FOOTBALL: AFCA Division II Poll Has Been Released

WACO, Texas - Here is a look at the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll released Sept. 14.

There are a few changes (from last week) in the poll as a couple of battles of nationally-ranked teams caused some shuffling among the ranked teams in Division II.

Augustana (S.D.) beat Minnesota-Crookston, 49-0, to move its record to 3-0 on the season and earned a No. 25 ranking in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for the first time since the poll’s inception in 2000. The Vikings have their first Top 25 match-up next Saturday as they travel to No. 8 Minnesota-Duluth. Grand Valley State (Mich.) still holds down the No. 1 spot after handing then-No. 16 Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) a 38-7 loss. Abilene Christian (Texas), North Alabama, Bloomsburg (Pa.) and Central Washington round out the Top 5. The other Top 25match-ups this next week include No. 11 Pittsburg State (Kan.) traveling to No. 12 Central Missouri, and No. 7 Minnesota State-Mankato hosting No. 20 Wayne State(Neb.). No. 22 Washburn (Kan.) and No. 24 Midwestern State (Texas) join Augustana (S.D.) as newcomers to the poll this week.

1. Grand Valley State, 3-0
2. Abilene Christian (Texas), 3-0
3. North Alabama, 3-0
4. Bloomsburg (Pa.), 3-0
5. Central Washington, 3-0
6. Northwest Missouri State, 2-1
7. Minnesota State-Mankato, 3-0
8. Minnestoa-Duluth, 2-1
9. Delta State (Miss.), 1-1
10. Texas A&M Kingsville, 3-0
11. Pittsburg State (Kan.), 2-1
12. Central Missouri, 3-0
13. Albany State (Ga.), 3-0
14. Catawba (N.C.), 3-0
15. Chadron State (Neb.), 2-1
16. Valdosta State (Ga.), 1-1
17. Tuskegee (Ala.), 2-1
18. Ashland (Ohio), 2-1
19. Tarleton State (Texas), 3-0
20. Wayne State (Neb.), 3-0
21. Indiana (Pa.), 3-0
22. Washburn (Kan.), 3-0
23. Saginaw Valley State, 2-1
24. Midwestern State (Texas), 3-0
25. Augustana (S.D.), 3-0

Dropped Out: Winona St. (Minn.) (20); West Chester (Pa.)
(21); Central Oklahoma (24t).Others

Receiving Votes: Missouri Western St., 42; North Carolina-Pembroke, 26; Glenville St. (W.Va.), 25; Charleston (W.Va.), 23; Edinboro (Pa.), 19; Winona St. (Minn.), 18; Findlay (Ohio), 16; West Alabama, 9; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 8; Wayne St. (Mich.), 5; California (Pa.), 3; Wingate (N.C.), 2; American International (Mass.), 1.

Looks like Findlay got a little more love as it improved to 3-0 following its 43-7 win over Ferris State University last weekend.

This week, things get tougher on the Bulldogs as they will face the No. 1 team in the nation, Grand Valley.