Following a thrilling last-second 41-40 win on Saturday (Oct. 24) afternoon at Northern Michigan, Ashland University's football team has moved up to No. 5 in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' Top 25 poll, released on Monday (Oct. 26).
It is the Eagles' highest ranking in the AFCA poll since November 12, 2012, when they were No. 4 in the country.
Ashland, 8-0 overall and in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and champion of the GLIAC South Division, is one of three GLIAC teams in the poll's top 10, along with Ferris State (No. 3) and Grand Valley State (No. 9) – the Eagles' opponent on Saturday (Oct. 31) at 7 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field.
The AU-GVSU game is one of two Top 25 matchups in Division II this week, along with No. 12 Colorado School of Mines at No. 19 Colorado Mesa.
Michigan Tech (No. 22) gives the GLIAC four teams in the Top 25 poll.
The first set of Division II regional football rankings will be released on Tuesday (Oct. 27). Five Super Region 4 teams are ranked in the top 10 in the AFCA poll – Ferris State, Colorado State-Pueblo (No. 4), Ashland, Texas A&M-Commerce (No. 8) and Grand Valley State.
Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
1. |
West Georgia (25) |
8-0 |
2. |
Northwest Missouri St. (6) |
8-0 |
3. |
Ferris St. (Mich.) (1) |
7-0 |
4. |
Colorado St.-Pueblo |
7-1 |
5. |
ASHLAND |
8-0 |
6. |
Shepherd (W.Va.) |
7-0 |
7. |
Minnesota St. |
7-1 |
8. |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
7-1 |
9. |
Grand Valley St. (Mich.) |
7-1 |
10. |
Sioux Falls (S.D.) |
7-1 |
11. |
Henderson St. (Ark.) |
7-1 |
12. |
Colorado School of Mines |
7-1 |
13. |
Slippery Rock (Pa.) |
7-1 |
14. |
Midwestern St. (Texas) |
7-1 |
15. |
Humboldt St. (Calif.) |
6-1 |
16. |
Tuskegee (Ala.) |
7-1 |
17. |
Emporia St. (Kan.) |
7-1 |
18. |
Minnesota-Duluth |
6-2 |
19. |
Colorado Mesa |
7-1 |
20. |
Indianapolis (Ind.) |
7-1 |
21. |
North Alabama |
5-2 |
22. |
Michigan Tech |
5-2 |
23. |
Charleston (W.Va.) |
7-1 |
24. |
Valdosta St. (Ga.) |
5-2 |
25. |
Central Missouri |
6-2 |
AU
FB/DS