WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State carries the No. 24 ranking in the American Football Coaches' Association Preseason Division II Poll into the 2017 season as released Monday afternoon.
The Mustangs, who finished their Lone Star Conference best 17th consecutive winning campaign with an 8-3 mark last season, were picked to finish second behind Texas A&M-Commerce in the league's preseason poll last month.
MSU advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the seventh time in program history in 2016 before falling in the opening round at Ferris State (Mich.).
It's the 11th straight in which MSU received mention in the AFCA Division II as the Mustangs were fourth in 2012, 14th in 2016, 15th in 2013, 19th in 2010 and 23rd in 2007.
Midwestern is one of 12 teams from a competitive Super Region Four to receive mention in the poll joining No. 5 Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 10 Minnesota-Duluth, No. 12 Colorado State-Pueblo, No. 13 Azusa Pacific (Calif.), No. 16 Colorado Mines, No. 17 Sioux Falls (S.D.) and No. 23 Colorado Mesa.
Texas A&M-Kingsville, Augustana (S.D.), Central Washington and Humboldt State (Calif.) are receiving votes.
Midwestern State begins the 2017 season on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Memorial Stadium against Quincy (Ill.). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
| AFCA Division II Coaches Poll |
| 2017 Preseason Poll |
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
2016 Record |
Points |
Last |
| 1 |
Northwest Missouri State (34) |
15-0 |
850 |
1 |
| 2 |
Grand Valley State (Mich.) |
12-1 |
765 |
4 |
| 3 |
Ferris State (Mich.) |
12-3 |
716 |
5 |
| 4 |
Emporia State (Kan.) |
11-2 |
652 |
10 |
| 5 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
10-2 |
634 |
9 |
| 6 |
North Alabama |
11-2 |
622 |
2 |
| 7 |
Shepherd (W. Va.) |
13-1 |
574 |
3 |
| 8 |
California (Pa.) |
11-1 |
568 |
7 |
| 9 |
Indiana (Pa.) |
10-2 |
500 |
12 |
| 10 |
Minnesota-Duluth |
10-2 |
431 |
14 |
| 11 |
Valdosta State (Ga.) |
8-3 |
390 |
18 |
| 12 |
Colorado State-Pueblo |
8-3 |
349 |
NR |
| 13 |
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) |
9-3 |
302 |
25 |
| 14 |
LIU-Post (N.Y.) |
12-1 |
288 |
11 |
| 15 |
Harding (Ark.) |
13-1 |
281 |
6 |
| 16 |
Colorado Mines |
10-3 |
254 |
15 |
| 17 |
Sioux Falls (S.D.) |
12-1 |
235 |
8 |
| 18 |
Southwest Baptist (Mo.) |
10-2 |
227 |
22 |
| 19 |
North Carolina-Pembroke |
10-2 |
220 |
13 |
| 20 |
Minnesota State |
8-3 |
201 |
NR |
| 21 |
Central Missouri |
9-3 |
189 |
21 |
| 22 |
Southern Arkansas |
9-3 |
157 |
NR |
| 23 |
Colorado Mesa |
9-3 |
154 |
NR |
| 24 |
Midwestern State (Texas) |
8-3 |
138 |
24 |
| 25 |
Bemidji State (Minn.) |
9-3 |
133 |
NR |
| Others Receiving Votes: Ashland (Ohio) 130; Tuskegee (Ala.) 123; North Greenville (S.C.) 121; Winston-Salem (N.C.) 114; Newberry (S.C.) 107; Ohio Dominican 86; West Chester (Pa.) 82; West Georgia 75; Edinboro (Pa.) 57; Albany (Ga.) 45; Florida Tech 43; Assumption (Mass.) 38; Texas A&M-Kingsville 36; Fairmont State (W. Va.) 19; Bowie State (Md.) 16; Augustana (S.D.) 14; Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 14; Virginia Union 12; Arkansas Tech 11; Central Washington 10; Pittsburg State (Kan.) 10; Henderson State (Ark.) 8; Charleston (W. Va.) 7; Indianapolis (Ind.) 7; Gannon (Pa.) 6; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 6; Truman State (Mo.) 5; Fort Valley State (Ga.) 4; Slippery Rock (Pa.) 4; Delta State (Miss.) 3; East Central (Okla.) 3; Humboldt State (Calif.) 2; Tusuculum (Tenn.) 1; Wingate (N.C.) 1. |
