INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The University of Central Missouri Mules Football team is ranked eighth in the second set of NCAA Power Index (NPI) Super Region 4 Rankings released on Sunday, Oct. 25, by the NCAA.

Harding checks in at No. 1 in the rankings, while Emporia State in No. 2, and Colorado State University Pueblo is No. 3, rounding out the top-three.

Western Colorado is fourth, followed by Central Washington, Northwest Missouri State, Henderson State, and the Mules, rounding out the top eight.

The NCAA Power Index (NPI) is a new ranking system in college athletics that evaluates a team's performance beyond just its record. NPI considers game results and the strength of schedule to determine a team's NPI ranking. NPI calculations update throughout the season as teams play additional contests and opponent NPI values change. A team's final NPI is not determined until the season's final games and rankings are complete.

The NPI replaces the NCAA's previous regional rankings system and will determine the at-large teams selected for the championship after the automatic qualifiers have been decided.

Super Region 4 consists of teams from the MIAA, Great American Conference (GAC), the Lone Star Conference (LSC), and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The top eight teams in the final Super Region 4 NPI will advance to the 2026 NCAA-II Football Tournament. 

The Mules are 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA heading into their home game against Fort Hays State on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg.