FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 27, 2025
AFCA CONTACT: Vince Thompson, Director of Media Relations, 254-754-9900
Albany State Dominates Benedict to Enter Top 25
WACO, TEX.– The last time Albany State beat Benedict in Columbia, South Carolina, was on October 16, 2021. The last time Albany State was ranked in the AFCA Top 25 poll was on October 10, 2022. Both of those dates were erased after the Golden Rams dominated then-No. 21 Benedict, 31-3, and took control of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title race. Albany State gained almost 500 yards of total offense and held the Tigers to a season-low 63 yards rushing in the victory. The Golden Rams enter the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl, at No. 23, while the loss dropped Benedict out of the top 25.
The top eight remained the same for another week with everyone winning or idle. No. 1 Ferris State won a shootout over then-No. 18 Grand Valley State, 38-31, dropping the Lakers to No. 25. Then-No. 9 Minnesota State lost a stunner to Wayne State (Neb.), 35-20, and dropped nine spots to No. 18. West Alabama lost their second straight game, this time to No. 15 Delta State, 41-38, and fell from 11 to 21.
The top 25 will look different next week after three huge top 16 matchups on the first day of November. No. 15 Delta State will look to keep up their momentum as they host No. 3 West Florida for the top spot in the Gulf South Conference. In a top 10 battle for the top spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, No. 6 Western Colorado will host No. 7 Colorado State-Pueblo. The final matchup is a big game in the Lone Star Conference as No. 8 Central Washington will host No. 16 Angelo State.
2025 AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – October 27, 2025
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
Week 9 |
Next Game |
| 1 |
Ferris St. (31) |
8-0 |
775 |
1 |
D. No. 18 Grand Valley St., 38-31 |
Nov. 1 vs. Northern Michigan |
| 2 |
Harding |
8-0 |
743 |
2 |
D. Arkansas-Monticello, 55-0 |
Nov. 1 vs. Oklahoma Baptist |
| 3 |
West Florida |
8-0 |
707 |
3 |
D. West Virginia St., 55-6 |
Nov. 1 at No. 15 Delta St. |
| 4 |
Kutztown |
8-0 |
686 |
4 |
D. West Chester, 41-7 |
Nov. 1 vs. East Stroudsburg |
| 5 |
Augustana (S.D.) |
8-0 |
635 |
5 |
D. Southwest Minnesota St., 57-29 |
Nov. 1 vs. Northern St. |
| 6 |
Western Colorado |
8-0 |
610 |
6 |
D. Colorado School of Mines, 40-17 |
Nov. 1 vs. No. 7 Colorado St.-Pueblo |
| 7 |
Colorado St.-Pueblo |
7-1 |
578 |
7 |
Idle |
Nov. 1 at No. 6 Western Colorado |
| 8 |
Central Washington |
7-1 |
544 |
8 |
D. Midwestern St., 56-13 |
Nov. 1 vs. No. 16 Angelo St. |
| 9 |
Pittsburg St. |
6-2 |
507 |
10 |
Idle |
Nov. 1 vs. Missouri Southern St. |
| 10 |
Virginia Union |
7-1 |
448 |
12 |
D. Bowie St., 24-7 |
Nov. 1 at Bluefield St. |
| 11 |
Findlay |
8-0 |
444 |
14 |
D. Ohio Dominican, 27-20 |
Nov. 1 at Northwood |
| 12 |
UIndy |
7-1 |
438 |
13 |
Idle |
Nov. 1 at Quincy |
| 13 |
Minnesota-Duluth |
7-1 |
394 |
15 |
D. UMary, 54-32 |
Nov. 1 at Jamestown |
| 14 |
Northwest Missouri St. |
7-1 |
380 |
16 |
D. Nebraska-Kearney, 14-0 |
Nov. 1 at Emporia St. |
| 15 |
Delta St. |
7-1 |
373 |
17 |
D. No. 11 West Alabama, 41-38 |
Nov. 1 vs. No. 3 West Florida |
| 16 |
Angelo St. |
6-2 |
271 |
19 |
D. Sul Ross St., 62-0 |
Nov. 1 at No. 8 Central Washington |
| 17 |
Ashland |
7-1 |
235 |
20 |
D. Tiffin, 30-27 |
Nov. 1 vs. Walsh |
| 18 |
Minnesota St. |
6-2 |
223 |
9 |
Lost to Wayne St. (Neb.), 35-20 |
Nov. 1 vs. Southwest Minnesota St. |
| 19 |
Johnson C. Smith |
7-1 |
195 |
22 |
D. Winston-Salem St., 52-27 |
Nov. 1 at Fayetteville St. |
| 20 |
UT Permian Basin |
6-2 |
189 |
23 |
D. West Texas A&M, 22-6 |
Nov. 1 at Western New Mexico |
| 21 |
West Alabama |
5-2 |
178 |
11 |
Lost to No. 17 Delta St., 41-38 |
Nov. 1 at Valdosta St. |
| 22 |
Slippery Rock |
5-2 |
129 |
24 |
Idle |
Nov. 1 vs. Clarion |
| 23 |
Albany St. |
7-1 |
109 |
NR |
D. No. 21 Benedict, 31-3 |
Nov. 1 vs. Savannah St. |
| 24 |
Frostburg St. |
7-1 |
83 |
NR |
D. Wheeling, 31-13 |
Nov. 1 at California (Pa.) |
| 25 |
Grand Valley St. |
4-3 |
64 |
18 |
Lost to No. 1 Ferris St., 38-31 |
Nov. 1 at Wayne St. (Mich.) |
Dropped Out: Benedict (21), Southern Arkansas (25)
Others Receiving Votes: Assumption, 28; Newberry, 20; Benedict, 19; UNC Pembroke, 16; Chadron St., 14; Northern St., 10; Indiana (Pa.), 9; Northwood, 7; Saginaw Valley St., 3; Southern Arkansas, 3; Western Oregon, 3; Carson-Newman, 2; Michigan Tech, 2; Upper Iowa, 1.
Below is the D2Football.com Top 25 poll as of the conclusion of week eight. There were minor changes in the Top 15. Previous No. 8 Minnesota State dropped several positions after a loss to Wayne State (Neb.). This promoted several teams by one position. Southern Arkansas, Grand Valley State and Benedict exited the rankings this week and were replaced by Albany State, Northwood and Frostburg State. All three teams are in the poll for the first time this season.
| Rank |
Team |
Record |
Previous Rank |
| 1 |
Ferris State |
8-0 |
1 |
| 2 |
Harding |
8-0 |
2 |
| 3 |
Kutztown |
8-0 |
3 |
| 4 |
West Florida |
8-0 |
4 |
| 5 |
Western Colorado |
8-0 |
5 |
| 6 |
Pittsburg State |
6-2 |
6 |
| 7 |
Central Washington |
7-1 |
7 |
| 8 |
CSU Pueblo |
7-1 |
9 |
| 9 |
Augustana |
8-0 |
10 |
| 10 |
Minnesota Duluth |
7-1 |
11 |
| 11 |
Northwest Missouri State |
7-1 |
12 |
| 12 |
Indianapolis |
7-1 |
13 |
| 13 |
Virginia Union |
7-1 |
14 |
| 14 |
Findlay |
8-0 |
15 |
| 15 |
Ashland |
7-1 |
16 |
| 16 |
Delta State |
7-1 |
19 |
| 17 |
UT Permian Basin |
6-2 |
18 |
| 18 |
Angelo State |
6-2 |
20 |
| 19 |
Johnson C. Smith |
7-1 |
21 |
| 20 |
Newberry |
7-1 |
24 |
| 21 |
Minnesota State |
6-2 |
8 |
| 22 |
Albany State |
7-1 |
NR |
| 23 |
West Alabama |
5-2 |
17 |
| 24 |
Northwood |
7-1 |
NR |
| 25 |
Frostburg State |
7-1 |
NR |
