(Kansas City, MO) The NAIA released the 2020-21 NAIA Football FirstDown PlayBook Top 25 Poll on Monday afternoon and the Cardinals are ranked 13th. This recognition comes on the heels of the Cardinals' third straight appearance at the NAIA Football Championship Series Quarterfinals. The Cardinals were ranked 12th in the post-season poll following the team's season ending defeat to Grand View. This marks their third consecutive season being ranked in the preseason poll and Concordia's fifth season cracking the top 25.

The poll released by the NAIA office on Monday afternoon saw the Cardinals gather 234 total votes. Last year, the Cardinals appeared in every poll climbing as high as 4th in early October. This is the 33rd time in Cardinal football history that the program has received recognition in the poll and their 32nd consecutive appearance in the poll dating back to September of 2017.

Fellow MSFA members to receive recognition in the poll include Marian University (2), University of St. Francis Ind. (9), Saint Xavier (14), Roosevelt (20), Siena Heights (22) and Olivet Nazarene (25).

Joshua Schumacher will begin his 4th year as the Cardinals head coach when the team travels to 22nd ranked Siena Heights on February 27th.