FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona football team is ranked No. 17 in the latest Gridiron Power Index after its upset over No. 24 Montana State last weekend in Bozeman. NAU travels to Portland State this weekend to face the Vikings looking for a third consecutive win.

The Gridiron Power Index (GPI), the index ranking for the NCAA Division I FCS and a top indicator of at-large playoff selection continues with unbeaten and defending Division I National Champion Richmond in the top spot.

The Colonial Athletic Association, the largest league in the FCS has seven teams in the top 25; the Big Sky Conference has four; the Missouri Valley Football, Southern, and the Southland Conferences have three each; the Mid-Eastern Athletic and Great West Conference have two each; and the Ohio Valley Conference has one. (Games through 10/10).

As conference average rankings went, all remained the same except the Big Sky edged past the Missouri Valley for GPI#3, the Ivy inched ahead of the Big South for GPI#8, and the Southwestern nudged past the Northeast as GPI#12.

The Final 2009 GPI will be released once all the college football games have been played, in January 2010.

10/12/2009 GPI Top 25
1. Richmond (1.25)
2. Northern Iowa (2.13)
3. Montana (2.75)
4. New Hampshire (5.13)
5. Villanova (5.25)
6. William & Mary (5.50)
7. S Illinois (7.88)
8. Elon (8.63)
9. Jacksonville St (9.50)
10. S Dakota St (11.75)
11. Delaware (13.88)
12. Massachusetts (15.50)
13. S Carolina St (15.88)
14. Cent Arkansas (16.25)
15. SF Austin (16.75)
16. Weber St (17.13)
17. Northern Arizona (17.38)
18. Cal Poly SLO (17.88)
19. Appalachian St (19.00)
20. James Madison (19.50)
21. E Washington (20.25)
22. McNeese St (21.13)
23. UC Davis (21.25)
24. Florida A&M (24.13)
25. Furman (24.25)