WACO, Texas – Fort Hays State remained No. 5 in the first regular season edition of the AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Monday. The Tigers shared the No. 5 ranking with fellow MIAA member Northwest Missouri State in the preseason poll, but now hold the spot alone. The Tigers are coming off a thrilling 20-16 win at home over then No. 18 ranked Central Missouri.

Fort Hays State, Northwest Missouri State, and Central Missouri continue to represent the MIAA in the Top 25. The Tigers will play Northwest Missouri State’s opponent from last week, Missouri Western, this coming Thursday (Sept. 6). The Bearcats defeated the Griffons 28-6 at home to open the season. Central Missouri slides down only three spots after its loss to Fort Hays State this past week.

The Tigers have now seen their name in the Top 5 of the AFCA Poll four times going back to last season. The Tigers entered the final week of the regular season No. 5 last year before moving up to No. 4 entering the NCAA Playoffs. The Tigers held the preseason No. 5 spot this year and retain the position after one week of play.

The top seven teams in the poll remained unchanged, just with the exception of Northwest Missouri State slipping to No. 6 alone.

The AFCA Top 25 Poll for Sepetember 3, 2018 is below.

Rank School (1st votes) Record Pts. Prev. Season Opener Next Game
1. Texas A&M-Commerce (21) 1-0 797 1 D. Texas A&M-Kingsville, 37-36 2OT Sept. 8 at William Jewell (Mo.)
2. West Florida (6) 1-0 775 2 D. No. 22 Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 19-9 Sept. 8 at No. 10 Midwestern St. (Tex.)
3. Minnesota St. (4) 1-0 753 3 D. Southwest Minnesota St., 49-13 Sept. 8 at Augustana (S.D.)
4. Indiana (Pa.) (1) 1-0 719 4 D. No. 15 Ashland (Ohio), 21-17 Sept. 6 vs. Millersville (Pa.)
5. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 1-0 676 5t D. No. 18 Central Missouri, 20-16 Sept. 6 at Missouri Western St.
6. Northwest Missouri St. 1-0 633 5t D. Missouri Western St., 28-6 Sept. 6 at Washburn (Kan.)
7. Harding (Ark.) (1) 1-0 625 7 D. Henderson St. (Ark.), 41-17 Sept. 8 vs. Southern Arkansas
8. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 1-0 588 10 D. No. 13 Indianapolis (Ind.), 30-7 Sept. 8 at Delta St. (Miss.)
9. Ferris St. (Mich.) 1-0 551 8 D. East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 49-17 Sept. 8 vs. No. 19t Findlay (Ohio)
10. Midwestern St. (Texas) 1-0 516 11 D. Humboldt St. (Calif.), 55-12 Sept. 8 vs. No. 2 West Florida
11. West Alabama 1-0 466 12 D. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 36-32 Sept. 6 vs. Miles (Ala.)
12. Colorado St.-Pueblo 1-0 450 14 D. Dixie St. (Utah), 56-14 Sept. 8 vs. Chadron St. (Neb.)
13. West Georgia 1-0 412 19 D. Catawba (N.C.), 34-3 Sept. 8 vs. Limestone (S.C.)
14. Sioux Falls (S.D.) 1-0 312 20 D. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), 27-24 Sept. 8 at No. 15 Winona St. (Minn.)
15. Winona St. (Minn.) 1-0 276 21 D. Wayne St. (Neb.), 41-28 Sept. 8 vs. No. 14 Sioux Falls (S.D.)
16. Central Washington 0-1 261 9 Lost to Eastern Washington, 58-13 Sept. 8 at Western Oregon
17. Ohio Dominican 1-0 229 23 D. California (Pa.), 28-23 Sept. 8 vs. No. 18 Ashland (Ohio)
18. Ashland (Ohio) 0-1 216 15 Lost to No. 4 Indiana (Pa.), 21-17 Sept. 8 at No. 17 Ohio Dominican
19t. Findlay (Ohio) 1-0 197 25 D. Kentucky Wesleyan, 69-19 Sept. 8 at No. 9 Ferris St. (Mich.)
19t. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 1-0 197 24 D. Northwestern Oklahoma St., 29-21 Sept. 8 vs. Southwestern Oklahoma St.
21. Central Missouri 0-1 124 18 Lost to No. 5t Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 20-16 Sept. 6 vs. Northeastern St. (Okla.)
22. Indianapolis (Ind.) 0-1 118 13 Lost to No. 10 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 30-7 Sept. 8 vs. Wayne St. (Mich.)
23. West Chester (Pa.) 1-0 114 NR D. Bentley (Mass.), 44-6 Sept. 8 vs. Gannon (Pa.)
24. Minnesota-Duluth 1-0 91 NR D. Minot St. (N.D.), 49-3 Sept. 8 vs. Minnesota St.-Moorhead
25. Colorado Mesa 1-0 82 NR D. South Dakota Mines, 36-33 Sept. 8 at Eastern New Mexico