LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PAGE
LINK – HERO SPORTS DIVISION II FOOTBALL RANKINGS PAGE
When Ashland University's football team starts the 2017 season on Thursday (Aug. 31) at 7 p.m. at Indiana, Pa., the Eagles and Crimson Hawks will face off as Top 10 teams, according to HERO Sports.
HERO Sports' preseason NCAA Division II football rankings have Ashland at No. 6 in the country and IUP at No. 10. In 2016, the Eagles were 9-2 and won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's South Division championship, while the Crimson Hawks were 10-2 and won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title.
Earlier in the preseason, Ashland was picked No. 18 in the D2Football.com preseason poll, and No. 20 in the Lindy's Sports College Football National 2017 Preview preseason poll. In the 2017 GLIAC preseason coaches' poll, the Eagles were slotted third in the now-10-team conference.
Thursday's game at Frank Cignetti Field at George P. Miller Stadium will be Ashland's first in the state of Pennsylvania since Sept. 1, 2011 against Bloomsburg.
Also in 2017, Ashland will play three more games against preseason Top 25 HERO Sports teams – Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field vs. No. 3 Ferris State, Oct. 28 at noon at No. 19 Wayne State and Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. at home vs. No. 7 Grand Valley State.
HERO SPORTS 2017 NCAA DIVISION II PRESEASON RANKINGS
RANK |
TEAM |
1 |
North Alabama |
2 |
NW Missouri St. |
3 |
Ferris St. |
4 |
Florida Tech |
5 |
California (Pa.) |
6 |
ASHLAND |
7 |
Grand Valley St. |
8 |
Sioux Falls |
9 |
Texas A&M-Comm. |
10 |
Indiana (Pa.) |
11 |
Shepherd |
12 |
Harding |
13 |
Azusa Pacific |
14 |
West Alabama |
15 |
Colorado Mines |
16 |
Valdosta St. |
17 |
Emporia St. |
18 |
West Georgia. |
19 |
Wayne St. (Mich.) |
20 |
Central Missouri |
21 |
Newberry |
22 |
Augustana |
23 |
Bemidji St. |
24 |
Minnesota St. |
25 |
North Greenville |
AU
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