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NAIA Football Notebook Week 11: Four Automatic Berths Left on Final Saturday

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

The Wayland Baptist Pioneers football team runs onto the field in black jerseys and white helmets before a game

The NAIA regular season ends Saturday with four of the 13 automatic berths to the Football Championship Series still open, and the Week 11 notebook puts six games in the spotlight — the finales that will decide the AAC, GPAC, Mid-South and Sooner titles.

It’s the final week of the regular season for the 2026 NAIA Football campaign, and of the 13 automatic berths to the 2026 NAIA Football Championship Series, four remain unsolved. That made it an easy decision on which six games earned a place in the Featured Game lineup in this week’s Notebook, the six that will play a role in deciding the AAC, the GPAC, the Mid-South, and the Sooner Athletic Conference.

STADIONIC NAIA Football Poll

1 College of Idaho 9-0 (last 2)
2 St. Thomas (Fla.) 10-0 (1)
3 Benedictine (Kan.) 10-1 (3)
4 Morningside (Iowa) 9-1 (4)
5 Montana Tech 9-1 (5)
6 Marian (Ind.) 9-1 (6)
7 Indiana Wesleyan 9-1 (7)
8 Grand View (Iowa) 9-1 (8)
9 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 8-2 (9)
10 Campbellsville (Ky.) 8-1 (10)
11 Dordt (Iowa) 8-2 (11)
12 Northwestern (Iowa) 8-2 (13)
13 Southwestern (Kan.) 9-1 (14)
14 Carroll (Mont.) 7-2 (12)
15 Friends (Kan.) 9-1 (NR)

Note: A team’s ranking in the NAIA National Selection Committee (NSC) Poll does not guarantee qualification or selection to the NAIA Football Championship Series.

Already In: Nine of 13 Automatic Bids Claimed

Frontier East – Montana Tech
Frontier West – College of Idaho
Heart North – Grand View (Iowa)
Heart South – Benedictine (Kan.)
KCAC Bissell – Southwestern (Kan.)
KCAC Kessinger – Ottawa (Kan.)
MSFA Mideast – Indiana Wesleyan
MSFA Midwest – Marian (Ind.)
The Sun – St. Thomas (Fla.)

Of the 13 automatic bids on the line, nine have been claimed. This week, eyes are on the AAC, GPAC, Mid-South, and the Sooner to see who makes the FCS from those conferences.

This Week’s Featured Games

No. 11 Dordt (8-2) at No. 12 Northwestern (Iowa) (8-2), Noon CT — The GPAC championship race comes down to the final Saturday, with Dordt visiting Northwestern in a matchup of teams tied with No. 4 Morningside atop the standings. Northwestern can secure the conference’s automatic berth with a victory, while a Red Raider loss would give Morningside the championship. Dordt’s Kaden Harken has 1,101 receiving yards and 15 touchdown catches, while Northwestern quarterback Colby Duncan has thrown 28 touchdown passes.

Briar Cliff (1-9) at No. 4 Morningside (Iowa) (9-1), 1 PM CT — Morningside hosts Briar Cliff with its GPAC championship hopes tied to the outcome of Northwestern’s game against Dordt. A Northwestern loss would give the Mustangs the conference’s automatic berth. Morningside ranks fifth nationally in scoring at 47.0 points per game, while receiver Drew Sellon has 88 receptions for 1,138 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Mustangs defeated Hastings 24-9 last Saturday.

Texas Wesleyan (5-5) at Wayland Baptist (7-2), 2 PM CT — Wayland Baptist enters the final weekend with a chance to share the Sooner Athletic Conference championship. A victory over Texas Wesleyan, combined with a Louisiana Christian loss to OUAZ, could produce a three-way tie atop the conference standings. The Pioneers enter at 7-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play.

OUAZ (7-2) at Louisiana Christian (9-1), 2 PM CT — The Sooner Athletic Conference championship is on the line when Louisiana Christian hosts OUAZ. The Wildcats can secure the automatic berth with a victory, while an OUAZ win could create a two- or three-way tie depending on Wayland Baptist’s result. Louisiana Christian ranks fourth nationally in scoring at 51.0 points per game, while OUAZ leads the NAIA in scoring defense (9.8 points per game) and total defense (222.6 yards per game).

No. 9 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (8-2) at Cumberlands (Ky.) (6-3), 2:30 PM ET — Lindsey Wilson controls the Mid-South Conference championship race entering its regular-season finale at Cumberlands (Ky.). The Blue Raiders can secure the automatic berth with a victory, while a loss would give the championship to No. 10 Campbellsville, which has completed its regular-season schedule. Lindsey Wilson running back Davontaye Saunders ranks among the national leaders with 1,427 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns.

Reinhardt (6-4) at Pikeville (8-2), 3 PM ET — The Appalachian Athletic Conference championship and automatic berth to the NAIA Football Championship Series will be decided Saturday when Pikeville hosts Reinhardt. Both teams enter with identical 5-0 conference records, making the finale a winner-take-all matchup. Reinhardt ranks fourth nationally in rushing offense (270.7 yards per game), while Pikeville is among the nation’s defensive leaders with 18 interceptions and allows just 256.7 yards per game.

NAIA By the Numbers

• William Woods (5-5) can secure its first winning season with a victory over MidAmerica Nazarene; Carter Holloway’s seven interceptions are tied for the NAIA lead.

• Kansas Wesleyan leads the NAIA with 36 sacks, ranks second with six defensive touchdowns and has 82 tackles for loss, travelling to No. 13 Southwestern (Kan.).

• No. 15 Friends (Kan.) leads the NAIA in scoring offense (56.7 ppg) and rushing offense (443.9 ypg), with 55 rushing touchdowns.

• No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan leads the NAIA in total offense at 584.6 ypg; Arjun Lothe has thrown 32 touchdown passes, Ryan Whitwell leads the NAIA with 1,491 net rushing yards.

• No. 2 St. Thomas (Fla.) leads the NAIA in rushing defense (57.4 ypg); No. 5 Montana Tech ranks second in total defense (224.8 ypg).

• Baker receiver Adrion Seals leads the NAIA with 1,270 receiving yards.

Benedict Rallies From 24 Points Down to Beat Kentucky State 52-45 in Overtime and Win the SIAC Championship

Published

41 minutes ago

November 15, 2026

KJ Butler

A Benedict receiver in a purple jersey leaps high above a Kentucky State defender to catch the football during the SIAC Championship game.

A Benedict receiver climbs above a Kentucky State defender to pull down a catch during the Tigers' 52-45 overtime win over Kentucky State in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.

Benedict College is a champion again. The Tigers came back from 24 points down on Saturday in Columbia, beating Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime to win the SIAC Championship, the third conference title in program history, and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs came with it.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — November 14, 2026

What started as a competitive conference championship matchup turned into an unforgettable day at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, as Benedict College delivered a remarkable comeback to defeat Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime, capturing its third conference football championship in program history.

With the SIAC Championship on the line, both teams came out ready to compete. The opening quarter featured an evenly matched battle, with both offenses finding opportunities while the defenses worked to establish control. Benedict struck first, taking a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.

Kentucky State Takes Over

However, the momentum quickly shifted in favor of Kentucky State.

The Thorobreds delivered a dominant second quarter, outscoring Benedict 17-0 before continuing their offensive surge in the third. Kentucky State eventually built a 24-point lead after putting together 31 unanswered points, leaving the Tigers with a mountain to climb.

The Comeback

But Benedict wasn’t ready to surrender its championship hopes.

Benedict's quarterback in a purple No. 3 jersey leaps over a diving Kentucky State defender while carrying the football. — *Benedict’s quarterback hurdles a diving Kentucky State tackler as the Tigers rally in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Tigers found another gear in the fourth quarter, putting together a furious comeback and scoring 24 points in the final period to pull even at 45-45. After trailing by as many as 24 points, Benedict had turned what appeared to be a comfortable Kentucky State victory into a championship thriller.

A Wild Final Minute

The final minute of regulation brought even more drama.

With approximately one minute remaining, Kentucky State punted the ball to Benedict, but the Tigers muffed the return, giving the Thorobreds another opportunity to steal the game. Kentucky State moved into position to score, but Benedict’s defense came up with a crucial stop, keeping the Thorobreds out of the end zone.

Benedict's No. 13 in a purple jersey leaps to catch the football with two Kentucky State defenders closing in and fans behind the sideline wall. — *Benedict’s No. 13 pulls down a catch between two Kentucky State defenders during the championship game. Photo by KJ Butler.*

With Kentucky State out of timeouts, clock management became critical. A delay-of-game penalty with nine seconds remaining resulted in a 10-second runoff, sending the game into overtime. The sequence proved costly for the Thorobreds, as a late-game miscommunication and clock-management mishap ended their opportunity to attempt a field goal before regulation expired.

Overtime Decides It

One more possession would determine the championship.

In overtime, Benedict wasted little time making its opportunity count. Quarterback Glenn Foreman connected with Demetris McKelvey on a touchdown pass, giving the Tigers the advantage and putting the pressure squarely on Kentucky State.

Two Benedict defenders collide with a Kentucky State ball carrier in the end zone, knocking the carrier's helmet into the air, with the Benedict band in the background. — *Benedict’s defense delivers a hit that knocks a Kentucky State helmet loose in the end zone during the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Thorobreds were unable to match the score, and Benedict’s sideline erupted in celebration.

After overcoming a 24-point deficit, surviving a dramatic final minute, and finishing the job in overtime, the Tigers walked away with a 52-45 victory and their third conference football championship in program history.

At Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, fans witnessed a comeback that will forever be remembered.

What Is Next

Benedict’s season rolls on into the NCAA Division II playoffs. The SIAC championship carries the conference’s automatic bid, and the Tigers entered the weekend as the No. 1 team in Super Region Two. Benedict learns its first-round opponent at the NCAA Division II selection show on Sunday, November 15 at 6 p.m. ET, with first-round games set for Saturday, November 21.

Kentucky State’s season is not finished either. The Thorobreds close at 8-3 after their first SIAC title game appearance since 2016, and they are expected to land an at-large playoff berth when the bracket is revealed on Sunday night. If their name is called, their first-round game is also Saturday, November 21.