WACO, TEX.– After a 30-12 victory over then-No. 20 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), Arkansas Tech enters the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for the first time since December 14, 2009, when they ended that season ranked No. 18. The Wonder Boys are ranked No. 24 with a 5-1 record and sit atop the Great American Conference standings. 

The top five remain the same this week with Minnesota State still holding onto the No. 1 spot, but changes in the poll happened from No. 6 on down, thanks to Western Oregon’s upset of then-No. 6 North Alabama, coupled with six other Top 25 losses. North Alabama fell to No. 17 while Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), Valdosta State (Ga.), Harding (Ark.) and Wingate (N.C.) all fell out of the Top 25 after their losses this past weekend. Henderson State (Ark.), who beat then-No. 22 Harding (Ark.), jumps into the poll for the first time this year at No. 19. Slippery Rock (Pa.) and Tuskegee (Ala.) also re-enter the poll at No. 20 and No. 23, respectively. 

There are four Top 25 matchups this week, with the biggest one being No. 2 West Georiga traveling to No. 15 Delta State (Miss.) as the Wolves try to keep pace with North Alabama for the top spot in the Gulf South Conference.

2015 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll — Oct. 12, 2015

() – Denotes first-place votes; () – Denotes current record

Dropped Out: Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) (20), Valdosta St. (Ga.) (21), Harding (Ark.) (22), Wingate (N.C.) (23)

Others Receiving Votes: Colorado Mesa, 59; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 40; Wingate (N.C.), 40; North Carolina-Pembroke, 37; Charleston (W.Va.), 30; Indianapolis (Ind.), 21; Virginia Union, 16; Central Missouri, 13; Bowie St. (Md.), 10; Clarion (Pa.), 6; Concord (W.Va.), 4; Harding (Ark.), 4; Indiana (Pa.), 2; Southwest Minnesota St., 2; Assumption (Mass.), 1; East Central (Okla.), 1; Missouri Western St., 1.