Division II Football

The American Football Coaches Association released their preseason top 25 poll for Division II, and defending national champions Minnesota-Duluth have the top spot, earning 28 first-place votes.

In fact, the top three finishers from 2010 remain unchanged for the first poll in 2011, as Delta State earned the No. 2 spot, even though they finished 2010 with an 11-4 record. Perennial power Northwest Missouri State took the No. 3 spot with one first-place vote, followed by Abilene Christian (TX) and Grand Valley State (MI) to round out the top five.

1. Minnesota-Duluth (28)

2. Delta State (MS)

3. Northwest Missouri State (1)

4. Abilene Christian (TX)

5. Grand Valley State (MI)

6. North Alabama

7. Texas A&M-Kingsville

8. Augustana (SD)

t9. Albany State (GA)

t9. Bloomsburg (PA

11. Shepherd (WV)

12. California (PA)

13. St. Cloud State (MN)

14. Wingate (NC)

15. Central Missouri

16. Nebraska-Kearney

17. Mercyhurst (PA)

18. Washburn (KS)

19. West Texas A&M

20. Valdosta State (GA)

21. Wayne State (MI)

22. Central Washington

23. Kutztown (PA)

24. Henderson State (AR)

t25. Shaw (NC)

t25. Hillsdale (MI)

Others Receiving Votes: Colorado School of Mines; Carson-Newman (TN); Missouri Western St; Tuskegee (AL); West Liberty (WV); Sioux Falls (SD); Colorado St.-Pueblo; Michigan Tech; New Haven (CT); Ashland (OH); Fort Valley St. (GA); Wayne St. (NE); Midwestern St. (TX); Morehouse (GA); Southern Connecticut St.; Tusculum (TN); Lenoir-Rhyne (NC); Lincoln (PA); Pittsburg St. (KS); West Alabama; Central Oklahoma; Winona St. (MN); Winston-Salem St. (NC); Ouachita Baptist (AR); St. Augustine’s (NC); Chadron St. (NE); Concordia-St. Paul (MN); Harding (AR); Merrimack (MA); Minnesota St.-Mankato.

The season gets underway with a slate of games on Thursday, September 1 with most teams opening the season on Saturday, September 3.

Ever since the University of North Alabama named former Auburn head coach Terry Bowden—son of Florida State icon Bobby Bowden—as the head coach for the Lions' football program, there have been questions about his connection to his father's program.

Indeed, from the beginning, it seemed as if the players residing on the lower half of the Seminoles' depth chart (and a few names higher up) were being funneled to the younger Bowden's Division II program by his dad.

In his first season as head coach at UNA, Terry Bowden welcomed more than a small handful of Florida State transfers—there were seven before the 2009 season even began, and all of them were instant starters for the Lions.

As Bowden's tenure at UNA continued, so did the flow of talent from Florida State. Players such as Marcus Sims and Preston Parker have ended up in Florence, Ala. via Tallahassee, Fla.

While Bowden guided the Lions to a 11-2 record in his first season, including a Gulf South Conference title and berth in the Division II playoffs before bowing out in the Regional final, UNA's second year under Bowden saw a step backwards, finishing 9-4, tied for fourth in the conference and exiting the playoffs in the second round.

As the start of Bowden's third season approaches in Florence, there are even more players being added to the UNA roster from Florida State. In fact, when the 2011 season begins, four of the five offensive linemen will have played at Florida State previously.

While there are many who believe that this influx of FBS talent to UNA could help the Lions in their quest for bigger and better things in Division II, there's also the lingering prospect that the current UNA philosophy will hurt the program down the line.

There will come a day when the Bowden name no longer carries such weight with active players on Florida State's roster. While nearly every current Seminole has played for Bobby Bowden, their numbers are quickly dwindling, and within two years, none will remain.

It's entirely possible that the Terry Bowden connection to the Seminoles' talent pool will dry up. There's also the possibility that Terry Bowden will move on from UNA, leaving some other coach in charge that doesn't have the FBS connections Bowden enjoys. What then?

Currently, North Alabama's football program is running the risk of becoming a “transfer in” type of program. Rather than recruiting the top players available to a Division II program in the south, UNA is relying on leftover talent from FBS programs to stay competitive. UNA was 9-4 last season. What would the record have been without any FBS transfers? 8-5? 7-6?

As the next crop of high school prospects begin their search for a college football home, UNA could find itself passed over by the best D2 prospects. Who wants to play for a program where you might be starting one day and benched the next in favor of an FBS transfer that yesterday no one on campus knew?

The Lions could be passed over for schools like Delta State (Miss.) or Valdosta State (Ga.) because there's far less risk of having their starting position “stolen” by an FBS transfer.

There are plenty of quality Division II programs in the nation that accept transfers from the FBS and FCS. But rather than bring in one or two new faces, North Alabama has thrown open their doors to any and all from the FBS, and in particular, Florida State. That could begin to have a dire impact on their recruiting in Division II.

Every student-athlete in the NCAA knows that there's a list of substances that are banned. Many of them make sense: marijuana, cocaine, steroids, and the like.

But what happens when the NCAA adds a substance found in a popular dietary supplement to the list of banned substances?

One would think that the NCAA would notify all of its member institutions, so they can inform the student-athletes, and warn them against using said popular dietary supplement.

If you'd assume that, you'd be wrong.

The Grand Rapids Press has reported that Zach Breen, All-GLIAC linebacker for Grand Valley State, has been suspended by the NCAA for failing a drug test.

While that sounds simple enough, the reason Breen failed the test is confusing to most, and infuriating to Grand Valley State coaches, administrators, and fans.

The NCAA added a substance called methylhexaneamine to their list of banned substances at the end of September 2010. To put that in perspective, the football season was already well under way.

The NCAA regularly conducts random drug tests, and GVSU performs their own tests as well. When head coach Matt Mitchell was informed that Breen failed a drug test, he simply didn't believe it.

Mitchell told the Grand Rapids Press that Breen had never had any problems with the law, never used drugs, and is a biomedical major with a 3.8 GPA. Breen is obviously a smart kid.

Should GVSU have known that methylhexaneamine was added to the NCAA's list of banned substances?

You'd think that the NCAA would have some mechanism for informing its 1,281 member schools and conferences about new banned substances.

You'd think wrong.

The head athletic trainer at GVSU is responsible for the student-athlete's nutritional matters. Mark Stoessner, GVSU's head trainer, never received any type of notification or information about methylhexaneamine being added to the banned list.

“At Division II and Division III schools, whoever is doing what I'm doing is the closest thing to an expert you're going to get. The bigger [Division I] schools have nutritionists and maybe people where that's more what they do, but we don't have anything like that [at GVSU],” Stoessner told the Grand Rapids Press.

In fact, before the 2010 season began, Breen says he met with Stoessner, and went over everything he was taking. There were no conflicts with the list of banned substances, and at the start of the 2010 season, methylhexaneamine wasn't even on the banned substances list.

So Breen, along with some of his teammates, continued to take the dietary supplement that contained the substance.

So how did GVSU eventually find out the substance was banned? The first indication was Breen's failed test.

Should GVSU have known the substance was banned?

Stoessner did some digging, and found the only location which provided notification about new banned substances was an Internet blog by the Center for Drug Free Sport, an independent organization which administers the NCAA's drug testing.

A September post on that blog listed methylhexaneamine.

Keep in mind that there are well over 1,200 NCAA member institutions. As of May 10, 2011, the blog itself still lists only eight subscribers.

“All [Breen] wants to do is play football. He's going to dental school, he's got a 3.8-whatever GPA, and he's getting suspended by the same people that look at Jim Tressel,” Stoessner was quoted as saying.

Breen was suspended for his entire senior season (2011) by the NCAA. GVSU immediately filed a formal appeal, and the NCAA reduced the suspension, but Breen still must sit out the first five games of 2011.

The real tragedy is that Breen isn't playing for a shot at the NFL, he's playing because he loves to play. He's wasn't trying to get a leg up on the competition, or make a few hundred dollars under the table.

Yet, inexplicably, the NCAA has handed Breen the same suspension handed to people like Terrelle Pryor and Jim Tressel—who knowingly violated the rules.

The NCAA frankly ought to be ashamed of the massive disparity is punishments. Clearly, protecting the interests of Ohio State are more important than making sure the right thing is done.

A linebacker from Division II Grand Valley State who had no intention of breaking any rules—especially when the head coach and head athletic trainer weren't even aware of the substance's status—shouldn't be punished at the same level as a Division I FBS star quarterback and head coach who both knowingly broke the rules, and then tried to cover it up.

So why doesn't the NCAA have a notification system in place for new banned substances? One would think that in the era of instant communication, e-mail, and text messages, such a notification system would be pretty easy.

Good luck getting an answer. As with anything that might cast doubt on its policies and procedures, the NCAA did not respond to requests for comment on this story.

Spring football is behind us, and it's time to look towards the fall.

Inevitably, that means deciding who is hot and who is not for the upcoming Division II football season.

Granted, polls don't mean quite as much in the lower divisions as they do in the FBS (that's to a bona fide playoff system), but they still create discussion, stir emotion, and instill controversy into an otherwise regionally isolated season (until playoff time).

So, without much further ado, here is the early look at the Division II football Top 25 for 2011.

1. Minnesota-Duluth

2. Abilene Christian

3. Grand Valley State

4. Northwest Missouri State

5. Texas A&M-Kingsville

6. Albany State

7. Shepherd

8. Delta State

9. Central Missouri

10. Augustana

11. St. Cloud State

12. Kutztown

13. Wingate

14. Mercyhurst

15. North Alabama

16. Hillsdale

17. Bloomsburg

18. California PA

19. Michigan Tech

20. Wayne State MI

21. Valdosta State

22. West Texas A&M

23. Morehouse

24. Missouri Western Sttate

25. Nebraska-Kearney

The Division II football season gets underway on Thursday, September 1 with a full slate of games on Saturday, September 3. Playoff selections are based on NCAA Regional Rankings, and will not be released until November for the 2011 season.

FLORENCE, Ala. For the 10th consecutive year, the NCAA Division II Football National Championship was decided by one score.

David Nadeau kicked a nervous, wobbly field goal as time expired to top Delta State 20-17 in the 2010 D-II title game.  That kick gave UMD its second perfect season and national title in three years.

"When it came off my foot, I knew it was going to be close," Nadeau said.

Moments earlier, Delta State was driving with a tied score, looking for its own late game magic to earn their second national championship and first since 2000.  But Duluth's Cody Eich had other plans, intercepting an errant pass and returning it 20 yards to midfield with just 52 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. 

Chase Vogler then completed a 25-yard pass to Brian Hanson to set up the game-winning field goal—only the second such field goal in the championship game's history, and first since a 50-yard field goal in 1984 by Ted Clem, giving Troy State (now Troy) an 18-17 win over North Dakota State.

Minnesota-Duluth was a perfect 15-0 en route to the championship in 2010, the same as they were in 2008.  Grand Valley State and Northwest Missouri State are the only other teams to post 15 wins in a championship year.

UMD's Chase Vogler completed 11-of-19 passes for 201 yards through the air with one touchdown.  Vogler also rushed 21 times for 83 yards.  Hanson had 98 rushing yards on 16 attempts and also added 54 receiving yards on three catches.

Delta State was hampered by four turnovers (three fumbles and one interception).  Delta State was also only two for five inside the red zone, coming away with just 10 points.

UMD was a perfect four for four inside the red zone with 20 points.

Delta State finished the year 11-4.

Hey.  Here's an idea: a playoff to decide the college football national champion.

I know!  Crazy, right?

Well, a playoff is exactly what begins on Saturday for 24 Division II football teams across America.

The NCAA regionalizes the Division II football map into four "super regions," with the top two seeds in each region receiving a first-round bye.  Beyond that, the rules are simple: Win, and advance; lose, and your season is over.  In the end, only one of the top 24 teams in the country will end their season with a victory—and a national championship trophy.

SUPER REGION ONE

Generally considered the weakest of the four regions, SR1 is nonetheless always very competitive within the region.  While a few teams seem to make the playoffs more years than not, it is really anyone's guess as to who will represent the region in the national semifinals.

 

1. Kutztown (PA)—Bye

Kutztown finished the regular season as the No. 13 team in the nation, and by virtue of its 10-1 finish, they receive the top seed in the region.

This season is also Kutztown's first playoff appearance in program history.

KU's only loss on the year cam at the hands of eventual PSAC East champion and PSAC runners-up, Bloomsburg.

KU will play the winner of the Shaw-Shepherd game.

 

2. Mercyhurst (PA)—Bye

Also making its first postseason appearance is No. 11 Mercyhurst.  The Lakers captured their first-even PSAC conference championship this season by topping Bloomsburg in the PSAC championship game.

The Lakers (9-2) await the winner of the Cal-Bloomsburg matchup.

 

No. 6 Bloomsburg (PA) at No. 3 California (PA)

Bloomsburg (9-2) returns to the playoffs after coming up just short in their quest for a PSAC championship.  The No. 20 Huskies face off against a perennial playoff participant, California of Pennsylvania.  Cal finished the season 10-1, with their only blemish coming to PSAC champion Mercyhurst.

Cal brings arguably the regions best defense into the playoffs, but have battled injuries on the offensive side of the ball this season.  Bloomsburg was an early favorite in the region, before being beat convincingly by Mercyhurst for the PSAC title.

 

No. 5 Shaw (NC) at No. 4 Shepherd (WV)

The CIAA champion (and only CIAA playoff participant) is No. 25 Shaw.  Shaw has a very balanced offense, splitting the pass and run almost equally over the course of the season.  No. 18 Shepherd was upset in the last week of the season by 6-5 Glenville State College (WV).  That loss may actually serve Shepherd well, as the team may be less complacent in the playoffs.

 

SUPER REGION TWO

Typically a tough bracket to survive, SR2 has produced more than its share of national champions over the years.  Perennial powers from the GSC are all lined up in one side of the regional bracket this season as Delta State awaits the winner of an all-GSC first round game between North Alabama and Valdosta State.  Delta State and Valdosta State finished in the three-way tie with Henderson State for the GSC title.

 

No. 1 Albany State (GA)—Bye

Albany State, the undefeated SIAC champions enter the playoffs ranked No. 5 in the nation.  The Rams (10-0) will face off against the winner of the Morehouse-Wingate first-round game.  Should the Rams defeat their second-round opponent (as they are heavily favored to do, regardless of the eventual foe), the would then host the regional final against one of the GSC teams.

With all of the GSC teams in the playoffs having some obvious flaws, this will be the best chance Albany State has ever had to make the national semifinals for the first time in school history.

 

No. 2 Delta State (MS)—Bye

Unranked Delta State finished the season with a 8-3 record and were GSC co-champions.  The Statesmen await a GSC rematch with the winner of the North Alabama-Valdosta State tilt.  Delta State has a potent offense, but has struggled at times this year with defense.

 

No. 6 North Alabama at No. 3 Valdosta State (GA)

No. 17 Valdosta State hosts unranked North Alabama in the opening round game between to GSC rivals.  Terry Bowden's Lions look to improve after a sub-par 8-3 (5-3) season.

Valdosta State finished in a three-way tie for the GSC title.  This game will be a rematch of an October meeting between the Lions and Blazers.  Valdosta State won that game by the unusual score of 5-0.

 

No. 5 Morehouse (GA) at No. 4 Wingate (NC)

The meeting between No. 23 Morehouse and unranked Wingate will feature two teams who could not be further apart in terms of style of play.  Morehouse relies on a smash-mouth defense and a grinding running game whereas Wingate likes to air it out with the arm of Cody Haffly, who has seven games with 300 or more passing yards this season.  Both of these teams are fairly one-dimensional, and that doesn't bode well for whichever team advances to face Albany State in round two.

 

SUPER REGION THREE

Perhaps traditionally the strongest region, SR3 produced five national champions in the last eight years, and has had a team in the national championship game in seven of the last nine years.

Grand Valley State won national titles in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006, while losing in the national championship game in 2001 and 2009.  Minnesota-Duluth won the title in 2008.

 

No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth—Bye

UMD, the No. 1 team in the nation, has been nothing except dominant all season.  They won each game by at least 20 points.  The Bulldogs were an early-season favorite to win the region, but a few weeks ago they lost superstar Isaac Odim to a season-ending injury.  Odim was on track to win the Harlon Hill Trophy, Division II's Heisman prior to his injury, and UMD felt that their complete team would be propelled to another national title behind thee game-breaking abilities of Odim.  Without him, the road is certainly tougher, but by no means impossible.

 

No. 2 Augustana (SD)—Bye

Perhaps the most underrated, or more accurately, unheralded team in the region is Augustana.  With a potential second-round matchup with Grand Valley on the horizon, many people believe Augie will be a one-and-done team in the 2010 playoffs.

While GVSU certainly has that intangible ability of playing on a complete different level in the postseason, Augustana has all the makings of a solid team.  If Augustana can get quarterback Josh Hanson back from an injury to his throwing hand the sidelined him for the last few weeks, a potential GVSU-Augustana game could be very interesting.

 

No. 6 Colorado School of Mines at No. 3 Grand Valley State (MI)

No. 16 Colorado School of Mines enters the 2010 playoffs on a technicality.  The Orediggers did not finish the season ranked in the top six of the NCAA's Regional Rankings.  However, they won the conference title in the RMAC, were ranked in the top 10 in the region, and no other RMAC school was ranked ahead of them in the rankings.  Therefore, CSM gets a postseason berth, knocking out the sixth-ranked team in the region—and also the only team to beat GLIAC champion GVSU this season—Michigan Tech.

CSM is another one-dimensional team.  Their offense relies completely around the passing game.  The problem is, No. 6 Grand Valley State has an amazing pass defense.  GVSU has only allowed eight passing touchdowns over all 11 games in 2010.  In their past eight games, the Lakers have allowed just three.

When you add in the fact that Lubbers Stadium at GVSU near the shores of Lake Michigan can get very cold and windy in late November, the way to beat the Lakers is not through the air.

 

No. 5 Hillsdale (MI) at No. 4 St. Cloud State (MN)

This game matches two complete and balanced teams.  The No. 10 Chargers from Hillsdale were GLIAC South Division co-champions, although curiously lost the their co-division champions from Wayne State (MI).  The Chargers also came within 1:20 of beating Grand Valley State this season, but decided not to take a knee up by one late in the fourth.  Instead, they scored a touchdown, had the PAT blocked and returned for two, and then watched as GVSU drove down the field to score the winning touchdown with a handful of seconds left on the clock.  Whoops.

The Chargers sport the GLIAC offensive player of the year in senior QB Troy Weatherhead.  And while these two teams may be fairly evenly matched, No. 15 Saint Cloud State is led by freshman QB Phil Klaphake.

While this game could certainly go either way, Hillsdale will benefit from big game (and playoff) experience from veterans like Weatherhead.

 

SUPER REGION FOUR

The region that annually challenges SR3 for dominance is SR4, home of defending national champion (and winner of five straight SR3 titles) Northwest Missouri State.

The Bearcats look to return to Florence, Alabama for the sixth-straight year.  Although the Bearcats are just 1-4 in those five championship games, it's hard to argue that they weren't one of the best teams of the past decade (trailing probably only Grand Valley).

There are, however, several quality teams in SR4 this year that look to end NWMSU's run of regional dominance.  SR4 is probably the deepest region in the 2010 playoffs, with very little separating the teams.

 

No. 1 Abilene Christian (TX)—Bye

No. 2 Abilene Christian blew through the offense-heavy LSC en route to a perfect 11-0 season.

ACU's lowest point output of the season is 31 points, and they scored 40 or more seven times, and 50 or more three times.

ACU has the unenviable task of taking on the winner of the West Texas A&M-Central Missouri game.  Both of those teams will provide ACU with quite a challenge.

 

No. 2 Texas A&M-Kingsville—Bye

No. 4 TAMUK was the last team from the LSC to advance to the national championship game.  That was 1994.  Since that time, the LSC has had trouble playing defense against non-LSC opponents that were seen as more complete, balanced teams as opposed to the shoot-out driven offenses and porous defenses of the LSC.

With the top two seeds in SR4 being teams from the LSC, could this finally be the year the LSC advances out of the region?

 

No. 6 Missouri Western at No. 3 Northwest Missouri State

No. 3 Northwest Missouri State, defending national champions, finds themselves facing an opponent in Missouri Western State that was demolished 42-0 in the first meeting between these two MIAA teams in 2010.

It will be interesting to see if the unranked Griffons have improved since the first game against NWMSU this year.

For their part, the Bearcats breezed through their MIAA schedule after dropping their Week 1 game against Texas A&M-Kingsville.  Breezed through, that is, until the last two weeks of the season, where they won both games by a combined seven points.

NWMSU is one of those teams that can play at a different level in the playoffs.  It will be interesting to see if they can again elevate their game in 2010.

 

No. 5 West Texas A&M at No. 4 Central Missouri

No. 4 West Texas A&M travels to No. 8 Central Missouri State for the first-round battle.  CMSU was an impressive 9-2 in 2010, only dropping games to Northwest Missouri State and FCS Illinois State.  WTAMU was 8-3, with losses to three teams who ended up in the Top 10 in the final coaches poll: Grand Valley State, Texas A&M-Kingsville, and Abilene Christian.

Both of these teams are pass-happy, and there should be no shortage of pass attempts.  If you love the passing game, don't miss this game.

This game could very easily come down to one or two plays, or to who makes fewer mistakes.

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS

This year, the brackets align SR1 with SR2, and SR3 with SR4 for the two semifinal games.  Because of SR2's relative weakness compared to seasons past, this could be the best chance a team from SR1 has to make the championship game in quite a while.

Most likely, the semifinal winner between SR3 and SR4 will be the favorite going in to the national championship game in Florence, Alabama.

Grand Valley State solidified its hold on the No. 1 ranking in the latest coaches poll, earning all but three first-place votes after dropping D-II newcomer Lake Erie College, 57-23.

Minnesota-Duluth collected the remaining three first-place votes, and remains in the No. 2 position after breezing past Mary (ND), 49-0. The big story in Duluth, however, remains the loss of Harlon Hill-contender Isaac Odim to a season-ending left knee meniscus tear in Thursday's practice.

Upsets to then-No. 3 North Alabama and then-No. 7 West Texas A&M reshape the rest of the Top 25 landscape.

North Alabama dropped a defensive game 5-0 to then-No. 19 Valdosta State (GA). West Texas A&M was harshly punished by the pollsters after a 28-24 defeat at the hands of then-No. 9 Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Two 6-1 teams enter the poll for the first time this year (and for the first time for each team since 2005) in St. Cloud State (MN) and St. Augustine's (NC) as No. 23 and No. 24, respectively. 

Rank	School (1st votes)	Rec.	Pts.	Prev.	Last Week	Next Game
1.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (23)	7-0	647	1	D. Lake Erie (Ohio), 57-23	Oct. 23 at Ferris St. (Mich.)
2.	Minnesota-Duluth (3)	7-0	626	2	D. Mary (N.D.), 49-0	Oct. 23 at Northern St. (S.D.)
3.	California (Pa.)	7-0	581	4	D. Slippery Rock (Pa.), 28-3	Oct. 23 at Mercyhurst (Pa.)
4.	Abilene Christian (Texas)	7-0	579	5	D. Incarnate Word (Texas), 54-17	Oct. 23 at Eastern New Mexico
5.	Northwest Missouri St.	5-1	554	6	D. Emporia St. (Kan.), 42-28	Oct. 23 at Washburn (Kan.)
6.	Hillsdale (Mich.)	6-1	484	8	D. Michigan Tech, 24-17	Oct. 23 at Wayne St. (Mich.)
7.	Texas A&M-Kingsville	6-1	474	9	D. No. 7 West Texas A&M, 28-24	Oct. 23 at Tarleton St. (Tex.)
8.	Albany St. (Ga.)	7-0	454	10	D. Benedict (S.C.), 27-10	Oct. 23 at No. 19 Morehouse (Ga.)
9.	Central Missouri	7-1	438	11	D. No. 17 Missouri Western St., 43-21	Oct. 23 vs. Nebraska-Omaha
10.	North Alabama	6-1	375	3	Lost to No. 19 Valdosta St. (Ga.), 5-0	Oct. 23 at Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
11.	Augustana (S.D.)	7-0	364	14	D. Winona St. (Minn.), 17-0	Oct. 23 at Minnesota St.-Moorhead
12.	Nebraska-Kearney	6-1	356	13	D. Colorado St.-Pueblo, 38-24	Oct. 23 vs. New Mexico Highlands
13.	Midwestern St. (Texas)	6-1	329	15	D. Angelo St. (Tex.), 35-21	Oct. 23 at No. 17 West Texas A&M
14.	Valdosta St. (Ga.)	5-1	320	19	D. No. 3 North Alabama, 5-0	Oct. 23 vs. Arkansas-Monticello
15.	Shepherd (W.Va.)	7-0	318	18	D. No. 21 West Virginia Wesleyan, 37-26	Oct. 23 at West Liberty (W.Va.)
16.	Bloomsburg (Pa.)	6-1	258	20	D. Shippensburg (Pa.), 23-3	Oct. 23 vs. West Chester (Pa.)
17.	West Texas A&M	5-2	255	7	Lost to No. 9 Texas A&M-Kingsville, 28-24	Oct. 23 vs. No. 13 Midwestern St. (Tex.)
18.	Kutztown (Pa.)	7-0	189	23	D. Millersville (Pa.), 38-28	Oct. 23 vs. C.W. Post (N.Y.)
19.	Morehouse (Ga.)	6-1	172	22	D. Stillman (Ala.), 38-24	Oct. 23 vs. No. 8 Albany St. (Ga.)
20.	Colorado School of Mines	6-1	152	24	D. Mesa St. (Colo.), 46-10	Oct. 23 at Western St. (Colo.)
21.	Winston-Salem St. (N.C.)	7-1	135	25	D. Livingstone (N.C.), 58-0	Oct. 23 vs. North Carolina-Pembroke
22.	Delta St. (Miss.)	5-2	90	12	Lost to Harding (Ark.), 38-35	Oct. 23 at West Georgia
23.	St. Cloud State (Minn.)	6-1	68	NR	D. Southwest Minnesota St., 24-6	Oct. 23 vs. Minnesota-Crookston
24.	St. Augustine’s (N.C.)	6-1	45	NR	D. Central St. (Ohio), 21-14	Oct. 23 at Johnson C. Smith (N.C.)
25.	West Virginia Wesleyan	6-1	38	21	Lost to No. 18 Shepherd (W.Va.), 37-26	Oct. 23 at Fairmont St. (W.Va.)

Dropped Out: Tuskegee (Ala.) (16), Missouri Western St. (17).

Others Receiving Votes: Missouri Western St., 34; Humboldt St. (Calif.), 30; Mars Hill (N.C.), 24; Tuskegee (Ala.), 15; West Alabama, 13; New Haven (Conn.), 9; Central Washington, 7; Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 5; Mercyhurst (Pa.), 5; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 3; North Carolina-Pembroke, 2; Washburn (Kan.), 2

After a convincing win at Findlay (OH), Grand Valley State regained some lost first-place votes in the most recent Division II coaches poll.

Grand Valley State remained steady, as did the other Top 10 teams—all winners during the previous weekend.

Minnesota State dropped all the way from No. 11 to No. 25 after falling to unranked Concordia-St.Paul, 28-26.

Winston-Salem State (NC) makes its first appearance in the coaches poll since 2002 after spending a few unsuccessful years in the FCS.  WSSU defeated Fayetteville State (NC) 31-14 to improve their record to 5-0.

Carson-Newman (TN) and West Liberty (WV) drop out of the Top 25 after they joined Minnesota State as the only Top 25 teams to lose this past week.

The Top 10 is sure to be shaken up after this week with two match-ups all within the Top 10.  No. 5 Abilene Christian travels to No. 6 Texas A&M-Kingsville in a match-up of in-state rivals, and No. 7 Northwest Missouri State hosts No. 8 Missouri Western State.

No. 15 West Alabama travels to No. 19 Delta State (MS) in the only other match-up between Top 25 teams this week.

Rank	School (1st votes)	Rec.	Pts.	Prev.	Last Week	Next Game
1.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (21)	4-0	644	1	D. Findlay (Ohio) 35-7	Oct. 2 at Tiffin (Ohio)
2.	Minnesota-Duluth (2)	4-0	620	2	D. Bemidji St. (Minn.), 44-21	Oct. 2 at Minnesota St.-Moorhead
3.	North Alabama (3)	4-0	604	3	D. Lambuth (Tenn.), 31-0	Oct. 2 vs. Arkansas Tech
4.	California (Pa.)	4-0	556	4	D. Clarion (Pa.), 24-9	Oct. 2 vs. Lock Haven (Pa.)
5.	Abilene Christian (Texas)	4-0	551	5	D. Tarleton St. (Texas), 65-3	Oct. 2 at No. 6 Texas A&M-Kingsville
6.	Texas A&M-Kingsville	4-0	520	6	D. Incarnate Word (Texas), 37-9	Oct. 2 vs. No. 5 Abilene Christian (Texas)
7.	Northwest Missouri St.	2-1	497	7	D. Truman St. (Mo.), 44-10	Oct. 2 vs. No. 8 Missouri Western St.
8.	Missouri Western St.	4-0	445	8	D. Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 42-25	Oct. 2 at No. 7 Northwest Missouri St.
9.	West Texas A&M	3-1	431	9	D. Angelo St. (Texas), 37-27	Oct. 2 at Northeastern St. (Okla.)
10.	Midwestern St. (Texas)	4-0	409	10	D. Central Oklahoma, 30-24	Oct. 2 vs. Incarnate Word (Texas)
11.	Hillsdale (Mich.)	3-1	359	12	D. Lake Erie (Ohio), 42-37	Oct. 2 vs. Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.)
12.	Edinboro (Pa.)	4-0	329	13	D. Gannon (Pa.), 13-0	Oct. 2 vs. Indiana (Pa.)
13.	Tusculum (Tenn.)	4-0	324	15	Idle	Oct. 2 at Mars Hill (N.C.)
14.	Albany St. (Ga.)	4-0	301	16	D. Savannah St. (Ga.), 28-14	Oct. 2 vs. Lane (Tenn.)
15.	West Alabama	3-1	260	17	D. West Georgia, 28-7	Sept. 30 at No. 19 Delta St. (Miss.)
16.	Central Missouri	4-1	236	21	D. Washburn (Kan.), 55-45	Oct. 2 at Truman St. (Mo.)
17.	Nebraska-Kearney	3-1	198	19	D. Western St. (Colo.), 13-6	Oct. 2 vs. Adams St. (Colo.)
18.	Morehouse (Ga.)	5-0	186	20	D. Lincoln (Mo.), 30-14	Oct. 9 vs. No. 22 Tuskegee (Ala.)
19.	Delta St. (Miss.)	3-1	165	23	D. Henderson St. (Ark.), 41-37	Sept. 30 vs. No. 15 West Alabama
20.	Augustana (S.D.)	4-0	134	24	D. Southwest Minnesota St., 53-21	Oct. 2 at Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)
21.	Central Washington	3-2	111	22	D. Simon Fraser (B.C.) 44-30	Oct. 2 at Humboldt St. (Calif.)
22.	Tuskegee (Ala.)	3-1	103	25	D. Texas Southern, 21-14	Oct. 2 vs. Miles (Ala.)
23.	Winston-Salem St. (N.C.)	5-0	87	NR	D. Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 31-14	Oct. 2 at Johnson C. Smith (N.C.)
24.	North Carolina-Pembroke	3-1	78	NR	D. No. 14 Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 30-7	Oct. 2 at Glenville St. (W.Va.)
25.	Minnesota St.-Mankato	3-1	75	11	Lost to Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), 28-26	Oct. 2 at Winona St. (Minn.)

Dropped Out: Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (14), West Liberty (W.Va.) (18).

Others Receiving Votes: Shepherd (W.Va.), 54; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 30; Bloomsburg (Pa.), 29; Wingate (N.C.), 29; Colorado St.-Pueblo, 17; Michigan Tech, 16; Colorado School of Mines, 15; West Virginia Wesleyan, 8; Winona St. (Minn.), 7; Wayne St. (Neb.), 5; St. Cloud State (Minn.), 4; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 3; Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), 3; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 3; Arkansas Tech, 2; Northern Michigan, 2.

With three full weeks of football competition in the books, there was little movement near the top of the poll.

Grand Valley State held on to the No. 1 spot after narrowly beating Indianapolis 38-31 in yet another last-minute victory. GVSU's close calls and shaky defense have caused some voters to shift their top votes away from the Lakers, as they garnered only 19 of 26 first place votes—a loss of four first-place votes.

No. 7 Missouri Western State leapfrogged into the Top 10 from 11th after defeating then-No. 15 Washburn 36-33. There were also five new teams in the poll as the bottom half of the rankings were shaken up by some unexpected losses and huge upset wins.

Division II Poll Post-Week 3

Rank	School (1st votes)	Rec.	Pts.	Prev.	Last Week	Next Game
1.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (19)	3-0	641	1	D. Indianapolis (Ind.), 38-31	Sept. 25 at Findlay (Ohio)
2.	Minnesota-Duluth (4)	3-0	620	2	D. No. 18 Wayne St. (Neb.), 42-10	Sept. 25 vs. Bemidji St. (Minn.)
3.	North Alabama (3)	3-0	604	3	D. Southern Arkansas, 48-6	Sept. 25 at Lambuth (Tenn.)
4.	California (Pa.)	3-0	558	4	D. East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 45-20	Sept. 25 at Clarion (Pa.)
5.	Abilene Christian (Texas)	3-0	552	5	D. East Central (Okla.), 47-7	Sept. 25 vs. Tarleton St. (Texas)
6.	Texas A&M-Kingsville	3-0	519	6	D. Texas A&M-Commerce, 21-0	Sept. 25 at Incarnate Word (Texas)
7.	Northwest Missouri St.	1-1	463	7	D. Nebraska-Omaha, 58-23	Sept. 25 at Truman St. (Mo.)
8.	Missouri Western St.	3-0	441	11	D. No. 15 Washburn (Kan.), 36-33	Sept. 25 vs. Pittsburg St. (Kan.)
9.	West Texas A&M	2-1	428	9	D. Southeastern Oklahoma st., 41-17	Sept. 25 at Angelo St. (Texas)
10.	Midwestern St. (Texas)	3-0	374	12	D. Southwestern Oklahoma St., 46-9	Sept. 25 at Central Oklahoma
11.	Minnesota St.-Mankato	3-0	359	16	D. Minnesota-Crookston, 42-3	Sept. 25 vs. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)
12.	Hillsdale (Mich.)	2-1	350	13	D. Ashland (Ohio), 27-17	Sept. 25 vs. Lake Erie (Ohio)
13.	Edinboro (Pa.)	3-0	280	22	D. Cheyney (Pa.), 27-21	Sept. 25 vs. Gannon (Pa.)
14.	Carson-Newman (Tenn.)	2-1	278	19	D. Concordia (Ala.), 37-7	Sept. 25 at North Carolina-Pembroke
15.	Tusculum (Tenn.)	4-0	219	24	D. Urbana (Ohio), 39-36	Oct. 2 at Mars Hill (N.C.)
16.	Albany St. (Ga.)	3-0	203	NR	D. No. 10 Tuskegee (Ala.), 34-6	Sept. 25 vs. Savannah St. (Ga.)
17.	West Alabama	2-1	196	8	Lost to Lambuth (Tenn.), 14-13	Sept. 23 vs. West Georgia
18.	West Liberty (W.Va.)	1-1	193	21	Idle	Sept. 25 vs. West Virginia Wesleyan
19.	Nebraska-Kearney	2-1	168	23	D. Mesa St. (Colo.), 31-9	Sept. 25 at Western St. (Colo.)
20.	Morehouse (Ga.)	4-0	123	NR	D. Kentucky St., 41-25	Sept. 25 vs. Lincoln (Mo.)
21.	Central Missouri	3-1	116	NR	D. Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 37-20	Sept. 25 vs. Washburn (Kan.)
22.	Central Washington	2-2	115	25	D. Dixie St. (Utah) 43-21	Sept. 25 at Simon Fraser (B.C.)
23.	Delta St. (Miss.)	2-1	97	NR	D. No. 20 Valdosta St. (Ga.), 27-23	Sept. 25 vs. Henderson St. (Ark.)
24.	Augustana (S.D.)	3-0	82	NR	D. Mary (N.D.), 52-21	Sept. 25 vs. Southwest Minnesota St.
25.	Tuskegee (Ala.)	2-1	72	10	Lost to Albany St. (Ga.), 34-6	Sept. 25 vs. Texas Southern

Dropped Out: North Carolina-Pembroke (14), Washburn (Kan.) (15), Winona St. (Minn.) (17), Wayne St. (Neb.) (18), Valdosta St. (Ga.) (20).

Others Receiving Votes: Winston-Salem St. (N.C.), 54; North Carolina-Pembroke, 51; Washburn (Kan.), 51; Wayne St. (Neb.), 48; Winona St. (Minn.), 46; Shepherd (W.Va.), 41; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 28; Wingate (N.C.), 20; Bloomsburg (Pa.), 13; Colorado School of Mines, 13; Colorado St.-Pueblo, 11; Michigan Tech, 11; Arkansas-Monticello, 7; Indianapolis (Ind.), 2; St. Cloud State (Minn.), 2; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 1.