Week nine is in the books for Iowa’s twenty-two NAIA/D2/ FCS football programs that we cover. There are 10 teams in Iowa still with a shot at the postseason in their divisions NAIA, D3, D2, and FCS (Pioneer League). That clearly shows the quality of the programs in the state – (All teams in the playoff hunt are noted in Bold Italics)
November 1st, 2025- Game results
FCS Drake traveled to Butler in Indianapolis and in the “Battle of the Bulldogs” and won a big game against a top Pioneer Football League (PFL) Team 24-19. Drake is a perfect 5-0 and alone on top of the PFL Standings with their 5th win in a row to move to 6-2 on the year.
D2 Upper Iowa moved to 7-2 with a dominant win in Fayette against McKendree 57-7. A fifty burger to get to a program record. Upper Iowa has been playing football for over 100 years, and this was the first time they ever had back-to-back seasons of seven or more wins. It’s a special season in Fayette for the Peacocks.
NAIA Scores
#1 Grandview (8-0) went on the road to Lamoni and defeated Graceland (3-5) 21-10. The Vikings are methodical and now have won 23 straight games over the past two seasons (2024 – 15-0 National Champs).
#19 William Penn (8-1) beat Peru State in Oskaloosa 42-21 to keep their special season rolling. They are one of the great stories in NAIA Football this year (they have not had a winning season in a long time), and the playoffs are going to be happen if they can continue to take care of business.
St. Ambrose (4-5) kept their win streak rolling (third straight) with a big 45-20 at home in Davenport against Clarke (1-8). The Bees are closing 2025 on a run this fall and tied for second in the conference at 3-1 with William Penn.
#10 Morningside (7-2) bulldozed Doane (NE) 42-0. The Mustangs are an offensive juggernaut averaging 521 yards a game while also being stout defensively.
Briar Cliff (5-5) fell on the road to Concordia (NE) 34-17 – The Chargers are building under Coach Shane LaDage and staff impressively for a program that has one winning season in the last 20 years.
#6 Dordt (8-0) had a close one but beat Midland (NE) 17-14. The Defenders started football as a program in 2008 and have never won more than eight games with two games remaining.
Northwestern College (5-3) beat Midland 23-17 in 2OTs to keep their playoff hopes alive. They must win out and may need some help to make their usual visit to the NAIA Playoffs.
Waldorf had a bye week.
NCAA Division III Scores
#7 Wartburg (9-0) went to Nebraska Wesleyan University and won 34-10. They clinched the NCAA Automatic bid for the A-R-C. That have one game left and own victories over Central and Coe. Wartburg has been a dominant second half team outscoring opponents 138 to 47.
#19 Central (7-1) defeated Buena Vista (2-6)at home in Pella 52-27 to keep their playoff hopes in high gear. The Dutch are a top DIII team in the country.
Coe College (6-2) went on the road and won 19-7 against University of Dubuque (3-5). If Coe and Central both win next week, that would set up a huge game with NCAA Playoff implications in the last week of the seson in Pella on November 15th.
Simpson (5-3) went to the Rock Bowl and beat Loras (2-6) by blocking an extra point with under a minute and half left in the game 28-27
Luther had a bye week.
The postseason will soon be here. How many Iowa teams will make it to promised land? Having 10 of 22 teams in the running is a historic fall for these 22 Iowa programs.
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