WACO, TEX.– For the first time in school history, the Benedict College football is nationally ranked by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
The Tigers are ranked No. 23 in this week's edition of the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll.
"To God be the Glory! I'm extremely proud of our football program of being nationally recognized by our peers as one of the top programs in all of Division Two football," Benedict head coach
Chennis Berry said. "Congratulations to my staff and my players for their hard work, but there's still unfinished business and a lot of work to be done, but I'm extremely grateful to be recognized."
The AFCA poll is voted on by a panel of 30 NCAA Division II head football coaches.
The top eight teams remained the same this week with Ferris State (Mich.) holding their top spot after a 33-28 win over then-No. 25 Saginaw Valley State (Mich.). Grand Valley State (Mich.) remained unbeaten and at No. 2 after its 45-3 victory over American International (Mass.), setting the stage for the biggest game of the season in Division II as the Lakers travel to Ferris State for a battle of 1 versus 2. The Bulldogs have won eight of the last nine meetings, including last year's playoff game, 54-20.
There is only one other Top 25 matchup this week, and it includes a team that is ranked in the AFCA Top 25 for the first time ever. Benedict (S.C.) enters the poll for the first time at No. 23. The Tigers will travel to conference rival and No. 21 Albany State (Ga.) on Saturday.
Last week, Benedict cracked the national Top 25 of the D2football.com poll, coming in at No. 24. The Tigers moved up one spot to No. 23 in this week's poll. Albany State is ranked No. 14 by D2football.com.
2022 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll – October 10, 2022
| Rank School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
Week 6 |
Next Game |
| 1. Ferris St. (Mich.) (28) |
5-0 |
747 |
1 |
D. No. 25 Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 33-28 |
Oct. 15 vs. No. 2 Grand Valley St. (Mich.) |
| 2. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (2) |
6-0 |
720 |
2 |
D. American International (Mass.), 45-3 |
Oct. 15 at No. 1 Ferris St. (Mich.) |
| 3. Angelo St. (Tex.) |
6-0 |
684 |
3 |
D. Eastern New Mexico, 28-9 |
Oct. 15 at Western New Mexico |
| 4. Shepherd (W.Va.) |
6-0 |
656 |
4 |
D. Lock Haven (Pa.), 72-7 |
Oct. 15 vs. Millersville (Pa.) |
| 5. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) |
6-0 |
627 |
5 |
D. Southwestern Oklahoma St., 63-24 |
Oct. 15 vs. Arkansas-Monticello |
| 6. Ashland (Ohio) |
5-0 |
591 |
6 |
D. Walsh (Ohio), 35-0 |
Oct. 15 vs. Ohio Dominican |
| 7. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) |
6-0 |
583 |
7 |
D. No. 9 Northwest Missouri St., 24-22 |
Oct. 15 at Lincoln (Mo.) |
| 8. Indianapolis (Ind.) |
5-0 |
508 |
8 |
D. McKendree (Ill.), 38-23 |
Oct. 15 at Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.) |
| 9. West Florida |
4-1 |
475 |
10 |
D. No. 15 West Georgia, 42-28 |
Oct. 15 at Shorter (Ga.) |
| 10. Delta St. (Miss.) |
6-0 |
451 |
13 |
D. North Greenville (S.C.), 47-14 |
Oct. 15 vs. West Alabama |
| 11. Virginia Union |
6-0 |
432 |
12 |
D. Elizabeth City St. (N.C.), 49-0 |
Oct. 15 at Bowie St. (Md.) |
| 12. Harding (Ark.) |
5-1 |
427 |
11 |
D. Southern Nazarene (Okla.), 56-28 |
Oct. 15 vs. Henderson St. (Ark.) |
| 13. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) |
5-1 |
359 |
14 |
D. Limestone (S.C.), 51-30 |
Oct. 15 at Barton (N.C.) |
| 14. Sioux Falls (S.D.) |
6-0 |
348 |
17 |
D. Southwest Minnesota St., 35-14 |
Oct. 15 at Mary (N.D.) |
| 15. Indiana (Pa.) |
5-0 |
319 |
18 |
D. California (Pa.), 22-21 |
Oct. 15 at Edinboro (Pa.) |
| 16. Northwest Missouri St. |
4-2 |
254 |
9 |
Lost to No. 7 Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 24-22 |
Oct. 15 vs. Washburn (Kan.) |
| 17. Newberry (S.C.) |
5-1 |
239 |
19 |
D. Barton (N.C.), 42-21 |
Oct. 15 at Catawba (N.C.) |
| 18. Slippery Rock (Pa.) |
5-1 |
226 |
20 |
D. Mercyhurst (Pa.), 31-17 |
Oct. 15 vs. Gannon (Pa.) |
| 19. Colorado School of Mines |
4-2 |
192 |
21 |
D. Colorado Mesa, 48-21 |
Oct. 15 at South Dakota Mines |
| 20. Texas A&M-Kingsville |
6-0 |
187 |
22t |
D. Western New Mexico, 21-17 |
Oct. 15 vs. Texas Permian Basin |
| 21. Albany St. (Ga.) |
5-1 |
167 |
22t |
D. Edward Waters (Fla.), 55-7 |
Oct. 15 vs. No. 23 Benedict (S.C.) |
| 22. Nebraska-Kearney |
5-1 |
166 |
24 |
D. Missouri Western St., 39-18 |
Oct. 15 vs. Emporia St. (Kan.) |
| 23. Benedict (S.C.) |
6-0 |
73 |
NR |
D. Miles (Ala.), 20-3 |
Oct. 15 at No. 21 Albany St. (Ga.) |
| 24. Augustana (S.D.) |
4-2 |
70 |
NR |
Lost to Upper Iowa, 31-14 |
Oct. 15 vs. Wayne St. (Neb.) |
| 25. West Georgia |
3-2 |
65 |
15 |
Lost to No. 10 West Florida, 42-28 |
Oct. 15 at North Greenville (S.C.) |
Dropped Out: Notre Dame (Ohio) (16), Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.) (25)
Others Receiving Votes: New Haven (Conn.), 39; Davenport (Mich.), 37; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 34; Notre Dame (Ohio), 28; Truman St. (Mo.), 11; Assumption (Mass.), 9; Emporia St. (Kan.), 8; Wayne St. (Neb.), 7; Wingate (N.C.), 7; Frostburg St. (Md.), 2; Black Hills St. (S.D.), 1; West Alabama, 1.
D2Football.com Top 25 Poll
October 10, 2022
|
|
Team
|
Record
|
Last
|
|
1
|
Ferris State
|
5-0
|
1
|
|
2
|
Grand Valley
|
6-0
|
2
|
|
3
|
Angelo State
|
6-0
|
3
|
|
4
|
Ouachita Baptist
|
6-0
|
4
|
|
5
|
Shepherd
|
6-0
|
5
|
|
6
|
Pittsburg State
|
6-0
|
6
|
|
7
|
Delta State
|
6-0
|
9
|
|
8
|
Harding
|
5-1
|
7
|
|
9
|
West Florida
|
4-1
|
11
|
|
10
|
Colorado Mines
|
4-2
|
8
|
|
11
|
Ashland
|
5-0
|
12
|
|
12
|
Sioux Falls
|
6-0
|
15
|
|
13
|
Nebraska-Kearney
|
5-1
|
14
|
|
14
|
Albany State
|
5-1
|
13
|
|
15
|
Virginia Union
|
6-0
|
17
|
|
16
|
Indianapolis
|
5-0
|
19
|
|
17
|
IUP
|
5-0
|
20
|
|
18
|
Augustana
|
5-1
|
18
|
|
19
|
Slippery Rock
|
5-1
|
21
|
|
20
|
Northwest Missouri
|
4-2
|
10
|
|
21
|
Texas A&M-Kingsville
|
6-0
|
23
|
|
22
|
Lenoir-Rhyne
|
5-1
|
NR
|
|
23
|
Benedict
|
6-0
|
24
|
|
24
|
Newberry
|
5-1
|
NR
|
|
25
|
West Georgia
|
3-2
|
16
|
|
|
|
