FOOTBALL: Is Parity Improving In The GLIAC?

More and more Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams seem to be emerging in football this season.

Among the GLIAC teams enjoying renaissances in 2009 (teams performing perhaps better than expected in the preseason) are Findlay, Northern Michigan and Northwood. Grand Valley had a rare blip on the screen (and dropped to ninth in the nation in one poll) with a shocking 27-24 loss to Hillsdale. Ashland also has struggled at times this season. But, the GLIAC remains solid at the top and in the middle with steady programs like Saginaw Valley. On the back half of the season, teams that will qualify for the playoffs will begin to emerge as some of the better teams will continue to go at it during the next few weeks on the gridiron.

At any rate, here is the D2Football.com Top 25 Media Poll for this week:

Oct. 13, 2009

1. Abilene Christian, 7-0
2. North Alabama, 7-0
3. Central Washington, 7-0
4. Bloomsburg, 7-0
5. Northwest Missouri, 6-1
6. Texas A&M-Kingsville, 7-0
7. Minnesota State, 7-0
8. Minnesota-Duluth, 6-1
9. Grand Valley, 6-1
10. Albany State, 6-0
11. Charleston, 7-0
12. Nebraska-Kearney, 6-1
13. Missouri Western, 6-1
14. Tarleton State, 6-1
15. Edinboro, 6-1
16. Central Missouri, 6-1
17. Carson-Newman, 5-2
18. Saginaw Valley, 5-2
19. Findlay, 6-1
20. Wayne State (NE), 5-2
21. Tuskegee, 5-2
22. Washburn, 5-2
23. California, 5-2
24. Northern Michigan, 5-1
25. UNC Pembroke, 6-1