AFCA Official Release


WACO, Texas – The Great Midwest Athletic Conference had a presence in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches’ Top-25 Poll that was released on Monday.
 
Hillsdale is viewed among the nation’s best before the Chargers’ Week 1 matchup against Michigan Tech on Sept. 7, starting the new season at No. 19.
 
The Chargers, defending conference champions and Great Midwest preseason coaches poll favorites, received 220 points in the voting after finishing 2018 with an impressive 10-3 record.
 
Included in Hillsdale’s season was a first-round playoff victory over Kutztown in the NCAA Championship bracket. The Chargers were also undefeated in the conference schedule under head coach Keith Otterbein and his staff.
 
Garnering additional recognition in the AFCA Preseason Coaches Poll from the league was Ohio Dominican and Findlay, both schools in the receiving votes category.
 
ODU received seven votes and Findlay was one of four schools to earn one vote.
 
Hillsdale, Ohio Dominican and Findlay, among others, hope to impress the selection committee and represent Super Region 1 well once again this season. A bowl bid to the inaugural America’s Crossroads Bowl in Hobart, Ind., is also on the line this year between eight Great Midwest schools in the standings.
 
Fresh off of their fourth national championship in the last 14 years, Valdosta State (Ga.) is the preseason No. 1-ranked team in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The Blazers, who went 14-0 in 2018, start their season off at Albany State (Ga.) on September 7. This is the fourth time Valdosta State has begun the season at No. 1 in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll since it began in 2000. National runner-up from a year ago, Ferris State (Mich.), sits in the No. 2 spot. The Bulldogs are followed by No. 3 Minnesota State, No. 4 Notre Dame (Ohio) and No. 5 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.).