Davenport and moved into the No. 1 spot nationally. Northwood remained second in the region, followed by Minnesota State, Michigan Tech and Davenport to complete the top five. Findlay ranked sixth, followed by Minnesota Duluth, Augustana, Wayne State and Tiffin. Northern State checked in at No. 11, with Grand Valley State rounding out the top 12.

The Great Lakes Valley Conference champion will receive the league's automatic berth to the NCAA postseason. William Jewell currently leads the GLVC contingent and sits 17th in the regional rankings.

Nationally, Ferris State leads the NPI rankings, followed by Slippery Rock, Harding, Northwood and CSU Pueblo. Minnesota State moved up one spot from seventh to sixth, while East Stroudsburg and Northwest Missouri State followed in seventh and eighth, respectively.

If the season ended today, Minnesota State would be projected to host Findlay in the opening round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. A first-round victory would likely set up a second-round matchup with the winner of a projected Northwood-Minnesota Duluth contest.

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

AFCA Poll

Ferris State remained No. 1 in the AFCA Top 25, collecting 29 of 30 first-place votes. Harding stayed second, while CSU Pueblo moved up to third. Minnesota State climbed one spot to fourth after Kutztown fell in overtime to then-No. 24 East Stroudsburg. Western Colorado rounded out the top five.

Slippery Rock remained sixth and received the remaining first-place vote, followed by Northwood, Northwest Missouri State, Central Washington and Findlay.

Among NSIC schools, Minnesota Duluth ranked No. 21, Augustana checked in at No. 22, and Wayne State reentered the poll at No. 25.

D2Football.com Poll

Ferris State continues to lead the D2Football.com Top 25, followed by Harding, Minnesota State, CSU Pueblo and Western Colorado. Central Washington ranked sixth, with Slippery Rock, Northwest Missouri State, Northwood and Kutztown completing the top 10.

Minnesota Duluth sits No. 17, while Augustana is ranked No. 19.

Minnesota State returns home Saturday to host No. 22 AFCA/No. 19 D2Football.com Augustana at 12 p.m. at Blakeslee Stadium on Senior Day.