
[D2 Poll] Ferris State Moves to No. 1 in AFCA Top 25
Seven teams in the Top 10 lost on Saturday, including the top two teams, paving the way for Ferris State (Mich.) to take over the No. 1 spot in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The Bulldogs built a 28-7 first half lead off three Grand Valley State (Mich.) turnovers and held on for a 35-28 win over their archrivals. The loss only dropped Grand Valley State one place to No. 8.
RELATED ARTICLE: [D2 Poll] Northwest Missouri State Comes Back to Beat Rival
Following Ferris State is No. 2 Valdosta State (Ga.), who beat then-No. 10 West Alabama, 42-17. The Blazers are 6-0 and will host Mississippi College on Saturday. New No. 3 is Colorado School of Mines, who is 7-0 after beating South Dakota Mines, 44-24. West Georgia jumps up eight spots to No. 4 after they knocked off then-No. 1 West Florida, 30-26. The loss sent the Argonauts to No. 6. Rounding out the Top 5 is California (Pa.), who rose eight places despite having their game cancelled on Saturday.
California (Pa.) will get to test their new No. 5 ranking this weekend as the Vulcans travel to No. 23 Indiana (Pa.). The Crimson Hawks re-enter the Top 25 this week after upsetting then-No. 6 Slippery Rock (Pa.), 48-21. First place will be on the line in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division as Indiana (Pa.) has the top spot with a 4-0 conference mark, followed by California (Pa.) at 3-0.
2021 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll – October 18, 2021
Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Week 7 | Next Game |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ferris St. (Mich.) (23) | 6-0 | 743 | 3 | D. No. 7 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 35-28 | Oct. 23 at Michigan Tech |
2 | Valdosta St. (Ga.) (7) | 6-0 | 726 | 4 | D. No. 10 West Alabama, 42-17 | Oct. 23 at Mississippi College |
3 | Colorado School of Mines | 7-0 | 688 | 5 | D. South Dakota Mines, 44-24 | Oct. 23 at Colorado Mesa |
4 | West Georgia | 6-1 | 624 | 12 | D. No. 1 West Florida, 30-26 | Oct. 23 vs. North Greenville (S.C.) |
5 | California (Pa.) | 6-0 | 556 | 13 | Oct. 16 vs. Clarion (Pa.), cancelled | Oct. 23 at No. 23 Indiana (Pa.) |
6 | West Florida | 5-1 | 549 | 1 | Lost to No. 12 West Georgia, 30-26 | Oct. 23 vs. Shorter (Ga.) |
7 | Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) | 6-1 | 521 | 11 | D. Arkansas-Monticello, 34-0 | Oct. 23 vs. Southern Arkansas |
8 | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 5-1 | 475 | 7 | Lost to No. 3 Ferris St. (Mich.), 35-28 | Oct. 23 at Northern Michigan |
9 | Notre Dame (Ohio) | 6-1 | 455 | 14 | D. West Virginia Wesleyan, 52-14 | Oct. 23 at Glenville St. (W.Va.) |
10 | Northwest Missouri St. | 5-1 | 449 | 2 | Lost to Washburn (Kan.), 17-16 | Oct. 23 at Northeastern St. (Okla.) |
11 | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 6-1 | 405 | 15 | D. Millersville (Pa.), 38-13 | Oct. 23 vs. West Chester (Pa.) |
12 | Harding (Ark.) | 6-1 | 392 | 20 | D. No. 9 Henderson St. (Ark.), 46-21 | Oct. 23 vs. Arkansas-Monticello |
13 | Bentley (Mass.) | 7-0 | 383 | 17 | D. Southern Connecticut St., 34-20 | Oct. 30 vs. Franklin Pierce (N.H.) |
14 | Bowie St. (Md.) | 6-1 | 313 | 16 | D. Virginia St., 51-44 | Oct. 23 at Virginia Union |
15 | West Alabama | 6-1 | 305 | 10 | Lost to No. 4 Valdosta St. (Ga.), 42-17 | Oct. 23 vs. Delta St. (Miss.) |
16 | Minnesota-Duluth | 6-1 | 298 | 18 | D. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), 33-13 | Oct. 23 vs. Bemidji St. (Minn.) |
17 | Slippery Rock (Pa.) | 6-1 | 294 | 6 | Lost to Indiana (Pa.), 48-21 | Oct. 23 at Mercyhurst (Pa.) |
18 | Wingate (N.C.) | 5-1 | 227 | 8 | Lost to Barton (N.C.), 26-20 OT | Oct. 23 at Virginia-Wise |
19 | Midwestern St. (Texas) | 5-1 | 225 | 19 | Idle | Oct. 23 at Tarleton St. |
20 | Henderson St. (Ark.) | 6-1 | 220 | 9 | Lost to No. 20 Harding (Ark.), 46-21 | Oct. 23 at Arkansas Tech |
21 | Nebraska-Kearney | 6-1 | 198 | 21 | D. Emporia St. (Kan.), 42-35 | Oct. 23 vs. Lincoln (Mo.) |
22 | Augustana (S.D.) | 6-1 | 176 | 22 | D. No. 23 Wayne St. (Neb.), 32-24 | Oct. 23 at Minnesota St. |
23 | Indiana (Pa.) | 5-1 | 170 | NR | D. No. 6 Slippery Rock (Pa.), 48-21 | Oct. 23 vs. No. 5 California (Pa.) |
24 | Western Colorado | 6-1 | 117 | 24 | D. Black Hills St. (S.D.), 44-28 | Oct. 23 at South Dakota Mines |
25 | Kutztown (Pa.) | 6-1 | 82 | 25 | D. Shippensburg (Pa.), 20-3 | Oct. 23 at Lock Haven (Pa.) |
Dropped Out: Wayne St. (Neb.) (23)
Others Receiving Votes: Washburn (Kan.), 31; Frostburg St. (Md.), 25; Charleston (W.Va.), 22; Southeastern Oklahoma, 20; Minnesota St., 15; Albany St. (Ga.), 11; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 10; New Haven (Conn.), 8; Savannah St. (Ga.), 7; Wayne St. (Neb.), 5; Colorado Mesa, 3; Angelo St. (Texas), 1; Stonehill (Mass.), 1.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.