CHARLOTTE, N.C. — History has been made at Johnson C. Smith University.
For the first time in program history, the Johnson C. Smith University football team has earned a national ranking in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, coming in at No. 23 in the preseason poll released Tuesday, August 18.
The historic ranking comes following a remarkable 2025 campaign in which the Golden Bulls finished 10-2 and established themselves as one of the premier programs in NCAA Division II football.
The No. 23 ranking marks a significant milestone for Johnson C. Smith University football and provides another testament to the continued growth and success of the Golden Bulls program.
Johnson C. Smith enters the 2026 season looking to build upon a championship caliber 2025 campaign. The Golden Bulls' 10-2 record placed the program among the nation's elite and helped propel JCSU into the preseason national conversation.
The Golden Bulls will open the 2026 season on Saturday, August 29, at Benedict College, beginning a season that will see JCSU compete with the nation's top Division II programs.
JCSU is one of only 25 teams nationally included in the preseason AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Golden Bulls are also one of two CIAA programs ranked in the preseason poll, joining Virginia Union at No. 14.
2026 AFCA Division II Coaches Poll – August 18, 2026
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
2025 Rec. |
Pts. |
2025 Rank |
Season Opener |
Head Coach |
| 1 |
Ferris St. (31) |
16-0 |
775 |
1 |
Aug. 27 at No. 4 Pittsburg St. |
Tony Annese |
| 2 |
Harding |
15-1 |
738 |
2 |
Sept. 3 vs. Northwestern Oklahoma St. |
Roddy Mote |
| 3 |
Kutztown |
14-1 |
684 |
3 |
Sept. 3 at Assumption |
Jim Clements |
| 4 |
Pittsburg St. |
10-3 |
647 |
6 |
Aug. 27 vs. No. 1 Ferris St. |
Tom Anthony |
| 5 |
Minnesota St. |
10-4 |
587 |
8 |
Aug. 27 at Colorado Mesa |
Todd Hoffner |
| 6 |
Colorado St.-Pueblo |
10-2 |
581 |
11 |
Aug. 27 vs. Central Missouri |
Philip Vigil |
| 7 |
Central Washington |
10-2 |
478 |
13 |
Sept. 5 at Cal Poly |
Scott Power |
| 8 |
Northwest Missouri St. |
9-3 |
470 |
17 |
Aug. 29 at Texas A&M-Kingsville |
John McMenamin |
| 9t. |
Grand Valley St. |
7-3 |
451 |
NR |
Aug. 27 at Charleston |
Scott Wooster |
| 9t. |
UIndy |
11-2 |
451 |
10 |
Aug. 27 vs. Marian |
Chris Keevers |
| 11 |
Western Colorado |
10-3 |
379 |
12 |
Aug. 27 at West Texas A&M |
Jas Bains |
| 12 |
Minnesota-Duluth |
10-2 |
372 |
16 |
Aug. 27 at Slippery Rock |
Curt Wiese |
| 13 |
Ashland |
10-3 |
328 |
15 |
Sept. 3 vs. No. 25 Indiana (Pa.) |
Doug Geiser |
| 14 |
Virginia Union |
9-3 |
318 |
21 |
Aug. 28 at Lenoir-Rhyne |
Alvin Parker |
| 15 |
Newberry |
12-2 |
276 |
4 |
Sept. 5 vs. Reinhardt |
Todd Knight |
| 16 |
Findlay |
10-2 |
250 |
19 |
Sept. 5 at No. 9t UIndy |
Tyler Johns |
| 17 |
Frostburg St. |
11-3 |
228 |
14 |
Sept. 5 at Shepherd |
Eric Wagoner |
| 18 |
UT Permian Basin |
11-3 |
197 |
5 |
Aug. 29 at UT Rio Grande Valley |
Chris Softley |
| 19 |
Wingate |
9-3 |
183 |
NR |
Aug. 27 at UNC Pembroke |
Rashaan Jordan |
| 20 |
Augustana (S.D.) |
9-2 |
181 |
25 |
Aug. 27 at Missouri Western |
Jerry Olszewski |
| 21 |
Albany St. |
12-2 |
172 |
7 |
Aug. 29 at Florida A&M |
David Bowser |
| 22 |
Western Oregon |
8-3 |
165 |
NR |
Aug. 29 at Colorado Mines |
Arne Ferguson |
| 23 |
Johnson C. Smith |
10-2 |
159 |
18 |
Aug. 29 at Benedict |
Maurice Flowers |
| 24 |
Ouachita Baptist |
7-4 |
146 |
NR |
Sept. 3 vs. East Central |
Todd Knight |
| 25 |
Indiana (Pa.) |
7-4 |
97 |
NR |
Sept. 3 at No. 13 Ashland |
Paul Tortorella |
*– Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2025
Others Receiving Votes: Valdosta St., 86; Chadron St., 83; Central Oklahoma, 64; North Greenville, 61; Slippery Rock, 56; California (Pa.), 53; Northwood, 50; Delta St., 33; Michigan Tech, 31; Assumption, 29; Bentley, 27; Benedict, 25; Lenoir-Rhyne, 21; Colorado Mines, 18; Northeastern St., 16; Southern Arkansas, 14; Charleston, 13; Fort Hays St., 13; Truman St., 13; West Texas A&M, 10; UNC Pembroke, 8; Central Missouri, 7; Edward Waters, 7; Henderson St., 6; Angelo St., 4; East Stroudsburg, 4; Nebraska-Kearney, 4; Upper Iowa, 3; Davenport, 2; Carson-Newman, 1.
For more information on the AFCA and its programs, visit www.afca.com or follow us on social media @WeAreAFCA.
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