Pittsburg State Upsets Grand Valley State
September 15, 2025
Pittsburg State won its first game of the season by using a stingy defense to take down then-No. 3 Grand Valley State, 17-14. The Gorillas controlled the time of possession on offense, outgained the Lakers by 153 yards in total offense and allowed them just one offensive touchdown in the top 25 matchup. With the win, Pittsburg State rises to No. 18 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl, while Grand Valley State drops seven places to No. 10.
With seven top 25 upsets this past Saturday, the poll looks completely different in week 3. Ferris State still holds the top spot after beating Tiffin and moving to 3-0 on the season. After Harding at No. 2, it is different thanks to Grand Valley State and Minnesota State dropping. West Florida moves into the third spot, followed by Slippery Rock, who remained at No. 4, and Kutztown up one to No. 5. Angelo State is up two to No. 6, followed by Western Colorado, California (Pa.), Augustana (S.D.) and GVSU, who round out the top 10.
Delta State, Charleston, Ashland and Carson-Newman all lost and dropped out of the poll, allowing four new teams to enter this week. Johnson C. Smith comes in at No. 21. The Golden Bulls are 3-0 and will travel to No. 22 Virginia Union this coming Saturday. The Panthers dropped nine spots after their loss to Edward Waters, 41-38. Wingate, who is 2-0 after dominating Bluefield State, 72-7, enters at No. 23. They are followed by No. 24 Michigan Tech, who enters the AFCA Top 25 for the first time since November 2, 2015. The final newcomer is Sioux Falls at No. 25. The last time the Cougars were in the AFCA poll was on October 31, 2022.
Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Week 3 Next Game
1 Ferris St. (31) 3-0 775 1 D. Tiffin, 41-34 Sept. 20 vs. Rio Grande
2 Harding 2-0 719 2 D. Southwestern Oklahoma St., 55-0 Sept. 20 at Southern Arkansas
3 West Florida 3-0 688 5 D. Shorter, 42-20 Sept. 20 at North Greenville
4 Slippery Rock 2-0 669 4 D. Shepherd, 35-28 OT Sept. 20 vs. Shippensburg
5 Kutztown 2-0 648 6 D. Edinboro, 34-0 Sept. 20 vs Gannon
6 Angelo St. 3-0 622 8 D. Eastern New Mexico, 31-20 Sept. 20 vs. Western New Mexico
7 Western Colorado 2-0 569 9 Idle Sept. 20 at Adams St.
8 California (Pa.) 2-0 501 10 D. West Chester, 26-24 Sept. 20 vs. Lock Haven
9 Augustana (S.D.) 3-0 487 11 D. UMary, 21-20 Sept. 20 at Bemidji St.
10 Grand Valley St. 2-1 477 3 Lost to No. 24t Pittsburg St., 17-14 Oct. 4 vs. Davenport
11 UT-Permian Basin 2-0 474 12 Idle Sept. 20 at Texas A&M-Kingsville
12 Colorado St.-Pueblo 2-1 391 14 D. Central Missouri, 29-24 Sept. 20 at Colorado Mesa
13 West Alabama 3-0 375 17 D. No. 18t Charleston, 28-24 Sept. 20 vs. Barton
14 Minnesota St. 2-1 352 7 Lost to No. 24t Minnesota-Duluth, 17-14 Sept. 20 at Jamestown
15 Central Oklahoma 1-1 347 15 Idle Sept. 20 vs. Washburn
16 Minnesota-Duluth 3-0 299 24t D. No. 7 Minnesota St., 17-14 Sept. 20 at No. 25 Sioux Falls
17 Central Washington 1-1 263 18t Idle Sept. 20 vs. West Texas A&M
18 Pittsburg St. 1-2 221 24t D. No. 3 Grand Valley St., 17-14 Sept. 20 vs. Fort Hays St.
19 Lenoir-Rhyne 2-1 205 21 D. Emory & Henry, 31-28 Sept. 20 at Carson-Newman
20 Valdosta St. 2-1 161 22 D. Chowan, 56-3 Sept. 27 vs. UNC Pembroke
21 Johnson C. Smith 3-0 103 NR D. Elizabeth City St., 21-17 Sept. 20 at No. 22 Virginia Union
22 Virginia Union 1-1 101 13 Lost to Edward Waters, 41-38 Sept. 20 vs. No. 21 Johnson C. Smith
23 Wingate 2-0 89 NR D. Bluefield St., 72-7 Sept. 20 at Virginia-Wise
24 Michigan Tech 3-0 83 NR D. Hillsdale, 34-21 Sept. 20 vs. Upper Iowa
25 Sioux Falls 3-0 76 NR D. Bemidji St., 56-23 Sept. 20 vs. No. 16 Minnesota-Duluth
Dropped Out: Delta St. (16), Charleston (18t), Ashland (20), Carson-Newman (23)
Others Receiving Votes: UIndy, 70; Delta St., 69; Colorado School of Mines, 60; Charleston, 38; Ashland, 35; Fort Hays St., 34; Henderson St., 9; Indiana (Pa.), 8; Ouachita Baptist, 8; Southern Arkansas, 8; Minnesota St.-Moorhead, 7; Fairmont St., 6; Frostburg St., 6; Carson-Newman, 5; UNC Pembroke, 5; Findlay, 4; Albany St., 3; Clarion, 2; Edward Waters, 2; Anderson, 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.
« « Previous PostNext Post » »
Pittsburg State won its first game of the season by using a stingy defense to take down then-No. 3 Grand Valley State, 17-14. The Gorillas controlled the time of possession on offense, outgained the Lakers by 153 yards in total offense and allowed them just one offensive touchdown in the top 25 matchup. With the win, Pittsburg State rises to No. 18 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl, while Grand Valley State drops seven places to No. 10.
With seven top 25 upsets this past Saturday, the poll looks completely different in week 3. Ferris State still holds the top spot after beating Tiffin and moving to 3-0 on the season. After Harding at No. 2, it is different thanks to Grand Valley State and Minnesota State dropping. West Florida moves into the third spot, followed by Slippery Rock, who remained at No. 4, and Kutztown up one to No. 5. Angelo State is up two to No. 6, followed by Western Colorado, California (Pa.), Augustana (S.D.) and GVSU, who round out the top 10.
Delta State, Charleston, Ashland and Carson-Newman all lost and dropped out of the poll, allowing four new teams to enter this week. Johnson C. Smith comes in at No. 21. The Golden Bulls are 3-0 and will travel to No. 22 Virginia Union this coming Saturday. The Panthers dropped nine spots after their loss to Edward Waters, 41-38. Wingate, who is 2-0 after dominating Bluefield State, 72-7, enters at No. 23. They are followed by No. 24 Michigan Tech, who enters the AFCA Top 25 for the first time since November 2, 2015. The final newcomer is Sioux Falls at No. 25. The last time the Cougars were in the AFCA poll was on October 31, 2022.
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Week 3 | Next Game | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferris St. (31) | 3-0 | 775 | 1 | D. Tiffin, 41-34 | Sept. 20 vs. Rio Grande | |
| 2 | Harding | 2-0 | 719 | 2 | D. Southwestern Oklahoma St., 55-0 | Sept. 20 at Southern Arkansas | |
| 3 | West Florida | 3-0 | 688 | 5 | D. Shorter, 42-20 | Sept. 20 at North Greenville | |
| 4 | Slippery Rock | 2-0 | 669 | 4 | D. Shepherd, 35-28 OT | Sept. 20 vs. Shippensburg | |
| 5 | Kutztown | 2-0 | 648 | 6 | D. Edinboro, 34-0 | Sept. 20 vs Gannon | |
| 6 | Angelo St. | 3-0 | 622 | 8 | D. Eastern New Mexico, 31-20 | Sept. 20 vs. Western New Mexico | |
| 7 | Western Colorado | 2-0 | 569 | 9 | Idle | Sept. 20 at Adams St. | |
| 8 | California (Pa.) | 2-0 | 501 | 10 | D. West Chester, 26-24 | Sept. 20 vs. Lock Haven | |
| 9 | Augustana (S.D.) | 3-0 | 487 | 11 | D. UMary, 21-20 | Sept. 20 at Bemidji St. | |
| 10 | Grand Valley St. | 2-1 | 477 | 3 | Lost to No. 24t Pittsburg St., 17-14 | Oct. 4 vs. Davenport | |
| 11 | UT-Permian Basin | 2-0 | 474 | 12 | Idle | Sept. 20 at Texas A&M-Kingsville | |
| 12 | Colorado St.-Pueblo | 2-1 | 391 | 14 | D. Central Missouri, 29-24 | Sept. 20 at Colorado Mesa | |
| 13 | West Alabama | 3-0 | 375 | 17 | D. No. 18t Charleston, 28-24 | Sept. 20 vs. Barton | |
| 14 | Minnesota St. | 2-1 | 352 | 7 | Lost to No. 24t Minnesota-Duluth, 17-14 | Sept. 20 at Jamestown | |
| 15 | Central Oklahoma | 1-1 | 347 | 15 | Idle | Sept. 20 vs. Washburn | |
| 16 | Minnesota-Duluth | 3-0 | 299 | 24t | D. No. 7 Minnesota St., 17-14 | Sept. 20 at No. 25 Sioux Falls | |
| 17 | Central Washington | 1-1 | 263 | 18t | Idle | Sept. 20 vs. West Texas A&M | |
| 18 | Pittsburg St. | 1-2 | 221 | 24t | D. No. 3 Grand Valley St., 17-14 | Sept. 20 vs. Fort Hays St. | |
| 19 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 2-1 | 205 | 21 | D. Emory & Henry, 31-28 | Sept. 20 at Carson-Newman | |
| 20 | Valdosta St. | 2-1 | 161 | 22 | D. Chowan, 56-3 | Sept. 27 vs. UNC Pembroke | |
| 21 | Johnson C. Smith | 3-0 | 103 | NR | D. Elizabeth City St., 21-17 | Sept. 20 at No. 22 Virginia Union | |
| 22 | Virginia Union | 1-1 | 101 | 13 | Lost to Edward Waters, 41-38 | Sept. 20 vs. No. 21 Johnson C. Smith | |
| 23 | Wingate | 2-0 | 89 | NR | D. Bluefield St., 72-7 | Sept. 20 at Virginia-Wise | |
| 24 | Michigan Tech | 3-0 | 83 | NR | D. Hillsdale, 34-21 | Sept. 20 vs. Upper Iowa | |
| 25 | Sioux Falls | 3-0 | 76 | NR | D. Bemidji St., 56-23 | Sept. 20 vs. No. 16 Minnesota-Duluth |
Dropped Out: Delta St. (16), Charleston (18t), Ashland (20), Carson-Newman (23)
Others Receiving Votes: UIndy, 70; Delta St., 69; Colorado School of Mines, 60; Charleston, 38; Ashland, 35; Fort Hays St., 34; Henderson St., 9; Indiana (Pa.), 8; Ouachita Baptist, 8; Southern Arkansas, 8; Minnesota St.-Moorhead, 7; Fairmont St., 6; Frostburg St., 6; Carson-Newman, 5; UNC Pembroke, 5; Findlay, 4; Albany St., 3; Clarion, 2; Edward Waters, 2; Anderson, 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.
