Scots Nationally Ranked by D3Football.com

By Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, IL For the first time in nearly a decade, the Monmouth College football team is ranked nationally. After beating Knox 69-0 on Saturday to finish a 9-0 Midwest Conference season and 9-1 overall regular season, the Scots are ranked No. 25 in Sunday's D3football.com poll.

The last time the Scots were nationally ranked was in the final poll of the 2016 season. The Scots checked in at No. 21 after falling to Coe 21-14 in the first round of the playoffs to finish the season 10-1. The Scots were nationally ranked for most of the 2016 season, cracking the top 20 in late October in the AFCA Coaches Poll.

This season, Monmouth has been among teams receiving votes nearly all season and cracked the Top 25 on Sunday. The Scots will face No. 7 Saint John's in the NCAA Playoffs.

Overall, five teams from Region V are ranked with North Central at No. 1, Wartburg at No. 5, Wheaton at No. 19 and Coe at No. 24. Coe replaced Central after beating the Dutch on Saturday. Last week the Scots were fourth in Region V behind Wartburg, North Central, Central and Concordia, Wisconsin.