FHSU Sports Information Department
WACO, Texas – After a one-week hiatus from the AFCA Division II Poll, Fort Hays State jumped back into the receiving votes section on Monday (Oct. 19). The Tigers dropped out of the receiving votes section last week for the first time this season, but jumped back in following a 27-24 win over No. 13 ranked Emporia State in Hays this past Saturday.
The Tigers (5-2) are receiving 19 votes this week, sixth in order of teams receiving votes not in the top 25. Emporia State (6-1) dropped to No. 19 this week after its loss to FHSU. Northwest Missouri State held steady at No. 3 in the nation, still unbeaten at 7-0. The Tigers head to Northwest Missouri State this weekend, looking to hand a team its first blemish of the season for the second weekend in a row. Pittsburg State (4-3), which sat at No. 22 last week, dropped completely out of the poll after a loss to Northwest Missouri State. Central Missouri (5-2) joins FHSU in the receiving votes section this week with five votes.
Northwest Missouri State will be Fort Hays State’s third ranked opponent of the season. The Tigers are 1-1 against ranked teams so far this year. The loss came to a then No. 15 ranked Pittsburg State team in Week 4.
The Tigers gained a big win last week in regards to potential postseason play. Each game from here on out is critical to Fort Hays State’s postseason chances. Seven teams make the NCAA Playoffs in Super Region 3 this year. Four weeks remain in the season and Fort Hays State is tied for third in the MIAA standings with Central Missouri, both at 5-2, just one game back of second place Emporia State. A win for the Tigers Saturday would pull them within one game of the conference lead.
Below is the AFCA Division II Top 25 for October 19, 2015.
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Record | Points | Previous |
| 1. | Minnesota St. (27) | 7-0 | 794 | 1 |
| 2. | West Georgia (5) | 7-0 | 763 | 2 |
| 3. | Northwest Missouri St. | 7-0 | 741 | 3 |
| 4. | Ferris St. (Mich.) | 6-0 | 702 | 4 |
| 5. | Sioux Falls (S.D.) | 7-0 | 671 | 5 |
| 6. | Colorado St.-Pueblo | 6-1 | 622 | 6 |
| 7. | Colorado School of Mines | 7-0 | 597 | 7 |
| 8. | Ashland (Ohio) | 7-0 | 576 | 8 |
| 9. | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 6-0 | 545 | 9 |
| 10. | Midwestern St. (Texas) | 7-0 | 539 | 11 |
| 11. | Texas A&M-Commerce | 6-1 | 460 | 14 |
| 12. | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 6-1 | 426 | 18 |
| 13. | North Alabama | 5-1 | 424 | 17 |
| 14. | Henderson St. (Ark.) | 6-1 | 352 | 19 |
| 15. | Slippery Rock (Pa.) | 6-1 | 304 | 20 |
| 16. | Humboldt St. (Calif.) | 5-1 | 256 | 10 |
| 17. | Michigan Tech | 5-1 | 250 | 12 |
| 18. | Tuskegee (Ala.) | 6-1 | 230 | 23 |
| 19. | Emporia St. (Kan.) | 6-1 | 179 | 13 |
| 20. | Minnesota-Duluth | 5-2 | 176 | 21 |
| 21. | Wingate (N.C.) | 6-1 | 147 | NR |
| 22. | Delta St. (Miss.) | 5-2 | 138 | 15 |
| 23. | Colorado Mesa | 6-1 | 117 | NR |
| 24. | Angelo St. (Texas) | 5-2 | 92 | 25 |
| 25. | Clarion (Pa.) | 7-0 | 77 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 40; Indianapolis (Ind.), 37; Charleston (W.Va.), 35; Virginia Union, 23; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 21; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 19; East Central (Okla.), 13; Indiana (Pa.), 9; Assumption (Mass.), 7; Bowie St. (Md.), 6; Central Missouri, 5; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 2; North Greenville (S.C.), 2; Southwest Minnesota St., 2; Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 1.