The Northwest Missouri State University football team has worked its way back into the NCAA Div. II national rankings through five games this season.
 
Under the direction of first-year head coach John McMenamin, the Bearcats are 4-1 overall and have won four consecutive games to reach No. 24 in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 and No. 20 in the D2Football.com Top 25.
 
Northwest (3-0 MIAA) knocked off previously No. 15-ranked Central Oklahoma Saturday at Bearcat Stadium, 38-16.
 
Prior to this week, Northwest was last ranked in the top 25 polls in last season's preseason top 25. Northwest was ranked No. 22 in the preseason AFCA and D2Football.com polls last year.
 
The Bearcats have an open weekend on the schedule this week and will take the field again Oct. 11 at the University of Central Missouri.