Four teams in the conference begin holding national rankings in the 2012 Spring NAIA Coaches' Poll.

Missouri Valley also received first place votes and ended up second in the pre-season poll.

[5] Peru State first in the game as Ryan Ludlow rushed for a 66-yard touchdown and Levi Cockle added an extra point kick to give Bobcats a 7–0 lead with less than nine minutes remaining in the first quarter.

[7] Grand View began only their fifth season of college football ever with a #15 ranking and a home opener against Graceland.

The Vikings capped off their fourth season in program history with a record of 8 wins and four losses, claimed their first Mid-States Football Association Midwest League title, and a trip to the 2011 NAIA Football National Championship playoffs.

[7] Opposing team kickers Zach Keenan (Benedictine) and Kenny Zoeller (Concordia) combined to score 20 of the 82 points in this game.

[9] Baker and Ottawa met in the season's first NAIA "Game of the Week" on August 25.

This was the sixth time that both teams have met in their season opener, and the 81st meeting all-time for the two programs.

Baker brought five consecutive winning seasons and five rankings in the top 25 final poll.

With 4:45 left in the first, Ottawa answered back with a touchdown and kicked the extra point to make the score 7–3.

With 1:49 left to play, Ryder Werts fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and kicker Steven Stewart made the extra point to put the Wildcats up by seven.

[14] Ottawa began the game without offensive starter Matt Bollig, who suffered a career-ending injury during weightlifting practice in July.

[19] Baker entered the game ranked #18 and with one victory for the season against a strong Ottawa team.

Later in the same quarter, teammate Dillon Baxter and University of Southern California transfer student[20] made a touchdown on a 6-yard run to take the lead 14–0.

[21] The Benedictine Ravens played host to the Sterling Warriors and dominated every aspect of the game.

Graceland's 25 points in the second quarter helped to secure the victory with a final score of 28–17.

[32] Missouri Valley allowed unranked Evangel to gain a 14–0 lead, but managed to score in just eleven plays when Sophomore Quarterback Bruce Reyes carried the ball 11 yards for a touchdown.