| | '98 Record | '98 Rank* | Returning Starters |
| 1 | Mount Union (Ohio) | 14-0 | 1 | 12 |
| The three-time defending champ is led by Gary Smeck (2,717 yards passing, 23 TDs in '98) |
| 2 | Trinity (Texas) | 12-1 | 2 | 20 |
| Marvelous Michael Burton, 28-1 as a starter, threw for 3,031 yards and 32 TDs a year ago |
| 3 | Lycoming (Pa.) | 10-1 | 6 | 15 |
| The Warriors' secondary is in good hands with John Scanlan, who had five interceptions last fall |
| 4 | College of New Jersey | 8-3 | 20 | 13 |
| State supremacy is on the line on Oct. 2 against Rowan, which beat the Lions in the '98 playoffs |
| 5 | St. John's (Minn.) | 11-1 | 9 | 11 |
| Linebacker Brandon Novak (130 tackles) anchors a unit that led the division in total defense |
| 6 | Albion (Mich.) | 8-2 | 10 | 10 |
| The Britons are the winningest football program in Michigan this decade: 84-13-2 |
| 7 | John Carroll (Ohio) | 8-2 | 13 | 14 |
| Blue Streaks LBs Brian Zielaskiewicz and John Pellegrini are among the division's best |
| 8 | Western Maryland | 10-1 | 8 | 15 |
| The Green Terror never trailed in the '98 regular season and tied for first in turnover ratio (+23) |
| 9 | Catholic (Washington, D.C.) | 10-1 | 16 | 13 |
| Despite missing part of his throwing hand's ring finger, Derek McGee passed for 1,732 yards |
| 10 | Rowan (N.J.) | 9-3 | 4 | 13 |
| Profs will get the ball to wideout Taman Bryant, who averaged 16.7 yards per catch last fall |
| 11 | Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) | 8-2 | 21 | 16 |
| Chad Johnson (1,621 yards passing, 12 TDs in '98) is the grandson of coach Frosty Westering |
| 12 | Allegheny (Pa.) | 8-2 | -- | 13 |
| The Gators' defense (14.3 points per game) is led by LB Corey Belaney (120 tackles, 7 1/2 sacks) |
| 13 | Millikin (Ill.) | 8-2 | 17 | 13 |
| Jerome Jackson is the main receiver after catching 56 passes for 695 yards and four TDs in '98 |
| 14 | Wisconsin-River Falls | 7-3 | 24 | 17 |
| Michael Grant, Taylor Hall, Ryan Lins and Nick Scribner rushed for more than 500 yards each |
| 15 | Emory & Henry (Va.) | 10-0 | 7 | 12 |
| The Wasps sting at home, where they have the nation's longest winning streak at 37 |
| 16 | Hardin-Simmons (Texas) | 9-1 | 15 | 10 |
| QB Brad Boyd favored to lead an offense that averaged 519.3 yards and 44.9 points in '98 |
| 17 | Ohio Northern | 7-3 | 25 | 15 |
| The Polar Bears' offense is paced by tight end-H-back Steve Vagedes (1,220 yards, 20 TDs) |
| 18 | Widener (Pa.) | 8-3 | 23 | 10 |
| 6'1", 300-pound tackle Stanley LaFontant helped the Pioneers lead Division III in rushing D (31.4 ypg) |
| 19 | Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) | 8-2 | 12 | 8 |
| LBs Brian Dever (78 tackles) and Scott Barwidi (66 tackles, five sacks) are swarming Jackets |
| 20 | Central College (Iowa) | 10-1 | 11 | 8 |
| Linebacker Jeff Sanger and Co. are seeking the Dutch's 39th consecutive winning season |
| 21 | Buffalo State | 9-3 | 18 | 14 |
| Bengals' tailbacks Dion Foendoe and Shawn Starks combined for 1,676 yards and 20 TDs in '98 |
| 22 | Wartburg (Iowa) | 9-1 | 22 | 11 |
| Last season Matt Wheeler threw for 2,150 yards and 23 TDs, eight to wideout Ryan Rausch |
| 23 | Wittenberg (Ohio) | 11-1 | 3 | 12 |
| The Tigers lost seven starters from a D that led the nation in fewest points allowed (5.3 per game) |
| 24 | Grinnell (Iowa) | 10-0 | -- | 13 |
| Troy Dougherty had the best passing efficiency rating (199.60) of any QB at any level in '98 |
| 25 | Williams (Mass.) | 8-0 | -- | 13 |
| Sean Keenan's 1,780 passing yards and 122 completions are records for the Ephs |
