Beavers earn 25th spot in AFCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll - Bemidji State University (2024)

Football 8/12/2024 1:03:00 PM Kristin Farris

Four NSIC teams land in the AFCA DII Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll

WACO, Tex.– Bemidji State University Football has earned the 25^thspot in this year's American Football Coaches Association Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Beavers ended at No. 16 in the same poll last season but received their highest ranking of 9^thon Sept. 18, 2023.

Three other NSIC teams join the Beavers in the top 25 with Minnesota State University Mankato at No. 13, Augustana University at No. 14 and University of Minnesota Duluth taking the No. 17 spot. Wayne State College also received votes in the poll.

Last season, the Beavers moved up from No. 21 to No. 16 after defeating then No. 12 Texas-Permian Basin 10-3 in the opening round of the 2023 playoffs. Central Washington who defeated Bemidji State in the second round went from unranked to No. 17 as they advanced to the third round before falling at Colorado School of Mines. Harding won the national championship 38-7 against Colorado School of Mines to finish as the top-ranked team. Colorado School of Mines finished No. 2 and Grand Valley State rounded out the top three. Augustana was the top-ranked team from the NSIC at No. 13, while Minnesota State (No. 21) and Minnesota Duluth (No. 25) also remained in the top 25.

Bemidji State went 9-3 and 8-2 in NSIC play during the 2023, winning a third straight opening round NCAA Playoff game. The Beavers hosted their first-ever second round NCAA Playoff game at Chet Anderson Stadium. Bemidji State has now put a stretch together since 2021 going 29-9 and competing in six NCAA Playoff games. BSU also claimed a pair of NSIC titles and finished in a tie for second.

Ty Cobbwas named an All-American by both Associated Press and D2CCA, whileMarcus Hansen, a returning defensive lineman,was tabbed an All-American by Associated Press. Cobb also finished sixth in the Gene Upshaw Award voting.

Harding (Ark.) will begin the 2024 season at No. 1 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl. The Bison went undefeated in 2023 en route to the program's first Division II national championship. They will start defense of that title on September 5 vs. Southern Nazarene (Okla.). Central Missouri, who lost to Harding in the second round of last year's playoffs, has the No. 2 spot. This is the Mules highest ever ranking in the preseason AFCA poll.

Ferris State (Mich.) and Grand Valley State (Mich.) earned the third and fourth spots, respectively, with each receiving a first-place vote. The Bulldogs have one of two top 25 matchups in the opening weekend as they will travel to No. 6 Pittsburg State (Kan.) on August 31. Rounding out the top 5 is the runner-up from last season's national championship game, the Colorado School of Mines. The Orediggers went 14-1 in 2023 and will look to start 2024 1-0 against West Texas A&M on September 5.

2024 AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll, presented by Hudl – August 14, 2023
20232023
RankSchool (1st votes)Rec.Pts.Rank*Season OpenerHead Coach
1.Harding (Ark.) (25)15-06721Sept. 5 vs. Southern Nazarene (Okla.)Paul Simmons
2.Central Missouri11-26206Sept. 7 vs. Northeastern St. (Okla.)Josh Lamberson
3.Ferris St. (Mich.) (1)8-35909Aug. 31 at No. 6 Pittsburg St. (Kan.)Tony Annese
4.Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (1)11-25663Sept. 5 vs. Central St. (Ohio)Scott Wooster
5.Colorado School of Mines14-15642Sept. 5 vs. West Texas A&MPete Sterbick
6.Pittsburg St. (Kan.)11-25405Aug. 31 vs. No. 3 Ferris St. (Mich.)Tom Anthony
7.Valdosta St. (Ga.)12-25168Aug. 31 vs. Albany St. (Ga.)Tremaine Jackson
8.Central Washington9-441817Sept. 7 at San Diego (Calif.)Chris Fisk
9.Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)13-24164Sept. 7 vs. Bowie St. (Md.)Doug Socha
10.Kutztown (Pa.)12-34137Sept. 5 vs. Assumption (Mass.)Jim Clements
11.Slippery Rock (Pa.)12-238410Sept. 7 vs. New Haven (Conn.)Shawn Lutz
12.West Florida8-433023Sept. 5 vs. McKendree (Ill.)Kaleb Nobles
13.Minnesota St.9-323221Aug. 29 at No. 22 Northwest Missouri St.Todd Hoffner
14.Augustana (S.D.)11-223113Sept. 5 at Mary (N.D.)Jerry Olszewski
15.Western Colorado10-223015Sept. 7 vs. Midwestern St. (Tex.)Jas Bains
16.Indianapolis (Ind.)9-221622Sept. 7 at Hillsdale (Mich.)Chris Keevers
17.Minnesota-Duluth9-221425Aug. 29 at Northern MichiganCurt Wiese
18.Delta St. (Miss.)10-221211Aug. 29 at Mars Hill (N.C.)Todd Cooley
19.Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)9-2209NRSept. 5 vs. Southwestern Oklahoma St.Todd Knight
20.Virginia Union10-218320Aug. 31 at Kentucky St.Alvin Parker
21.Texas-Permian Basin10-216918Aug. 31 vs. Western New Mexico*kris McCullough
22.Northwest Missouri St.7-4167NRAug. 29 vs. No. 13 Minnesota St.Rich Wright
23.Charleston (W.Va.)10-210219Aug. 31 at Livingstone (N.C.)Quinn Sanders
24.Angelo St. (Tex.)7-389NRAug. 29 at Fort Hays St. (Kan.)Jeff Girsch
25.Bemidji St. (Minn.)9-37016Aug. 29 vs. Michigan TechBrent Bolte

*–Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2023
Others Receiving Votes:Benedict (S.C.), 64; Henderson St. (Ark.), 56; Virginia St., 54; Tiffin (Ohio), 34; Southern Arkansas, 24; Ashland (Ohio), 21; Davenport (Mich.), 21; Wingate (N.C.), 20; Emporia St. (Kan.), 18; Colorado St.-Pueblo, 17; Albany St. (Ga.), 15; Findlay (Ohio), 14; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 12; California (Pa.), 11; Oklahoma Baptist, 11; Shepherd (W.Va.), 8; New Haven (Conn.), 7; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 6; Wayne St. (Neb.), 3; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 2; Truman St. (Mo.), 2; Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 1; Indiana (Pa.), 1.

For more information on the Bemidji State Football program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversFB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversFB).

Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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