As was the case with the preseason poll, the first 2026 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches Poll of the regular season sees Ashland University move up without playing a game.
 
Released by the AFCA on Wednesday (Sept. 2) morning, the latest AFCA poll has the Eagles going from No. 13 to No. 12. AU will begin the new season at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field on Thursday (Sept. 3) at 7 p.m. against now-No. 22 Indiana (Pa.).
 
"Shoot, if we don't play any games and we keep moving up in the polls, maybe that's the way to go," quipped Ashland head coach Doug Geiser. "Seriously, as I said before, the rankings we're getting without playing a game is a testament to last year's team, it's a testament to the tradition of Ashland University.
 
"We're flattered, we're humbled by this, but this year's team has to earn the rankings they have right now."
 
Ashland is the highest-ranked Great Midwest team in the latest AFCA poll.
 
This is the 99^th time all-time Ashland has been in the Top 25 of the AFCA (since 2000).
 
The Ashland-IUP is one of four in Week 1 in which two Top 25 D-II teams play each other – in addition to No. 5 Colorado State-Pueblo at No. 25 Fort Hays State, No. 9 Indianapolis playing host to No. 15 Findlay, and No. 16 Augustana going to No. 19 Minnesota-Duluth.

Following the opener, the Eagles will again play at home on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. vs. No. 7 Grand Valley State, then at home on Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. vs. Ohio Dominican in the first contest of the 2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference schedule.
 
In August, Ashland was picked as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Great Midwest football coaches' preseason poll.
 
The Eagles finished the 2025 season at 10-3 overall and 8-1 in the conference – setting a new program standard by winning an NCAA Division II playoff game for the second season in a row, and earning a co-conference championship. AU was 15^th in the final AFCA D-II poll – its highest slotting last fall (also 15^th on Nov. 3).

2026 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL AFCA COACHES POLL RANKINGS: No. 13 (preseason), No. 12 (Sept. 2).