WACO, Texas – Fort Hays State moved closer to the Top 25 in the latest AFCA Division II Poll, released on Monday (Oct. 10). The Tigers are now the second-highest team among the receiving votes list after their 54-41 win at Pittsburg State. The result knocked Pittsburg State out of the list of receiving votes teams.
With the big win in Pittsburg on Saturday (Oct. 8) the Tigers gained much more traction in the poll, going from eight votes last week to 48 this week. Only Ferris State (Mich.) has more votes in the receiving votes section with 76. Wayne State (Mich.), currently ranked No. 25, received 85 votes this week. The Tigers are still seeking to crack the top 25 for the first time in program history.
Northwest Missouri State and Emporia State continue to represent the MIAA in the top 25. Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State continues to hold the nation’s top ranking, now with 21 consecutive victories going back to the start of the 2015 season. Emporia State moved up six more spots this week to No. 12. Fort Hays State (48 votes) and Central Missouri (1 vote) are the only two MIAA teams among the receiving votes list.
If the Tigers want to continue their charge towards the top 25, they will have to end a streak of eight consecutive losses in Topeka this week. The Tigers have defeated Washburn six times since 1988, but all six wins have been in Hays. The last time FHSU claimed a victory over Washburn in Topeka was 1987.
Below is the AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll for October 10, 2016.
Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Record |
Pts. |
Prev. |
1. |
Northwest Missouri St. (30) |
6-0 |
750 |
1 |
2. |
Grand Valley St. (Mich.) |
6-0 |
717 |
2 |
3. |
Shepherd (W.Va.) |
5-0 |
686 |
3 |
4. |
Midwestern St. (Texas) |
5-0 |
665 |
7 |
5. |
Tuskegee (Ala.) |
6-0 |
613 |
8 |
6. |
Sioux Falls (S.D.) |
6-0 |
588 |
9 |
7. |
California (Pa.) |
5-0 |
542 |
15 |
8. |
Harding (Ark.) |
6-0 |
514 |
16 |
9. |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
4-1 |
485 |
4 |
10. |
North Alabama |
3-1 |
459 |
11 |
11. |
Ashland (Ohio) |
5-1 |
428 |
17 |
12. |
Emporia St. (Kan.) |
5-1 |
364 |
18 |
13. |
Indiana (Pa.) |
4-1 |
358 |
6 |
14. |
LIU-Post (N.Y.) |
6-0 |
339 |
21 |
15. |
Henderson St. (Ark.) |
5-1 |
319 |
5 |
16. |
Slippery Rock (Pa.) |
5-1 |
304 |
19 |
17. |
Valdosta St. (Ga.) |
4-1 |
253 |
25t |
18. |
Assumption (Mass.) |
5-1 |
200 |
22 |
19. |
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) |
5-1 |
179 |
10 |
20. |
Florida Tech |
4-1 |
149 |
23 |
21. |
North Carolina-Pembroke |
5-1 |
148 |
24 |
22. |
Bemidji St. (Minn.) |
5-1 |
132 |
25t |
23. |
Colorado Mesa |
5-1 |
118 |
13 |
24. |
West Georgia |
4-2 |
90 |
12 |
25. |
Wayne St. (Mich.) |
5-1 |
85 |
NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Ferris St. (Mich.), 76; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 48; Minnesota-Duluth, 46; Fairmont St. (W.Va.), 24; Newberry (S.C.), 23; Southwest Baptist (Mo.), 14; Black Hills St. (S.D.), 9; Colorado School of Mines, 9; Truman St. (Mo.), 9; Southern Arkansas, 4; Notre Dame (Ohio), 2; Central Missouri, 1. |