One week after their monumental upset of Mount Union, Heidelberg is still winning. The ‘Berg blanked Muskingum, 56-0, to record their second shutout of the 2026 season and moved their record to 4-0. The win vaulted Heidelberg into the AFCA Division III Coaches Poll, presented by GoRout Gridiron, for the first time since September 19, 2022. That week, the ‘Berg were ranked 18th, but this time, they come in at No. 24. Because of Heidelberg’s appearance, one team had to drop out and that team is Mount Union. This marks the first time the Purple Raiders have not been ranked in the AFCA Top 25 since the poll began in 1999, breaking a streak of 283 straight appearances.
There wasn’t a lot of movement in the poll this week because 10 of the top 25 teams were idle, but that will change next Monday because of five top 25 matchups. Two are top 10 showdowns with the first being No. 2 UW-River Falls traveling to No. 7 UW-Whitewater while No. 5 St. John’s (Minn.) plays host to No. 8 Bethel (Minn.). The three other matchups have No. 6 John Carroll traveling to No. 17 WashU, No. 9 Trinity (Tex.) hosting No. 11 Berry and No. 16 Cortland traveling to No. 21 Utica.
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Week 4 | Next Game | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Central (44) | 3-0 | 1315 | 1 | Idle | Oct. 3 vs. Augustana (Ill.) | |
| 2 | UW-River Falls (9) | 3-0 | 1243 | 3 | Idle | Oct. 3 at No. 7 UW-Whitewater | |
| 3 | Wheaton | 4-0 | 1236 | 2 | D. Illinois Wesleyan, 28-7 | Oct. 3 vs. North Park | |
| 4 | UW-Platteville | 3-0 | 1164 | 4 | Idle | Oct. 3 at UW-Stout | |
| 5 | St. John’s (Minn.) | 3-0 | 1104 | 5 | D. Augsburg, 72-0 | Oct. 3 vs. No. 8 Bethel (Minn.) | |
| 6 | John Carroll | 4-0 | 1045 | 6 | D. Wittenberg, 49-3 | Oct. 3 at No. 17 WashU | |
| 7 | UW-Whitewater | 3-0 | 995 | 7 | D. Keystone, 69-0 | Oct. 3 vs. No. 2 UW-River Falls | |
| 8 | Bethel (Minn.) | 2-1 | 929 | 8 | D. Hamline, 77-0 | Oct. 3 at No. 5 St. John’s (Minn.) | |
| 9 | Trinity (Tex.) | 3-0 | 884 | 9 | Idle | Oct. 3 vs. No. 11 Berry | |
| 10 | Hardin-Simmons | 2-0 | 851 | 10 | Idle | Oct. 3 vs. Fort Lauderdale | |
| 11 | Berry | 3-0 | 765 | 11 | Idle | Oct. 3 at No. 9 Trinity (Tex.) | |
| 12 | Salisbury | 3-0 | 727 | 12 | D. Catholic, 47-10 | Oct. 3 at The College of New Jersey | |
| 13 | Christopher Newport | 3-0 | 698 | 14 | D. No. 13 Susquehanna, 21-0 | Oct. 3 vs. William Paterson | |
| 14 | Hope | 4-0 | 616 | 15 | D. Albion, 63-0 | Oct. 3 at Olivet | |
| 15 | Endicott | 4-0 | 585 | 16 | D. Husson, 35-6 | Oct. 3 at Univ. of New England | |
| 16 | Cortland | 4-0 | 508 | 17 | D. Morrisville, 62-6 | Oct. 3 at No. 21 Utica | |
| 17 | WashU | 4-0 | 428 | 19 | D. Oberlin, 79-0 | Oct. 3 vs. No. 6 John Carroll | |
| 18 | Wartburg | 1-2 | 404 | 18 | Idle | Oct. 3 at Nebraska Wesleyan | |
| 19 | UW-La Crosse | 1-2 | 233 | 20 | Idle | Oct. 3 at UW-Oshkosh | |
| 20 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | 2-1 | 230 | 21 | Idle | Oct. 3 vs. Keystone | |
| 21 | Utica | 4-0 | 198 | 24 | D. Alfred St., 58-13 | Oct. 3 vs. No. 16 Cortland | |
| 22 | Susquehanna | 3-1 | 188 | 13 | Lost to No. 14 Christopher Newport, 21-0 | Oct. 10 at Catholic | |
| 23 | DePauw | 3-1 | 171 | 22 | D. Kenyon, 31-3 | Oct. 3 vs. Oberlin | |
| 24 | Heidelberg | 4-0 | 125 | NR | D. Muskingum, 56-0 | Oct. 3 vs. Baldwin Wallace | |
| 25 | Franklin & Marshall | 3-0 | 117 | 25 | Idle | Oct. 3 vs. Gettysburg | |
Dropped Out: Mount Union (23)
Others Receiving Votes: Mount Union, 88; Wabash, 79; Randolph-Macon, 60; Calvin, 50; Springfield, 22; Lake Forest, 21; Mount St. Joseph, 20; Baldwin-Wallace, 19; Chapman, 18; UW-Oshkosh, 17; Illinois Wesleyan, 14; Johns Hopkins, 12; Muhlenberg, 8; Hampden-Sydney, 7; Ursinus, 6; Marietta, 5; Concordia-Moorhead, 4; Linfield, 3; UW-Stout, 3; Wesleyan, 3; Augustana (Ill.), 2; Dickinson, 2; Washington & Jefferson, 2; Trinity (Conn.), 1.
The American Football Coaches Association was founded to ensure that every football coach receives the finest professional development support and resources available. We bring relevant topics and current advancements directly to your desktop. We are committed to football coaching education and helping you reach and exceed your goals for success with our Professional Development Series. Along with industry networking, membership provides a forum for you to find Professional Football Coaching Jobs nationwide. By joining the AFCA you have full access to a group of like-minded, well-respected individuals in the coaching profession.
The American Football Coaches Association was founded to ensure that every football coach receives the finest professional development support and resources available. We bring relevant topics and current advancements directly to your desktop. We are committed to football coaching education and helping you reach and exceed your goals for success with our Professional Development Series. Along with industry networking, membership provides a forum for you to find Professional Football Coaching Jobs nationwide. By joining the AFCA you have full access to a group of like-minded, well-respected individuals in the coaching profession.
The American Football Coaches Association was founded to ensure that every football coach receives the finest professional development support and resources available. We bring relevant topics and current advancements directly to your desktop. We are committed to football coaching education and helping you reach and exceed your goals for success with our Professional Development Series. Along with industry networking, membership provides a forum for you to find Professional Football Coaching Jobs nationwide. By joining the AFCA you have full access to a group of like-minded, well-respected individuals in the coaching profession.
The American Football Coaches Association was founded to ensure that every football coach receives the finest professional development support and resources available. We bring relevant topics and current advancements directly to your desktop. We are committed to football coaching education and helping you reach and exceed your goals for success with our Professional Development Series. Along with industry networking, membership provides a forum for you to find Professional Football Coaching Jobs nationwide. By joining the AFCA you have full access to a group of like-minded, well-respected individuals in the coaching profession.
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The American Football Coaches Association was founded to ensure that every football coach receives the finest professional development support and resources available. We bring relevant topics and current advancements directly to your desktop. We are committed to football coaching education and helping you reach and exceed your goals for success with our Professional Development Series. Along with industry networking, membership provides a forum for you to find Professional Football Coaching Jobs nationwide. By joining the AFCA you have full access to a group of like-minded, well-respected individuals in the coaching profession.
