The Valdosta State Blazers take selfies after winning last year’s Division II national championship. (RoadTripSports.com photo by Matthew Postins)
WACO, TEX.– Fresh off of their fourth national championship in the last 14 years, Valdosta State (Ga.) is the preseason No. 1-ranked team in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The Blazers, who went 14-0 in 2018, start their season off at Albany State (Ga.) on September 7. This is the fourth time Valdosta State has begun the season at No. 1 in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll since it began in 2000. National runner-up from a year ago, Ferris State (Mich.), sits in the No. 2 spot. The Bulldogs are followed by No. 3 Minnesota State, No. 4 Notre Dame (Ohio) and No. 5 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.).
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence.
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There are two Top 25 matchups in the first week of action, with the first being a big game in the Great American Conference. No. 5 Ouachita Baptist plays host to No. 18 Harding (Ark.) on Thursday, September 5. The second game is a good regional matchup as No. 16 Indianapolis (Ind.) travels to No. 23 Ashland (Ohio).
2019 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll — Preseason
TEAM |
PTS. | PREV* |
| 1. Valdosta State (29) (14-0) | 792 | 1 |
| 2. Ferris State (3) (15-1) | 768 | 2 |
| 3. Minnesota State (13-1) | 686 | 3 |
| 4. Notre Dame (OH) (13-1) | 623 | 4 |
| 5. Ouachita Baptist (12-1) | 585 | 6 |
| 6. Northwest Missouri State (10-3) | 580 | 10 |
| 7. Tarleton State (12-1) | 549 | 5 |
| 8. Lenoir-Rhyne (12-2) | 524 | 8 |
| 9. Colorado State-Pueblo (11-2) | 463 | 7 |
| 10. Slippery Rock (11-3) | 446 | 12 |
| 11. Fort Hays State (9-3) | 419 | 22 |
| 12. Grand Valley State (10-2) | 418 | 14 |
| 13. Texas A&M-Commerce (10-3) | 385 | 9 |
| 14. Minnesota-Duluth (11-1) | 342 | 13 |
| 15. West Georgia (10-2) | 330 | 16 |
| 16. Indianapolis (10-2) | 319 | 11 |
| 17. Colorado Mines (10-2) | 288 | 18 |
| 18. Harding (9-3) | 223 | 20 |
| 19. Hillsdale (10-3) | 220 | 15 |
| 20. Midwestern State (8-2) | 214 | 25 |
| 21. Wingate (9-4) | 175 | 24 |
| 22. West Chester (10-1) | 134 | 17 |
| 23. Ashland (6-4) | 129 | NR |
| 24. West Alabama (8-4) | 116 | NR |
| 25. Fairmont State (9-2) | 78 | NR |
*– Ranking in final Division II Poll of 2018; Records from 2018
Others Receiving Votes: Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 71; Indiana (Pa.), 68; Bowie St. (Md.), 66; New Haven (Conn.), 65; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 65; West Florida, 42; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 25; Virginia Union, 21; California (Pa.), 19; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 19; Central Missouri, 15; Albany St. (Ga.), 14; Southern Arkansas, 14; Augustana (S.D.), 12; Emporia St. (Kan.), 11; Florida Tech, 10; Central Oklahoma, 9; Chadron St. (Neb.), 8; Central Washington, 7; Ohio Dominican, 7; Winona St. (Minn.), 6; Assumption (Mass.), 5; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 5; Angelo St. (Texas), 2; Kutztown (Pa.), 2; Shepherd (W.Va.), 2; Colorado Mesa, 1; Findlay (Ohio), 1; Lindenwood (Mo.), 1; Missouri S&T, 1.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out AFCAInsider.com and subscribe to our weekly email
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