COLUMBIA, S.C. – Following Saturday's narrow one-point overtime victory over Fort Valley State, The Benedict College Tigers climbed four spots to No. 15 in one national poll, while remaining at No. 20 in the other.
Benedict, now 3-0 on the season, climbed to No. 15 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II poll. The Tigers received 260 points, climbing from No. 19 with 206 points in last week's poll.
Not only are the Tigers the only SIAC school nationally ranked, they are the only Division II HBCU school in the top 25. Virginia Union from the CIAA did receive votes for 16 points.
In the D2football.com media poll, the Tigers remained at No. 20 for the second week in a row.
The Tigers will put their national ranking to the test once again, when they travel to take on Tuskegee in a nationally televised game Thursday night.
2026 AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by GoRout Gridiron – September 21, 2026
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
| 1 |
Ferris St. (31) |
3-0 |
775 |
| 2 |
Harding |
3-0 |
744 |
| 3 |
Kutztown |
3-0 |
702 |
| 4 |
Minnesota St. |
4-0 |
668 |
| 5 |
CSU Pueblo |
4-0 |
652 |
| 6 |
Grand Valley St. |
4-0 |
611 |
| 7 |
Northwest Missouri St. |
3-0 |
594 |
| 8 |
Western Colorado |
4-0 |
544 |
| 9 |
Findlay |
3-0 |
520 |
| 10 |
Slippery Rock |
3-0 |
468 |
| 11 |
Indiana (Pa.) |
3-0 |
425 |
| 12 |
Emporia St. |
4-0 |
385 |
| 13 |
Minnesota-Duluth |
3-1 |
373 |
| 14 |
Central Washington |
1-2 |
347 |
| 15 |
Benedict |
3-0 |
260 |
| 16 |
Carson-Newman |
4-0 |
255 |
| 17 |
Western Oregon |
2-1 |
253 |
| 18 |
Davenport |
4-0 |
223 |
| 19 |
Northeastern St. |
3-1 |
202 |
| 20 |
Augustana (S.D.) |
3-1 |
194 |
| 21 |
Newberry |
2-1 |
178 |
| 22 |
Valdosta St. |
3-1 |
125 |
| 23 |
Northwood |
3-0 |
114 |
| 24 |
Michigan Tech |
3-1 |
94 |
| 25 |
North Greenville |
3-0 |
93 |
Dropped Out: West Alabama (18), Frostburg St. (23)
Others Receiving Votes: Henderson St., 51; Shepherd, 39; West Alabama, 34; Fort Hays St., 31; UT Permian Basin, 29; Northern St., 16; Virginia Union, 16; Walsh, 16; UNC Pembroke, 15; Ashland, 10; East Central, 7; Roosevelt, 6; Mars Hill, 5; Black Hills St., 1.
D2Football.com Poll
| 1. |
Ferris State |
(3-0) |
| 2. |
Harding |
(3-0) |
| 3. |
Minnesota State |
(4-0) |
| 4. |
Kutztown |
(3-0) |
| 5. |
Northwest Missouri State |
(3-0) |
| 6. |
Grand Valley State |
(4-0) |
| 7. |
CSU Pueblo |
(4-0) |
| 8. |
Western Colorado |
(4-0) |
| 9. |
Central Washington |
(1-2) |
| 10. |
Findlay |
(3-0) |
| 11. |
Slippery Rock |
(3-0) |
| 12. |
Minnesota Duluth |
(3-1) |
| 13. |
Emporia State |
(4-0) |
| 14. |
Western Oregon |
(2-1) |
| 15. |
Northeastern State |
(3-1) |
| 16. |
Augustana |
(3-1) |
| 17. |
IUP |
(3-0) |
| 18. |
Davenport |
(4-0) |
| 19. |
Valdosta State |
(2-1) |
| 20. |
Benedict |
(3-0) |
| 21. |
Northwood |
(3-0) |
| 22. |
Carson-Newman |
(4-0) |
| 23. |
Shepherd |
(3-0) |
| 24. |
North Greenville |
(3-0) |
| 25. |
Fort Hays State |
(3-1) |
