American Football Coaches Association
After winning the programās first Division II national title with a perfect 14-0 record in 2021, Ferris State (Mich.) starts the 2022 season at No. 1 in the AFCA Division II Coachesā Top 25 Poll. The Bulldogs, who earned all 30 first-place votes, will begin their title defense on September 1 hosting Central Washington.
Northwest Missouri State comes in at No. 2, followed by Valdosta State (Ga.), the national runner-up from a year ago, at No. 3.
The seasonās first big Top 25 matchup pits the fourth and fifth-ranked teams as No. 4 Colorado School of Mines travels to No. 5 Grand Valley State (Mich.).
Shepherd (W.Va.), Angelo State (Tex.), Bowie State (Md.), Harding (Ark.), and Notre Dame (Ohio) round out the Top 10.
There is a second Top 25 matchup on the first weekend as No. 8 Bowie State (Md.) plays host to No. 16 New Haven (Conn.).
(1st votes) 2021 Record - Pts. - 2021 Rank - Season Opener
1. Ferris St. (Mich.) (30) 14-0 750 1 Sept. 1 vs. Central Washington
2. Northwest Missouri St. 11-2 661 4 Sept. 1 vs. Fort Hays St. (Kan.)
3. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 12-2 656 2 Sept. 1 vs. Keiser (Fla.)
4. Colorado School of Mines 12-2 654 3 Sept. 1 at No. 5 Grand Valley St. (Mich.)
5. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 10-2 596 7 Sept. 1 vs. No. 4 Colorado School of Mines
6. Shepherd (W.Va.) 13-2 550 5 Sept. 1 at Southern Connecticut St.
7. Angelo St. (Tex.) 11-3 494 11 Sept. 1 vs. Chadron St. (Neb.)
8. Bowie St. (Md.) 12-2 479 6 Sept. 3 vs. No. 20 New Haven (Conn.)
9. Harding (Ark.) 11-2 467 10 Sept. 1 at East Central (Okla.)
10. Notre Dame (Ohio) 11-2 465 9 Sept. 1 at Ashland (Ohio)
11. West Florida 9-2 452 12 Sept. 3 vs. Warner (Fla.)
12. West Georgia 9-3 373 13 Sept. 1 vs. Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
13. Kutztown (Pa.) 11-2 359 8 Sept. 3 at Assumption (Mass.)
14. Nebraska-Kearney 10-3 318 15 Sept. 1 at Missouri Southern
15. Newberry (S.C.) 10-3 250 17 Sept. 3 vs. Allen (S.C.)
16. New Haven (Conn.) 10-2 243 14 Sept. 3 at No. 11 Bowie St. (Md.)
17. Western Colorado 10-2 226 16 Sept. 3 at West Texas A&M
18. Albany St. (Ga.) 10-2 160 18 Sept. 3 vs. Mississippi College
19t. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 8-3 154 NR Sept. 3 vs. Virginia St.
19t. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 9-2 154 23 Sept. 1 at Oklahoma Baptist
21. California (Pa.) 9-1 143 21 Sept. 1 vs. Fairmont St. (W.Va.)
22. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 10-3 137 19 Sept. 1 vs. Minnesota St.
23. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 9-3 131 20 Sept. 3 vs. Wayne St. (Mich.)
24. Midwestern St. (Tex.) 7-3 112 NR Sept. 3 vs. Colorado St.-Pueblo
25. Augustana (S.D.) 9-3 99 NR Sept. 1 at Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)
Others Receiving Votes: Frostburg St. (Md.), 97; Indiana (Pa.), 79; Indianapolis (Ind.), 65; Washburn (Kan.), 59; Findlay (Ohio), 52; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 46; Tiffin (Ohio), 34; Minnesota-Duluth, 32; Henderson St. (Ark.), 31; Central Washington, 25; Bentley (Mass.), 24; Minnesota St., 23; Ashland (Ohio), 22; West Texas A&M, 15; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 14; Truman St. (Mo.), 13; Colorado St.-Pueblo, 7; Southeastern Oklahoma St., 7; Delta St. (Miss.), 5; Ohio Dominican, 4; Virginia Union, 4; West Alabama, 3; Shaw (N.C.), 2; Chadron St. (Neb.), 1; Colorado Mesa, 1; UT-Permian Basin (Texas), 1; West Chester (Pa.), 1.