American Football Coaches Association Coaches Poll
Overview

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.

Format

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.

1950
Oklahoma
Bud Wilkinson
1951
Tennessee
Robert Neyland
1952
Michigan State
Biggie Munn
1953
Maryland
Jim Tatum
1954
UCLA
Red Sanders
1955
Oklahoma
Bud Wilkinson
1956
Oklahoma
Bud Wilkinson
1957
Ohio State
Woody Hayes
1958
LSU
Paul Dietzel
1959
Syracuse
Ben Schwartzwalder
1960
Minnesota
Murray Warmath
1961
Alabama
Bear Bryant
1962
USC
John McKay
1963
Texas
Darrell Royal
1964
Alabama
Bear Bryant
1965
Michigan State
Duffy Daugherty
1966
Notre Dame
Ara Parseghian
1967
USC
John McKay
1968
Ohio State
Woody Hayes
1969
Texas
Darrell Royal
1970
Texas
Darrell Royal
1971
Nebraska
Bob Devaney
1972
USC
John McKay
1973
Alabama
Bear Bryant
1974
USC
John McKay
1975
Oklahoma
Barry Switzer
1976
Pittsburgh
Johnny Majors
1977
Notre Dame
Dan Devine
1978
USC
John Robinson
1979
Alabama
Bear Bryant
1980
Georgia
Vince Dooley
1981
Clemson
Danny Ford
1982
Penn State
Joe Paterno
1983
Miami (FL)
Howard Schnellenberger
1984
BYU
LaVell Edwards
1985
Oklahoma
Barry Switzer
1986
Penn State
Joe Paterno
1987
Miami (FL)
Jimmy Johnson
1988
Notre Dame
Lou Holtz
1989
Miami (FL)
Dennis Erickson
1990
Georgia Tech
Bobby Ross
1991
Washington
Don James
1992
Alabama
Gene Stallings
1993
Florida State
Bobby Bowden
1994
Nebraska
Tom Osborne
1995
Nebraska
Tom Osborne
1996
Florida
Steve Spurrier
1997
Nebraska
Tom Osborne
1998
Tennessee
Phil Fulmer
1999
Florida State
Bobby Bowden
2000
Oklahoma
Bob Stoops
2001
Miami (FL)
Larry Coker
2002
Ohio State
Jim Tressel
2003
LSU
Nick Saban
2004
USC
Pete Carroll
2005
Texas
Mack Brown
2006
Florida
Urban Meyer
2007
LSU
Les Miles
2008
Florida
Urban Meyer
2009
Alabama
Nick Saban
2010
Auburn
Gene Chizik
2011
Alabama
Nick Saban
2012
Alabama
Nick Saban
2013
Florida State
Jimbo Fisher
2014
Ohio State
Urban Meyer
2015
Alabama
Nick Saban
2016
Clemson
Dabo Swinney
2017
Alabama
Nick Saban
2018
Clemson
Dabo Swinney
2019
LSU
Ed Orgeron
2020
Alabama
Nick Saban
2021
Georgia
Kirby Smart
RankSchool (1st votes)Rec.Pts.Prev.
1Georgia (15-0)15-01,5751
2TCU (13-2)13-21,4824
3Michigan (13-1)13-11,4232
4Ohio State (11-2)11-21,4043
5Alabama (11-2)11-21,3295
6Tennessee (11-2)11-21,2736
7Penn State (11-2)11-21,1997
8Washington (11-2)11-21,09112
9Tulane (12-2)12-298117
10Florida State (10-3)10-392613
11Utah (10-4)10-487810
12Clemson (11-3)11-383911
13Southern California (11-3)11-38298
14Kansas State (10-4)10-47699
15LSU (10-4)10-476615
16Oregon (10-3)10-370814
17Oregon State (10-3)10-369016
18Notre Dame (9-4)9-449820
19Mississippi State (9-4)9-436423
20Troy (12-2)12-231424
21UCLA (9-4)9-423818
22Pittsburgh (9-4)9-4193NR
23South Carolina (8-5)8-516419
24Fresno State (10-4)10-4134NR
25Texas (8-5)8-56921

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.

Overview

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.

Format

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

RankSchool (1st votes)Rec.Pts.Prev.Post-seasonHead Coach
1South Dakota St. (26)14-16501D. No. 4 North Dakota St., 45-21, in championshipJohn Stiegelmeier
2North Dakota St.12-36224Lost to No. 1 South Dakota St., 45-21, in championshpMatt Entz
3UIW12-25657Lost to No. 4 North Dakota St., 35-32, in semifinalsG.J. Kinne
4Sacramento St.12-15582Lost to No. 7 UIW, 66-63, in quarterfinalsTroy Taylor
5Montana St.12-25453Lost to No. 1 South Dakota St., 39-18, in semifinalsBrent Vigen
6Holy Cross12-15126Lost to No. 1 South Dakota St., 42-21, in quarterfinalsBob Chesney
7Samford11-24729Lost to No. 4 North Dakota St., 27-9, in quarterfinalsChris Hatcher
8William & Mary11-24458Lost to No. 3 Montana St., 55-7, in quarterfinalsMike London
9Weber St.10-343210Lost to No. 3 Montana St., 33-25, in second roundJay Hill
10Furman10-341911Lost to No. 7 UIW, 41-38, in second roundClay Hendrix
11Jackson St.12-13645Lost to No. 21 N.C. Central, 41-34 OT, in Celebration BowlDeion Sanders
12Richmond 9-432514Lost to No. 2 Sacramento St., 38-31, in second roundRuss Huesman
13Southeast Missouri St.9-329412Lost to No. 17 Montana, 34-24, in first roundTom Matukewicz
14Montana8-528417Lost to No. 4 North Dakota St., 49-26, in second roundBobby Hauck
15New Hampshire9-427616Lost to No. 6 Holy Cross, 35-19, in second roundRick Santos
16Fordham9-326213Lost to No. 16 New Hampshire, 52-42, in first roundJoe Conlin
17North Carolina Central10-224721D. No. 5 Jackson St., 41-34 OT, in Celebration BowlTrei Oliver
18Elon8-421015Lost to No. 11 Furman, 31-6, in first roundTony Trisciani
19Southeastern Louisiana9-420823Lost to No. 9 Samford, 48-42 OT, in second roundFrank Scelfo
20St. Thomas (Minn.)10-112019DNQ PlayoffsGlenn Caruso
21Mercer7-410518DNQ PlayoffsDrew Cronic
22Idaho7-510024tLost to No. 23 Southeastern Louisiana, 45-42, in first roundJason Eck
23Florida A&M9-28420DNQ PlayoffsWillie Simmons
24t.Delaware8-569NRLost to No. 1 South Dakota St., 42-6, in second roundRyan Carty
24t.Chattanooga7-46922DNQ PlayoffsRusty 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.

Overview

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.

Format

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

RankSchool (1st votes)Rec.Pts.Prev.Post-seasonHead Coach
1Ferris St. (Mich.) (28)14-17255D. No. 10 Colorado Mines, 41-14, in championshipTony Annese
2Colorado School of Mines13-369010Lost to No. 5 Ferris St. (Mich.), 41-14, in championshipBrandon Moore
3Grand Valley St. (Mich.)12-16491Lost to No. 5 Ferris St. (Mich.), 24-21, in quarterfinalsMatt Mitchell
4West Florida12-26226Lost to No. 5 Ferris St. (Mich.), 38-17, in semifinalsPete Shinnick
5Pittsburg St. (Kan.)12-15814Lost to No. 5 Ferris St. (Mich.), 17-14, in second roundBrian Wright
6Shepherd (W.Va.)13-253811Lost to No. 10 Colorado Mines, 44-13, in semifinalsErnie McCook
7Angelo St. (Tex.)12-15332Lost to No. 10 Colorado Mines, 42-24, in quarterfinalsJeff Girsch
8Northwest Missouri St.10-34958Lost to No. 1 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 13-8, in second roundRich Wright
9Delta St. (Miss.)11-24589Lost to No. 6 West Florida, 38-27, in second roundTodd Cooley
10Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)11-14083Lost to No. 8 Northwest Missouri St., 47-17, in first roundTodd Knight
11Indiana (Pa.)10-239415Lost to No. 11 Shepherd (W.Va.), 48-13, in quarterfinalsPaul Tortorella
12Benedict (S.C.)11-13887Lost to No. 22 Wingate (N.C.), 23-6, in second roundChennis Berry
13Ashland (Ohio)10-237212Lost to No. 15 Indiana (Pa.), 19-13, in second roundLee Owens
14Minnesota St. 10-334119Lost to No. 10 Colorado Mines, 48-45, in second roundTodd Hoffner
15Wingate (N.C.)11-333122Lost to No. 6 West Florida, 45-14, in quarterfinalsJoe Reich
16Slippery Rock (Pa.)10-329620Lost to No. 11 Shepherd (W.Va.), 37-27, in second roundShawn Lutz
17Indianapolis (Ind.)9-224113Lost to No. 4 Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 35-0, in first roundChris Keevers
18Virginia Union9-219714Lost to No. 22 Wingate (N.C.), 32-7, in first roundAlvin Parker
19West Georgia8-217116DNQ PlayoffsDavid Dean
20Davenport (Mich.)8-316621Lost to No. 5 Ferris St. (Mich.), 41-7, in first roundSparky McEwen
21Newberry (S.C.)9-210918DNQ PlayoffsTodd Knight
22Harding (Ark.)9-210317DNQ PlayoffsPaul Simmons
23Notre Dame (Ohio)9-39424tLost to No. 12 Ashland (Ohio), 20-13, in first roundGarrett Mack
24Bemidji St. (Minn.)10-390NRLost to No. 2 Angelo St. (Tex.), 33-7, in second roundBrent Bolte
25Truman St. (Mo.)9-27223D. Tiffin (Ohio), 28-27, in America’s Crossroads BowlGregg 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.

Overview

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.

Format

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.

RankSchool (1st votes)Rec.Pts.Prev.Post-seasonHead Coach
1North Central (Ill.) (45)15-011251D. No. 2 Mount Union (Ohio), 28-21, in championshipBrad Spencer
2Mount Union (Ohio)14-110802Lost to No. 1 North Central (Ill.), 28-21, in championshipGeoff Dartt
3Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.)12-210083Lost to No. 1 North Central (Ill.), 49-14, in semifinalsLarry Harmon
4Wartburg (Iowa)13-199112Lost to No. 2 Mount Union (Ohio), 34-31, in semifinalsChris Winter
5Trinity (Tex.)11-18525Lost to No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.), 24-17, in second roundJerheme Urban
6St. John’s (Minn.)10-28266Lost to No. 12 Wartburg (Iowa), 23-20, in second roundGary Fasching
7Delaware Valley (Pa.)12-18188Lost to No. 2 Mount Union (Ohio), 22-6, in quarterfinalsDuke Greco
8Bethel (Minn.)10-377520Lost to No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.), 41-28, in quarterfinalsSteve Johnson
9Linfield (Ore.)10-17224Lost to No. 20 Bethel (Minn.), 30-13, in second roundJoseph Smith
10Ithaca (N.Y.)12-17129Lost to No. 1 North Central (Ill.), 48-7, in quarterfinalsMike Toerper
11Wisconsin-La Crosse9-26267Lost to No. 12 Wartburg (Iowa), 14-6, in first roundMatt Janus
12Hardin-Simmons (Tex.)9-258210Lost to No. 5 Trinity (Tex.), 14-7, in first roundJesse Burleson
13Randolph-Macon (Va.)11-157214Lost to No. 8 Delaware Valley (Pa.), 39-32, in second roundPedro Arruza
14Carnegie Mellon (Pa.)11-156615Lost to No. 1 North Central (Ill.), 28-7, in second roundRyan Larsen
15Aurora (Ill.)11-2529NRLost to No. 12 Wartburg (Iowa), 45-17, in quarterfinalsDon Beebe
16Wisconsin-Whitewater8-343211Lost to Aurora (Ill.), 33-28, in first roundKevin Bullis
17Wheaton (Ill.)8-335118Lost to No. 20 Bethel (Minn.), 34-32, in first roundJesse Scott
18Alma (Mich.)11-132622Lost to Aurora (Ill.), 48-26, in second roundJason Couch
19Cortland (N.Y.)9-231217Lost to No. 14 Randolph-Macon (Va.), 35-28, in first roundCurt Fitzpatrick
20Susquehanna (Pa.)10-130013Lost to Utica (N.Y.), 17-10, in first roundTom Perkovich
21Johns Hopkins (Md.)10-128316D. Stevenson (Md.), 27-7, in Centennial-MAC Bowl SeriesGreg Chimera
22Utica (N.Y.)10-2207NRLost to No. 2 Mount Union (Ohio), 45-7, in second roundBlaise Faggiano
23Huntingdon (Ala.)9-213219Lost to No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.), 54-0, in first roundMike Turk
24Mount St. Joseph (Ohio)10-110921Lost to No. 22 Alma (Mich.), 41-21, in first roundTyler Hopperton
25Endicott (Mass.)10-17123Lost to Springfield (Mass.), 17-14, in first roundPaul 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.

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