For the first time since Oct. 24, 2016, Ashland University's football team is in the top 10 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' Top 25 poll.
In the latest poll released on Monday (Nov. 6), the Eagles (9-1 overall, 8-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) are No. 10 in the country, having moved up one spot for the third consecutive week. It is the 24th time Ashland has been in the AFCA top 10 since the poll began in 2000.
Ashland has won nine consecutive games, and has clinched at least a share of the 2017 GLIAC championship. The Eagles can win the conference title outright with a win on Saturday (Nov. 11) at 1 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field vs. Saginaw Valley State (5-5, 3-5).
Since the inception of the AFCA poll in 2000, the Eagles have been ranked 66 times. In 2016, Ashland went the entire season in the Top 25 for the first time. The Eagles are 42-16 (.724) all-time as an AFCA Top 25 team.
Ashland is the highest-ranked GLIAC team in this week's Top 25 poll. Ferris State is right behind the Eagles at No. 11 in the country.
The third set of NCAA Division II regional rankings will be released on Monday afternoon. In the second set of rankings released last week, the Eagles were No. 3 in Super Region Three. The Division II postseason selection show will be Sunday (Nov. 12) at 5 p.m. on NCAA.com.
Ashland has made six NCAA Division II postseason appearances – 1986, 1997, 2007-08, 2012 and 2015.