FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
WACO, Texas – Fort Hays State continues to receive votes in the first regular-season AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll for the 2016 season. After receiving six votes in the preseason poll, the Tigers received 13 votes in the first regular-season poll. The Tigers won their season opener against Missouri Southern last week 22-10.
Fort Hays State faces No. 16 ranked Central Missouri this week in Warrensburg, Mo. on Thursday. The Mules ranked No. 20 in the preseason poll, moved up four spots with a 34-27 win at Pittsburg State in the first week of play. FHSU defeated Central Missouri last year in Hays by a score of 28-14.
Northwest Missouri State continues its hold on the No. 1 ranking in the nation after a win over then No. 24 ranked Emporia State in the first week. Emporia State fell to the receiving votes section this week with 23 votes. Emporia State and FHSU are the only teams from the MIAA in the receiving votes section this week.
Below is the AFCA Top 25 for September 5, 2016.
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Record | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. | Northwest Missouri St. (30) | 1-0 | 750 | 1 |
| 2. | West Georgia | 1-0 | 703 | 2 |
| 3. | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 1-0 | 687 | 3 |
| 4. | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 1-0 | 650 | 4 |
| 5. | Ashland (Ohio) | 1-0 | 615 | 6 |
| 6. | Minnesota St. | 1-0 | 581 | 7 |
| 7. | Ferris St. (Mich.) | 1-0 | 493 | 12 |
| 8. | Texas A&M-Commerce | 1-0 | 481 | 9t |
| 9. | Henderson St. (Ark.) | 1-0 | 479 | 9t |
| 10. | Indiana (Pa.) | 0-0 | 474 | 8 |
| 11. | Colorado School of Mines | 1-0 | 449 | 18 |
| 12. | Slippery Rock (Pa.) | 1-0 | 438 | 11 |
| 13. | Humboldt St. (Calif.) | 1-0 | 398 | 13 |
| 14. | Midwestern St. (Texas) | 1-0 | 376 | 14 |
| 15. | Tuskegee (Ala.) | 1-0 | 297 | 17 |
| 16. | Central Missouri | 1-0 | 290 | 20 |
| 17. | Sioux Falls (S.D.) | 1-0 | 207 | 23 |
| 18. | Assumption (Mass.) | 1-0 | 203 | 21 |
| 19. | Colorado St.-Pueblo | 0-1 | 198 | 5 |
| 20. | North Alabama | 0-1 | 189 | 15 |
| 21. | Augustana (S.D.) | 1-0 | 143 | 25 |
| 22. | Florida Tech | 1-0 | 108 | NR |
| 23. | Valdosta St. (Ga.) | 1-0 | 104 | NR |
| 24. | Azusa Pacific (Calif.) | 1-0 | 83 | NR |
| 25. | Colorado Mesa | 1-0 | 45 | NR |
Dropped Out: Indianapolis (Ind.) (16), Minnesota-Duluth (19), Catawba (N.C.) (22), Emporia St. (Kan.) (24)
Others Receiving Votes: Harding (Ark.), 38; Indianapolis (Ind.), 34; West Chester (Pa.), 34; Western Oregon, 30; Delta St. (Miss.), 27; Minnesota-Duluth, 25; Emporia St. (Kan.), 23; Southwest Minnesota St., 20; Catawba (N.C.), 19; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 13; McKendree (Ill.), 12; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 12; Hillsdale (Mich.), 11; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 9; Michigan Tech, 7; Miles (Ala.), 7; North Carolina-Pembroke, 7; Virginia St., 5; California (Pa.), 2; Arkansas Tech, 1; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 1; Notre Dame (Ohio), 1.