CHICAGO -- The University of Delaware football squad, which advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game back in December, finished tied for No. 3 in the final 2007 Gridiron Power Index compiled by the College Sporting News.

The Colonial Athletic Association, which had seven teams ranked in the Top 25 and a record five teams compete in the NCAA tournament, was the highest rated conference in the nation in the power index, a computer-generated ranking based on winning percentage and strength of schedule.

Three-time defending NCAA champion Appalachian State was the nation’s highest rated team with a gpi of 1.00 while Northern Iowa (2.88) was second and Delaware and Richmond tied for third at 3.63. Southern Illinois was fourth at 5.38 followed by North Dakota State (6.00), Massachusetts (6.50), Wofford (9.00), McNeese State (9.38), and James Madison (9.38) in the top 10.

Delaware defeated previously unbeaten and then No. 1 Northern Iowa 39-27 in the NCAA quarterfinals and Gateway co-champion Southern Illinois 20-17 in the semifinals before falling to Appalachian State 49-21 in the title game in Chattanooga, TN. Delaware’s first round NCAA win was over Delaware State, which finished No. 25 in gpi index with a total of 24.50.

In addition to Delaware and Richmond tying for No. 3, other CAA school rankings included No. 7 Massachusetts, No. 9 James Madison, No. 13 New Hampshire, No. 15 Villanova, No. 21 Hofstra, No. 34 William & Mary, No. 39 Northeastern, No. 44 Maine, No. 49 Rhode Island, and No. 52 Towson.

The CAA was the top-rated conference with a gpi of 21.71 followed by the Southern Conference (23.92), Great West (28.68), Gateway (28.95), Big Sky (41.39), Southland (42.07), Patriot League (47.02), Ivy League (48.94), Big South (54.50), Southwestern Athletic (55.44), Mid-Eastern Athletic (55.77), Ohio Valley (57.10), Pioneer (63.71), Independents (65.75), Northeast (68.82), and Metro Atlantic Athletic (79.13).