2018 AFCA DII Coaches Preseason Poll


INDIANAPOLIS – Ohio Dominican and Findlay were officially placed in the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) Top-25 Division II Coaches Preseason Poll that was released on Monday.
 
Ohio Dominican starts the year at No. 23 while Findlay rounds out the poll at No. 25. Hillsdale also received three votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll to begin the season on the national radar.
 
Both ODU and UF were picked first and second, respectively, in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll that was released last week. The first week of the season around the league kicks off August 30 with three teams in action under the lights.
 
Ohio Dominican’s Week 1 opponent, Cal (PA), is a highly-anticipated rematch from last year and the Vulcans lead all teams in the receiving votes category. Findlay opens the season in the lone conference matchup on the slate at Kentucky Wesleyan.
 
The Great Midwest has also received national rankings from publications like Lindy’s (Hillsdale – No. 24) and Street & Smith’s (Findlay – No. 21). Three different media outlets have now picked a different team to finish first in the league standings.
 
The Oilers were ranked 22 in the final AFCA Top-25 Poll following their first-round playoff win against Shepherd. Findlay secured the first Great Midwest bid into the NCAA Championship bracket.
 
Ohio Dominican concluded 2017 unranked but the Panthers were victorious in the quest for the Great Midwest championship trophy, taking down Findlay in the regular season.
 
Other schools nationally ranked from Super Region 1 include No. 5 Indiana (PA), No. 16 Shepherd and No. 17 Assumption.