WACO, TEX.– After six top 25 upsets this past weekend, the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 poll changed a bit with three new teams entering the top 25, including North Carolina-Pembroke and California (Pa.). Neither of those teams have been in the rankings since 2014, with the Braves last appearance on August 18, 2014, and the Vulcans on October 27, 2014.
The top 10 was relatively unchanged, other than then-No. 7 Ferris State (Mich.) falling to No. 13 after its loss to No. 5 Ashland (Ohio). Northwest Missouri State still sits at No. 1, followed by Grand Valley State (Mich.), West Georgia, Shepherd (W.Va.) and Ashland rounding out the top five.
The AFCA Top 25 could become more clear – or cloudy, depending on how you look at it – after this coming weekend with five top 25 matchups on tap. The first matchup is a neutral site contest at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City as No. 1 Northwest Missouri State plays No. 22 Central Missouri. Two other intriguing matchups include No. 3 West Georgia traveling to No. 18 North Alabama and No. 11 Tuskegee (Ala.) hosting No. 21 North Carolina-Pembroke.
2016 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll — Sept. 26, 2016
TEAM |
PTS. | PREV |
| 1. NW Missouri State (30) (4-0) | 750 | 1 |
| 2. Grand Valley State (4-0) | 713 | 2 |
| 3. West Georgia (4-0) | 658 | 3 |
| 4. Shepherd (4-0) | 637 | 4 |
| 5. Ashland (4-0) | 622 | 5 |
| 6. Texas A&M-Commerce (3-0) | 586 | 6 |
| 7. Henderson State (4-0) | 563 | 8 |
| 8. Indiana (PA) (3-0) | 533 | 9 |
| 9. Slippery Rock (4-0) | 511 | 10 |
| 10. Midwestern State (3-0) | 458 | 11 |
| 11. Tuskegee (4-0) | 424 | 12 |
| 12. Sioux Falls (4-0) | 386 | 14 |
| 13. Ferris State (3-1) | 374 | 7 |
| 14. Azusa Pacific (4-0) | 365 | 15 |
| 15. Assumption (4-0) | 325 | 17 |
| 16. Florida Tech (4-0) | 302 | 19 |
| 17. Colorado Mesa (4-0) | 289 | 18 |
| 18. North Alabama (2-1) | 261 | 20 |
| 19. Minnesota State (3-1) | 178 | 21 |
| 20. Harding (4-0) | 172 | 25 |
| 21. UNC-Pembroke (4-0) | 123 | NR |
| 22. Central Missouri (3-1) | 116 | 13 |
| 23. Emporia State (3-1) | 97 | NR |
| 24. California (PA) (3-0) | 71 | NR |
| 25. Augustana (SD) (3-1) | 48 | 16 |
