(This ranking was originally published Oct. 4 in our premier section)

DII is still a wide open race. Several of the top teams from a year ago are either DI or coping with high amounts of turnover, and some newcomers to the national picture look poised to make their move.

Whitewater has had some closer scores than one might expect from the defending national champions, but the Warhawks are still winning. For now, there's no reason to panic and budge them from their perch.

However, if Lindenwood continues to bludgeon teams by 80, 90 and 133(!) points, it's going to be tough to keep the Lions out of the top spot. They face what will seemingly be their toughest league opponent Saturday in SLU. The Billikens are unbeaten and defending West champs, but they'll be up against it facing the varsity Lions.

Northern Colorado and the Colorado School of Mines both put up impressive scores last week. Perhaps most impressive was the Mines', beating the always athletic, always dangerous Lobos of New Mexico 57-38. Both UNC and the Mines have moved up before Saturday's rivalry match against one another.

Utah Valley has raced out to an impressive start, winning seven games in all. Four came against men's teams and aren't counted below. Their biggest test thus far is also Saturday, when they face the only team that beat them in the fall of 2010 -- Idaho State. UVU is now coached by longtime Utah United U19 coach Clint Wilson.

Northern Illinois also enjoyed a big jump in the rankings. The Huskies have choked in the Midwest playoffs in years past, but seem primed for a deep run this year, evidenced by a blazing 4-0 start.

The most represented league in our list iis New England, with Coast Guard, Boston and URI ranked back-to-back-to-back. That's because they're all 2-1 with wins against one another. New England is perenially one of the toughest leagues in all of DII, so don't be surprised if previously ranked Norwich reappears in the future.

Just as we disclaimed in the DI ranking, some teams who are inactive will drop. When they become active as others slow down, the field will level itself.

1. (1) UW-Whitewater. 3-0  forfeit over UW-Stevens Point
2. (2) Lindenwood. 4-0  Beat Missouri S&T 82-7, Washington 133-0
3. (3) Salisbury. 2-0  Beat George Mason 52-8
4. (5) Northern Colorado. 1-0  Beat Mesa State 69-24
5. (6) Utah Valley. 3-0  Beat Southern Utah 39-7
6. (4) Sierra College.
7. (7) Towson. 2-0  Won 46-19 over Mt. St. Mary's, 45-0 over John's Hopkins
8. (8) Mary Washington. 3-0  Won 19-11 over Old Dominion
9. (15) Northern Illinois. 4-0  Beat Northwestern 63-5
10. (9) Central Missouri. 2-0  Idle
11. (10) East Carolina.
12. (11) Bentley.  2-0  Beat St. Anselm 35-0, St. Michael's 55-5
13. (18) Colorado School of the Mines. 1-0  Beat New Mexico 57-38
14. (13) UNC Wilmington.  Beat UNC-Charlotte 49-0
15. (Unr.) Coast Guard  2-1  Won 34-13 over Rhode Island, 22-15 over Vermont
16. (14) Boston.  2-1  Beat Norwich 22-17, Lost 22-19 to Rhode Island
17. (24) Rhode Island.  2-1  Lost 34-13 to Coast Guard, Won 22-19 over Boston
18. (Unr.) UW-Milwaukee.  3-0  Beat UW-Platteville 80-5
19. (16) Cal Maritime.
20. (17) Saint Louis.  2-0  Beat Principia 12-7
21. (Unr.) Radford.  1-0  Beat James Madison 41-12
22. (20) Georgetown.  0-1
23. (Unr.) Marist  4-0  Beat Fairfield 8-5, New Paltz 26-11
24. St. Cloud. 2-0  Beat Duluth 18-15
25. William Paterson.  3-1  Beat Vassar 31-10, Hostra 55-10

Dropped Out:
21. Pepperdine.
23. Cal State Fullerton.
22. UW-Lacrosse. 1-1 Lost 37-15 to UW-Whitewater
12. Norwich. 1-1-1  Lost 22-17 to Boston, Tied 28-28 with Holy Cross