WATERLOO, Ont. - The Laurier Golden Hawks are back among the nation's top football programs.

After winning three consecutive games to close the regular season and clinch the final Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoff berth, Laurier moved back into the U SPORTS Top 10, checking in at #9  in this week's national rankings.

The Golden Hawks had fallen out of the Top 10 following week 5.

Laurier finished the regular season with a 4-4 record and accumulated 35 ranking points, including three from the media poll and 32 from the Elo ranking system. The U SPORTS football rankings combine results from a national media poll and the Elo ranking system, with each accounting for 50 per cent of a team's overall score.

The ranking caps a dramatic turnaround for the Golden Hawks, who entered the final stretch of the regular season needing wins to keep their playoff hopes alive. Laurier responded with three straight to secure the seventh and final playoff position.

Laurier joins four other OUA programs in this week's Top 10, including #3 Queen's, #5 Windsor, #7 Western, and #10 McMaster.

The Golden Hawks will travel back to London for Saturday's quarterfinal against the Mustangs at Western Alumni Stadium, with kickoff set for 1 pm.

Tickets are on sale now and subscribers can also stream the game live on OUA.tv