WACO, Texas – The Benedict College Tigers have returned to the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 poll for the first time since 2023, entering the poll this week at No. 24.
The Tigers, 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the SIAC, are nationally ranked for the first time under second-year head coach
Ron Dickerson Jr. The Tigers were last in the AFCA national rankings in the final poll of 2023, when they were ranked 12
th. Benedict is one of nine undefeated Division II schools in the Top 25 poll.
Benedict received 77 total points, and are the only SIAC school in the poll, although Albany State did receive two points. Benedict trails 23
rd-ranked Johnson C. Smith, from the CIAA, by 13 points.
Benedict has a key SIAC matchup this week as they travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to take on Edward Waters University at 4 p.m.
2025 AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – October 13, 2025
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
Week 7 |
Next Game |
| 1 |
Ferris St. (31) |
6-0 |
775 |
1 |
D. Wayne St. (Mich.), 59-0 |
Oct. 18 at Michigan Tech |
| 2 |
Harding |
6-0 |
744 |
2 |
D. Southeastern Oklahoma St., 35-7 |
Oct. 18 at Henderson St. |
| 3 |
West Florida |
6-0 |
707 |
3 |
D. Chowan, 40-10 |
Oct. 18 at No. 8 West Alabama |
| 4 |
Kutztown |
6-0 |
685 |
4 |
D. Lock Haven, 34-7 |
Oct. 18 vs. Millersville |
| 5 |
Western Colorado |
6-0 |
611 |
5 |
D. Black Hills St., 56-17 |
Oct. 18 at South Dakota Mines |
| 6 |
Augustana (S.D.) |
7-0 |
603 |
7 |
D. Concordia-St. Paul, 50-10 |
Oct. 25 at Southwest Minnesota St. |
| 7 |
Grand Valley St. |
4-1 |
575 |
8 |
D. Northern Michigan, 35-7 |
Oct. 18 vs. Saginaw Valley St. |
| 8 |
West Alabama |
5-0 |
525 |
9 |
Idle |
Oct. 18 vs. No. 3 West Florida |
| 9 |
Colorado St.-Pueblo |
6-1 |
520 |
11 |
D. Fort Lewis, 49-13 |
Oct. 18 at Black Hills St. |
| 10 |
Central Washington |
5-1 |
510 |
13 |
D. No. 6 UT Permian Basin, 27-14 |
Oct. 18 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville |
| 11 |
Minnesota St. |
6-1 |
435 |
14 |
D. Winona St., 47-21 |
Oct. 25 at Wayne St. (Neb.) |
| 12 |
Pittsburg St. |
5-2 |
409 |
15 |
D. Washburn, 34-10 |
Oct. 18 at Missouri Western St. |
| 13 |
UT Permian Basin |
5-1 |
396 |
6 |
Lost to No. 13 Central Washington, 27-14 |
Oct. 18 at Western Oregon |
| 14 |
Virginia Union |
5-1 |
342 |
17 |
D. Elizabeth City St., 37-18 |
Oct. 18 vs. Lincoln (Pa.) |
| 15 |
UIndy |
6-1 |
318 |
18 |
D. Missouri S&T, 56-13 |
Oct. 18 vs. Lincoln (Mo.) |
| 16t. |
Findlay |
6-0 |
305 |
19 |
D. Hillsdale, 16-14 |
Oct. 18 vs. Kentucky Wesleyan |
| 16t. |
Minnesota-Duluth |
6-1 |
305 |
10 |
Lost to Northern St., 34-31 |
Oct. 25 vs. UMary |
| 18 |
Delta St. |
5-1 |
238 |
20 |
Idle |
Oct. 18 vs. Ferrum |
| 19 |
Northwest Missouri St. |
5-1 |
219 |
22 |
D. Central Missouri, 49-32 |
Oct. 18 vs. Fort Hays St. |
| 20 |
UNC Pembroke |
6-1 |
176 |
23 |
D. Shorter, 52-21 |
Oct. 18 at North Greenville |
| 21 |
Angelo St. |
4-2 |
151 |
12 |
Lost to Texas A&M-Kingsville, 24-19 |
Oct. 18 vs. Midwestern St. |
| 22 |
Ashland |
5-1 |
122 |
24t |
D. Thomas More, 38-14 |
Oct. 18 at Ohio Dominican |
| 23 |
Johnson C. Smith |
5-1 |
90 |
24t |
Idle |
Oct. 18 at Shaw |
| 24 |
Benedict |
6-0 |
77 |
NR |
D. Fort Valley St., 14-7 |
Oct. 18 at Edward Waters |
| 25 |
Slippery Rock |
4-2 |
54 |
24t |
D. Seton Hill, 49-7 |
Oct. 18 vs. Indiana (Pa.) |
Dropped Out: California (Pa.) (16), Frostburg St. (21)
Others Receiving Votes: Emory & Henry, 36; California (Pa.), 27; Southern Arkansas, 26; Henderson St., 25; Frostburg St., 21; Indiana (Pa.), 15; Nebraska-Kearney, 13; Charleston, 9; Chadron St., 7; Albany St., 2; Assumption, 1; Michigan Tech, 1.
