The Ashland University football team is back to its top ranking in the 2025 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches Poll, as, on Monday (Oct. 20) afternoon, the Eagles moved into the No. 20 spot.
 
Ashland also was No. 20 in the poll on Sept. 8.
 
The Eagles are 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference – tied for first place with Findlay. They will take their five-game winning streak into the last regular-season conference road game, Saturday (Oct. 25) at 1 p.m. at Tiffin (5-2, 4-1).
 
As a team, Ashland boasts the top total defense unit in NCAA Division II at 210.6 yards allowed per game, and is tied for first in the country in sacks with 30. The Eagles also are tied for third in the nation in blocked kicks (eighth) and fourth-down conversion percentage (85.7), fourth in third-down conversion percentage defense (25.3) and rushing defense (58.3 ypg. allowed), tied for sixth in first downs allowed (96), tied for eighth in blocked punts (two), and ninth in scoring defense (13.1 ppg.) and team passing efficiency defense (99.65).
 
Individually, senior defensive end Michael Shimek has the most sacks in D-II with 10, while redshirt freshman kicker Manaki Watanabe is tied for fifth in D-II in field-goal percentage (88.9, 8-for-9).
 
2025 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL AFCA COACHES POLL RANKINGS: No. T-24 (preseason), No. 23 (Sept. 2), No. 20 (Sept. 8), No. T-24 (Oct. 6), No. 22 (Oct. 13), No. 20 (Oct. 20).