Since 1950, the AFCA has conducted a weekly Top 20/Top 25 poll during the college football season. The AFCA awards the AFCA Coaches’ Trophy to the No. 1-ranked team in the final FBS Coaches Poll each season. The head coach of the No. 1-ranked team receives the trophy at the American Football Coaches Awards show in early January.
The FBS Coaches Poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of head coaches at FBS schools. The panel is chosen by random draw, conference by conference plus independents, from a pool of coaches who have indicated to the AFCA their willingness to participate. Each coach submits a Top 25 with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th.
The AFCA USA Today FBS Coaches Poll is comprised of 65 head coaches at Bowl Subdivision schools. All are members of the American Football Coaches Association.
The USA TODAY Sports AFCA Board of Coaches is 66 head coaches at Bowl Subdivision schools. All are members of the American Football Coaches Association. The board for the 2022 season:
Tom Albin, Ohio; Tom Allen, Indiana; Blake Anderson, Utah State; Marcus Arroyo, UNLV; Dino Babers, Syracuse; Mike Bloomgren, Rice; Brent Brennan, San Jose State; Neal Brown, West Virginia; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina; Paul Chryst, Wisconsin; Dave Clawson, Wake Forest; Sonny Cumbie, Louisiana Tech; Kalen DeBoer, Washington; Jake Dickert, Washington State; Dana Dimel, Texas-El Paso; Dave Doeren, North Carolina State; Stan Drayton, Temple; Sonny Dykes, TCU; Herm Edwards, Arizona State; Mike Elko, Duke; Luke Fickell, Cincinnati; Jedd Fisch, Arizona; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern; James Franklin, Penn State; Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame; Hugh Freeze, Liberty; Willie Fritz, Tulane; Scott Frost, Nebraska; Danny Gonzales, New Mexico; Jeff Hafley, Boston College; Will Hall, Southern Mississippi; Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois; Tyson Helton, Western Kentucky; Brady Hoke, San Diego State; Dana Holgorsen; Houston; Butch Jones, Arkansas State; Chris Klieman, Kansas State; Rhett Lashlee, SMU; Lance Leipold, Kansas; Tim Lester, Western Michigan; Sean Lewis, Kent State; Mike Locksley, Maryland; Mike MacIntyre, Florida International; Chuck Martin, Miami (Ohio); Joey McGuire, Texas Tech; Jeff Monken, Army; Joe Moorhead, Akron; Jim Mora, Connecticut; Billy Napier, Florida; Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh; Ken Niumatalolo, Navy; Sam Pittman, Arkansas; Brent Pry, Virginia Tech; Nick Saban, Alabama; Scott Satterfield, Louisville; Greg Schiano, Rutgers; Kirby Smart, Georgia; Jake Spavital, Texas State; Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee; Jon Sumrall, Troy; Jeff Tedford, Fresno State; Jeff Traylor, Texas-San Antonio; Mel Tucker, Michigan State; Kyle Whittingham, Utah, Ken Wilson, Nevada.
Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Georgia (15-0) | 15-0 | 1,575 | 1 | |
2 | TCU (13-2) | 13-2 | 1,482 | 4 | |
3 | Michigan (13-1) | 13-1 | 1,423 | 2 | |
4 | Ohio State (11-2) | 11-2 | 1,404 | 3 | |
5 | Alabama (11-2) | 11-2 | 1,329 | 5 | |
6 | Tennessee (11-2) | 11-2 | 1,273 | 6 | |
7 | Penn State (11-2) | 11-2 | 1,199 | 7 | |
8 | Washington (11-2) | 11-2 | 1,091 | 12 | |
9 | Tulane (12-2) | 12-2 | 981 | 17 | |
10 | Florida State (10-3) | 10-3 | 926 | 13 | |
11 | Utah (10-4) | 10-4 | 878 | 10 | |
12 | Clemson (11-3) | 11-3 | 839 | 11 | |
13 | Southern California (11-3) | 11-3 | 829 | 8 | |
14 | Kansas State (10-4) | 10-4 | 769 | 9 | |
15 | LSU (10-4) | 10-4 | 766 | 15 | |
16 | Oregon (10-3) | 10-3 | 708 | 14 | |
17 | Oregon State (10-3) | 10-3 | 690 | 16 | |
18 | Notre Dame (9-4) | 9-4 | 498 | 20 | |
19 | Mississippi State (9-4) | 9-4 | 364 | 23 | |
20 | Troy (12-2) | 12-2 | 314 | 24 | |
21 | UCLA (9-4) | 9-4 | 238 | 18 | |
22 | Pittsburgh (9-4) | 9-4 | 193 | NR | |
23 | South Carolina (8-5) | 8-5 | 164 | 19 | |
24 | Fresno State (10-4) | 10-4 | 134 | NR | |
25 | Texas (8-5) | 8-5 | 69 | 21 |
Dropped out: No. 22 Texas-San Antonio (11-3); No. 25 North Carolina (9-5).
Others receiving votes: Texas-San Antonio (11-3) 68; Minnesota (9-4) 57; Air Force (10-3) 50; Duke (9-4) 47; North Carolina (9-5) 35; Boise State (10-4) 22; Texas Tech (8-5) 13; Iowa (8-5) 9; South Alabama (10-3) 9; Ohio (10-4) 6; Wake Forest (8-5) 6; Maryland (8-5) 4; Brigham Young (8-5) 3; Cincinnati (9-4) 3; Louisville (8-5) 3; Central Florida (9-5) 2; Mississippi (8-5) 1; Purdue (8-6) 1.
In response to overwhelming support by NCAA FCS coaches, the American Football Coaches Association began publishing a FCS Top 25 Coaches’ Poll in 2018. Prior to 2018, the NCAA FCS Coaches Poll was administered by the Southern Conference. The regional poll had been used to rank teams for consideration for the NCAA playoffs.
The FCS poll follows the same basic format as the Amway Coaches Poll. The FCS Board of Coaches will have 30 voters representing all FCS football playing conferences, as well as independent schools. The FCS Coaches’ Poll will be released on Mondays beginning with a preseason poll in August and will run through the final week of the regular season in November. A final poll will be released the Monday following the NCAA FCS championship game.
2022 AFCA FCS Coaches Poll Voters:
Dewayne Alexander, Tennessee Tech; Colby Carthel, Stephen F. Austin; Dave Cecchini, Bucknell; Bernard Clark, Robert Morris (Pa.); Josh Conklin, Wofford; Stan Dakosty, Colgate; Jason Eck, Idaho; Steve Englehart, Presbyterian; Greg Gattuso, Albany; Clay Hendrix, Furman; Nick Hill, Southern Illinois; Tre Lamb, Gardner-Webb; Dale Lindsey, San Diego; Clarence McKinney, Texas Southern; Mark Nofri, Sacred Heart; Trei Oliver, North Carolina Central; James Perry, Brown; Buddy Pough, South Carolina State; Robert Prunty, Hampton; Charlie Ragle, Idaho State; Tim Rebowe, Nicholls; Tony Reno, Yale; Jerry Schmitt, Duquesne; Vic Shealy, Houston Baptist; Willie Simmons, Florida A&M; Jason Simpson, UT Martin; John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State; Scotty Walden, Austin Peay
Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Post-season | Head Coach | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | South Dakota St. (26) | 14-1 | 650 | 1 | D. No. 4 North Dakota St., 45-21, in championship | John Stiegelmeier | |
2 | North Dakota St. | 12-3 | 622 | 4 | Lost to No. 1 South Dakota St., 45-21, in championshp | Matt Entz | |
3 | UIW | 12-2 | 565 | 7 | Lost to No. 4 North Dakota St., 35-32, in semifinals | G.J. Kinne | |
4 | Sacramento St. | 12-1 | 558 | 2 | Lost to No. 7 UIW, 66-63, in quarterfinals | Troy Taylor | |
5 | Montana St. | 12-2 | 545 | 3 | Lost to No. 1 South Dakota St., 39-18, in semifinals | Brent Vigen | |
6 | Holy Cross | 12-1 | 512 | 6 | Lost to No. 1 South Dakota St., 42-21, in quarterfinals | Bob Chesney | |
7 | Samford | 11-2 | 472 | 9 | Lost to No. 4 North Dakota St., 27-9, in quarterfinals | Chris Hatcher | |
8 | William & Mary | 11-2 | 445 | 8 | Lost to No. 3 Montana St., 55-7, in quarterfinals | Mike London | |
9 | Weber St. | 10-3 | 432 | 10 | Lost to No. 3 Montana St., 33-25, in second round | Jay Hill | |
10 | Furman | 10-3 | 419 | 11 | Lost to No. 7 UIW, 41-38, in second round | Clay Hendrix | |
11 | Jackson St. | 12-1 | 364 | 5 | Lost to No. 21 N.C. Central, 41-34 OT, in Celebration Bowl | Deion Sanders | |
12 | Richmond | 9-4 | 325 | 14 | Lost to No. 2 Sacramento St., 38-31, in second round | Russ Huesman | |
13 | Southeast Missouri St. | 9-3 | 294 | 12 | Lost to No. 17 Montana, 34-24, in first round | Tom Matukewicz | |
14 | Montana | 8-5 | 284 | 17 | Lost to No. 4 North Dakota St., 49-26, in second round | Bobby Hauck | |
15 | New Hampshire | 9-4 | 276 | 16 | Lost to No. 6 Holy Cross, 35-19, in second round | Rick Santos | |
16 | Fordham | 9-3 | 262 | 13 | Lost to No. 16 New Hampshire, 52-42, in first round | Joe Conlin | |
17 | North Carolina Central | 10-2 | 247 | 21 | D. No. 5 Jackson St., 41-34 OT, in Celebration Bowl | Trei Oliver | |
18 | Elon | 8-4 | 210 | 15 | Lost to No. 11 Furman, 31-6, in first round | Tony Trisciani | |
19 | Southeastern Louisiana | 9-4 | 208 | 23 | Lost to No. 9 Samford, 48-42 OT, in second round | Frank Scelfo | |
20 | St. Thomas (Minn.) | 10-1 | 120 | 19 | DNQ Playoffs | Glenn Caruso | |
21 | Mercer | 7-4 | 105 | 18 | DNQ Playoffs | Drew Cronic | |
22 | Idaho | 7-5 | 100 | 24t | Lost to No. 23 Southeastern Louisiana, 45-42, in first round | Jason Eck | |
23 | Florida A&M | 9-2 | 84 | 20 | DNQ Playoffs | Willie Simmons | |
24t. | Delaware | 8-5 | 69 | NR | Lost to No. 1 South Dakota St., 42-6, in second round | Ryan Carty | |
24t. | Chattanooga | 7-4 | 69 | 22 | DNQ Playoffs | Rusty Wright |
Dropped Out: North Dakota (24t)
Others Receiving Votes: North Dakota, 66; Gardner-Webb, 46; Yale, 35; UT Martin, 16; Austin Peay, 12; Princeton, 12; UC Davis, 6; Stephen F. Austin, 5; Pennsylvania, 4; St. Francis (Pa.), 4; North Carolina A&T, 3; Eastern Kentucky, 2; Youngstown St., 2.
In response to overwhelming support by NCAA Division II coaches, the American Football Coaches Association began publishing a Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll in 2000. Prior to 2000, there was no coaches’ polls for NCAA Division II. The regional poll had been used to rank teams for consideration for the NCAA playoffs.
The Division II poll follows the same basic format as the Amway Coaches Poll. The Division II Board of Coaches will have 30 voters representing all Division II conferences, as well as independent schools. The Division II Coaches’ Poll will be released on Mondays beginning with a preseason poll in August and will run through the final week of the regular season in November. A final poll will be released the Monday following the NCAA Division II championship game.
2022 AFCA DII Coaches Poll Voters:
Mike Babcock, McKendree; Robert Clardy, Southwest Baptist; Jim Clements, Kutztown; Shannon Currier, Concordia-St. Paul; Jeff Farrington, North Greenville; Rich Freeman, Morehouse; Jeff Girsch, Angelo State; Marcus Hilliard, Elizabeth City State; Todd Hoffner, Minnesota State; Hunter Hughes, West Texas A&M; Chris Jensen, Oklahoma Baptist; Teddy Keaton, Allen; Jay Long, Chadron State; Shawn Lutz, Slippery Rock; Josh Lynn, Nebraska-Kearney; Scott Maxfield, Henderson State; Andy McKenzie, Assumption; Matt Mitchell, Grand Valley State; Keith Otterbein, Hillsdale; Lee Owens, Ashland; Alvin Parker, Virginia Union; Chris Pincince, New Haven; Joe Reich, Wingate; Craig Schurig, Washburn; Pete Shinnick, West Florida; Roger Waialae, West Liberty; Curtis Walker, Catawba; Paul Winters, Wayne State (Mich.); Jason Woodman, Fairmont State; John Wristen, Colorado State-Pueblo
Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Post-season | Head Coach |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ferris St. (Mich.) (28) | 14-1 | 725 | 5 | D. No. 10 Colorado Mines, 41-14, in championship | Tony Annese |
2 | Colorado School of Mines | 13-3 | 690 | 10 | Lost to No. 5 Ferris St. (Mich.), 41-14, in championship | Brandon Moore |
3 | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 12-1 | 649 | 1 | Lost to No. 5 Ferris St. (Mich.), 24-21, in quarterfinals | Matt Mitchell |
4 | West Florida | 12-2 | 622 | 6 | Lost to No. 5 Ferris St. (Mich.), 38-17, in semifinals | Pete Shinnick |
5 | Pittsburg St. (Kan.) | 12-1 | 581 | 4 | Lost to No. 5 Ferris St. (Mich.), 17-14, in second round | Brian Wright |
6 | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 13-2 | 538 | 11 | Lost to No. 10 Colorado Mines, 44-13, in semifinals | Ernie McCook |
7 | Angelo St. (Tex.) | 12-1 | 533 | 2 | Lost to No. 10 Colorado Mines, 42-24, in quarterfinals | Jeff Girsch |
8 | Northwest Missouri St. | 10-3 | 495 | 8 | Lost to No. 1 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 13-8, in second round | Rich Wright |
9 | Delta St. (Miss.) | 11-2 | 458 | 9 | Lost to No. 6 West Florida, 38-27, in second round | Todd Cooley |
10 | Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) | 11-1 | 408 | 3 | Lost to No. 8 Northwest Missouri St., 47-17, in first round | Todd Knight |
11 | Indiana (Pa.) | 10-2 | 394 | 15 | Lost to No. 11 Shepherd (W.Va.), 48-13, in quarterfinals | Paul Tortorella |
12 | Benedict (S.C.) | 11-1 | 388 | 7 | Lost to No. 22 Wingate (N.C.), 23-6, in second round | Chennis Berry |
13 | Ashland (Ohio) | 10-2 | 372 | 12 | Lost to No. 15 Indiana (Pa.), 19-13, in second round | Lee Owens |
14 | Minnesota St. | 10-3 | 341 | 19 | Lost to No. 10 Colorado Mines, 48-45, in second round | Todd Hoffner |
15 | Wingate (N.C.) | 11-3 | 331 | 22 | Lost to No. 6 West Florida, 45-14, in quarterfinals | Joe Reich |
16 | Slippery Rock (Pa.) | 10-3 | 296 | 20 | Lost to No. 11 Shepherd (W.Va.), 37-27, in second round | Shawn Lutz |
17 | Indianapolis (Ind.) | 9-2 | 241 | 13 | Lost to No. 4 Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 35-0, in first round | Chris Keevers |
18 | Virginia Union | 9-2 | 197 | 14 | Lost to No. 22 Wingate (N.C.), 32-7, in first round | Alvin Parker |
19 | West Georgia | 8-2 | 171 | 16 | DNQ Playoffs | David Dean |
20 | Davenport (Mich.) | 8-3 | 166 | 21 | Lost to No. 5 Ferris St. (Mich.), 41-7, in first round | Sparky McEwen |
21 | Newberry (S.C.) | 9-2 | 109 | 18 | DNQ Playoffs | Todd Knight |
22 | Harding (Ark.) | 9-2 | 103 | 17 | DNQ Playoffs | Paul Simmons |
23 | Notre Dame (Ohio) | 9-3 | 94 | 24t | Lost to No. 12 Ashland (Ohio), 20-13, in first round | Garrett Mack |
24 | Bemidji St. (Minn.) | 10-3 | 90 | NR | Lost to No. 2 Angelo St. (Tex.), 33-7, in second round | Brent Bolte |
25 | Truman St. (Mo.) | 9-2 | 72 | 23 | D. Tiffin (Ohio), 28-27, in America’s Crossroads Bowl | Gregg Nesbitt |
Dropped Out: Emporia St. (Kan.) (24t)
Others Receiving Votes: Emporia St. (Kan.), 70; Wayne St. (Neb.), 68; Colorado St.-Pueblo, 57; Assumption (Mass.), 39; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 24; New Haven (Conn.), 23; Limestone (S.C.), 15; Nebraska-Kearney, 15; Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 14; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 12; Henderson St. (Ark.), 11; Concord (W.Va.), 5; Washburn (Kan.), 5; Winona St. (Minn.), 2; Kutztown (Pa.), 1.
In response to overwhelming support by NCAA Division III coaches, the American Football Coaches Association began publishing a Division III Top 25 Coaches’ Poll in 1999.
Prior to 1999, there were no coaches’ polls for any NCAA divisions other than Football Bowl Subdivision. The NCAA had published a regional poll for Division III prior to 1999, but discontinued the poll because of changes in the selection process for the Division III playoffs that took effect in 1999.
The regional poll had been used to rank teams for consideration for the 16-team playoff tournament. But in 1999, the Division III playoffs expanded to 28 teams and the regional format was no longer used.
The Division III poll follows the same basic format as the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. The Division III Board of Coaches will have 42 voters, representing all Division III conferences. The Division III Coaches’ Poll will be released on Mondays beginning in September and will run through the completion of the regular season in mid-November. A final poll will be released on the Monday following the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Post-season | Head Coach |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | North Central (Ill.) (45) | 15-0 | 1125 | 1 | D. No. 2 Mount Union (Ohio), 28-21, in championship | Brad Spencer |
2 | Mount Union (Ohio) | 14-1 | 1080 | 2 | Lost to No. 1 North Central (Ill.), 28-21, in championship | Geoff Dartt |
3 | Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.) | 12-2 | 1008 | 3 | Lost to No. 1 North Central (Ill.), 49-14, in semifinals | Larry Harmon |
4 | Wartburg (Iowa) | 13-1 | 991 | 12 | Lost to No. 2 Mount Union (Ohio), 34-31, in semifinals | Chris Winter |
5 | Trinity (Tex.) | 11-1 | 852 | 5 | Lost to No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.), 24-17, in second round | Jerheme Urban |
6 | St. John’s (Minn.) | 10-2 | 826 | 6 | Lost to No. 12 Wartburg (Iowa), 23-20, in second round | Gary Fasching |
7 | Delaware Valley (Pa.) | 12-1 | 818 | 8 | Lost to No. 2 Mount Union (Ohio), 22-6, in quarterfinals | Duke Greco |
8 | Bethel (Minn.) | 10-3 | 775 | 20 | Lost to No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.), 41-28, in quarterfinals | Steve Johnson |
9 | Linfield (Ore.) | 10-1 | 722 | 4 | Lost to No. 20 Bethel (Minn.), 30-13, in second round | Joseph Smith |
10 | Ithaca (N.Y.) | 12-1 | 712 | 9 | Lost to No. 1 North Central (Ill.), 48-7, in quarterfinals | Mike Toerper |
11 | Wisconsin-La Crosse | 9-2 | 626 | 7 | Lost to No. 12 Wartburg (Iowa), 14-6, in first round | Matt Janus |
12 | Hardin-Simmons (Tex.) | 9-2 | 582 | 10 | Lost to No. 5 Trinity (Tex.), 14-7, in first round | Jesse Burleson |
13 | Randolph-Macon (Va.) | 11-1 | 572 | 14 | Lost to No. 8 Delaware Valley (Pa.), 39-32, in second round | Pedro Arruza |
14 | Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) | 11-1 | 566 | 15 | Lost to No. 1 North Central (Ill.), 28-7, in second round | Ryan Larsen |
15 | Aurora (Ill.) | 11-2 | 529 | NR | Lost to No. 12 Wartburg (Iowa), 45-17, in quarterfinals | Don Beebe |
16 | Wisconsin-Whitewater | 8-3 | 432 | 11 | Lost to Aurora (Ill.), 33-28, in first round | Kevin Bullis |
17 | Wheaton (Ill.) | 8-3 | 351 | 18 | Lost to No. 20 Bethel (Minn.), 34-32, in first round | Jesse Scott |
18 | Alma (Mich.) | 11-1 | 326 | 22 | Lost to Aurora (Ill.), 48-26, in second round | Jason Couch |
19 | Cortland (N.Y.) | 9-2 | 312 | 17 | Lost to No. 14 Randolph-Macon (Va.), 35-28, in first round | Curt Fitzpatrick |
20 | Susquehanna (Pa.) | 10-1 | 300 | 13 | Lost to Utica (N.Y.), 17-10, in first round | Tom Perkovich |
21 | Johns Hopkins (Md.) | 10-1 | 283 | 16 | D. Stevenson (Md.), 27-7, in Centennial-MAC Bowl Series | Greg Chimera |
22 | Utica (N.Y.) | 10-2 | 207 | NR | Lost to No. 2 Mount Union (Ohio), 45-7, in second round | Blaise Faggiano |
23 | Huntingdon (Ala.) | 9-2 | 132 | 19 | Lost to No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.), 54-0, in first round | Mike Turk |
24 | Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) | 10-1 | 109 | 21 | Lost to No. 22 Alma (Mich.), 41-21, in first round | Tyler Hopperton |
25 | Endicott (Mass.) | 10-1 | 71 | 23 | Lost to Springfield (Mass.), 17-14, in first round | Paul McGonagle |
Dropped Out: Salisbury (Md.) (24), Albion (Mich.) (25)
Others Receiving Votes: Springfield (Mass.), 65; Salisbury (Md.), 58; John Carroll (Ohio), 54; Albion (Mich.), 46; DePauw (Ind.), 23; Washington & Jefferson (Pa.), 13; Lake Forest (Ill.), 11; Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.), 9; Trinity (Conn.), 9; Ursinus (Pa.), 8; Wisconsin-River Falls, 8; Washington (Mo.), 4; Baldwin Wallace (Ohio), 3; Massachusetts-Dartmouth, 3; Howard Payne (Tex.), 2; Heidelberg (Ohio), 1; Rensselaer (N.Y.), 1.