COLUMBIA, S.C. – Following Saturday's 45-24 victory over Edward Waters, the Benedict Tigers football team jumped back into both national Division II football polls.
Benedict, now 6-1 overall, is ranked No. 20 in the D2football.com media poll. The Tigers have not been ranked in the poll since September 21, prior to their only loss of the season against Tuskegee.
In the American Football Coaches Association, the Tigers are ranked No. 23. The Tigers return to the AFCA poll after being ranked No. 15 in the Sept. 21 poll.
Benedict will be back in action on Saturday, traveling to Albany State in a rematch of last year's SIAC championship and NCAA second-round playoff game.
In HBCU polls, the Tigers are ranked fourth in the D2 HBCU Coaches Poll, and fourth in the Division II Black College Football Poll.
D2Football.com
Oct. 19, 2026
| Rank |
Team |
Record |
| 1. |
Ferris State |
(7-0) |
| 2. |
Harding |
(7-0) |
| 3. |
Minnesota State |
(7-0) |
| 4. |
Kutztown |
(7-0) |
| 5. |
CSU Pueblo |
(7-0) |
| 6. |
Western Colorado |
(7-0) |
| 7. |
Central Washington |
(5-2) |
| 8. |
Slippery Rock |
(7-0) |
| 9. |
Emporia State |
(7-0) |
| 10. |
Northwest Missouri State |
(5-1) |
| 11. |
Northwood |
(7-0) |
| 12. |
Davenport |
(7-0) |
| 13. |
Valdosta State |
(4-1) |
| 14. |
Michigan Tech |
(6-1) |
| 15. |
Findlay |
(6-1) |
| 16. |
Grand Valley State |
(5-2) |
| 17. |
Minnesota Duluth |
(5-2) |
| 18. |
Carson-Newman |
(7-1) |
| 19. |
North Greenville |
(6-1) |
| 20. |
Benedict |
(6-1) |
| 21. |
Johnson C. Smith |
(6-1) |
| 22. |
East Stroudsburg |
(6-1) |
| 23. |
Henderson State |
(6-1) |
| 24. |
Wayne State (Neb.) |
(6-1) |
| 25. |
Virginia State |
(7-1) |
2026 AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by GoRout Gridiron – October 19, 2026
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
| 1. |
Ferris St. (30) |
7-0 |
750 |
1 |
| 2. |
Harding |
7-0 |
719 |
2 |
| 3. |
Kutztown |
7-0 |
679 |
3 |
| 4. |
CSU Pueblo |
7-0 |
657 |
4 |
| 5. |
Minnesota St. |
7-0 |
630 |
5 |
| 6. |
Western Colorado |
7-0 |
582 |
6 |
| 7. |
Slippery Rock |
7-0 |
573 |
7 |
| 8. |
Emporia St. |
7-0 |
537 |
8 |
| 9. |
Davenport |
7-0 |
505 |
9 |
| 10. |
Northwood |
7-0 |
469 |
10 |
| 11. |
Northwest Missouri St. |
5-1 |
417 |
12 |
| 12. |
Michigan Tech |
6-1 |
408 |
14 |
| 13. |
Central Washington |
5-2 |
400 |
11 |
| 14. |
Findlay |
6-1 |
350 |
16 |
| 15. |
Carson-Newman |
7-1 |
297 |
18 |
| 16. |
Grand Valley St. |
5-2 |
286 |
13 |
| 17. |
Valdosta St. |
4-1 |
263 |
17 |
| 18. |
North Greenville |
6-1 |
209 |
22 |
| 19. |
Henderson St. |
6-1 |
197 |
15 |
| 20. |
Virginia Union |
6-1 |
164 |
24 |
| 21. |
Minnesota-Duluth |
5-2 |
146 |
23 |
| 22. |
Wayne St. (Neb.) |
6-1 |
116 |
25 |
| 23. |
Benedict |
6-1 |
87 |
NR |
| 24. |
Virginia St. |
7-1 |
74 |
NR |
| 25. |
West Alabama |
5-2 |
51 |
21 |
Dropped Out: Indiana (Pa.) (19), UT Permian Basin (20)
Others Receiving Votes: Indiana (Pa.), 39; East Central, 31; Johnson C. Smith, 19; West Liberty, 16; East Stroudsburg, 14; Augustana (S.D.), 13; Central Missouri, 13; UT Permian Basin, 12; Colorado Mines, 8; Midwestern St., 7; Northeastern St., 6; Ouachita Baptist, 4; Shepherd, 2.
2026 HBCU D2 Football Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW
Week 7
(Records through October 17, 2026)
| Rank |
Team |
W-L |
Pts |
Previous |
| 1 |
Johnson C. Smith (12) |
6-1 |
156 |
1 |
| 2 |
Virginia Union |
6-1 |
134 |
3 |
| 3 |
Virginia State (4) |
7-1 |
133 |
4 |
| 4 |
Benedict |
6-1 |
108 |
6 |
| 5 |
Kentucky State |
6-2 |
95 |
5 |
| 6 |
Edward Waters |
5-2 |
87 |
2 |
| 7 |
Fayetteville State |
4-3 |
61 |
7 |
| 8 |
Central State |
4-3 |
51 |
8 |
| 9 |
Albany State |
3-4 |
20 |
9 |
| 10 |
Tuskegee |
3-4 |
11 |
NR |
Others receiving votes: Miles (3-4) 9, Shaw (4-4) 7, Bowie State (3-4) 4, Fort Valley State (2-4) 2, Morehouse (3-5) 1, Lincoln (Mo.) (2-4) 1, Livingstone (2-5) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
Black College Football Poll
| Rank |
Team |
Pts. |
Record |
| 1. |
Virginia State (10) |
258 |
7-1 |
| 2. |
Johnson C. Smith (2) |
240 |
6-1 |
| 3. |
Virginia Union |
222 |
6-1 |
| 4. |
Benedict (2) |
212 |
6-1 |
| 5. |
Edward Waters |
158 |
5-2 |
| 6. |
Kentucky State |
150 |
6-2 |
| 7. |
Central State |
94 |
4-3 |
| 8. |
Fayetteville State |
86 |
4-3 |
| 9. |
Albany State |
38 |
3-4 |
| 10. |
Tuskegee |
28 |
3-4 |
Others receiving votes: Miles (20), Bowie State (12), Shaw (12), Morehouse (10)
