Finally, Winston Salem State Rams Receives National Ranking

After a four-year run in Football Championship Subdivision, Winston-Salem State (N.C.) is back in Division II and makes an appearance in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for the first time since 2002. The Rams moved their record to 5-0 after a 31-14 victory over Fayetteville State (N.C.) and enter the poll at No. 23.

Grand Valley State (Mich.), Minnesota-Duluth, North Alabama, California (Pa.) and Abilene Christian (Texas) still hold down the Top 5 places. There will be three Top 25 matchups in this week’s games, including a pair of Top 10 games. No. 5 Abilene Christian (Texas) will travel south to face conference rival, No. 6 Texas A&M-Kingsville, while No. 7 Northwest Missouri State plays host to No. 8 Missouri Western State. In the final Top 25 matchup, No. 15 West Alabama will travel to No. 19 Delta State (Miss.) in a Thursday night showdown in the Gulf South Conference.

From the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference -- Albany State, Morehouse and Tuskegee are ranked at #14, #18 and #22.

2010 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll
September 27, 2010

Rank	School (1st votes)	Rec.	Pts.	Prev.	Last Week	Next Game
1.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (21)	4-0	644	1	D. Findlay (Ohio) 35-7	Oct. 2 at Tiffin (Ohio)
2.	Minnesota-Duluth (2)	4-0	620	2	D. Bemidji St. (Minn.), 44-21	Oct. 2 at Minnesota St.-Moorhead
3.	North Alabama (3)	4-0	604	3	D. Lambuth (Tenn.), 31-0	Oct. 2 vs. Arkansas Tech
4.	California (Pa.)	4-0	556	4	D. Clarion (Pa.), 24-9	Oct. 2 vs. Lock Haven (Pa.)
5.	Abilene Christian (Texas)	4-0	551	5	D. Tarleton St. (Texas), 65-3	Oct. 2 at No. 6 Texas A&M-Kingsville
6.	Texas A&M-Kingsville	4-0	520	6	D. Incarnate Word (Texas), 37-9	Oct. 2 vs. No. 5 Abilene Christian (Texas)
7.	Northwest Missouri St.	2-1	497	7	D. Truman St. (Mo.), 44-10	Oct. 2 vs. No. 8 Missouri Western St.
8.	Missouri Western St.	4-0	445	8	D. Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 42-25	Oct. 2 at No. 7 Northwest Missouri St.
9.	West Texas A&M	3-1	431	9	D. Angelo St. (Texas), 37-27	Oct. 2 at Northeastern St. (Okla.)
10.	Midwestern St. (Texas)	4-0	409	10	D. Central Oklahoma, 30-24	Oct. 2 vs. Incarnate Word (Texas)
11.	Hillsdale (Mich.)	3-1	359	12	D. Lake Erie (Ohio), 42-37	Oct. 2 vs. Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.)
12.	Edinboro (Pa.)	4-0	329	13	D. Gannon (Pa.), 13-0	Oct. 2 vs. Indiana (Pa.)
13.	Tusculum (Tenn.)	4-0	324	15	Idle	Oct. 2 at Mars Hill (N.C.)
14.	Albany St. (Ga.)	4-0	301	16	D. Savannah St. (Ga.), 28-14	Oct. 2 vs. Lane (Tenn.)
15.	West Alabama	3-1	260	17	D. West Georgia, 28-7	Sept. 30 at No. 19 Delta St. (Miss.)
16.	Central Missouri	4-1	236	21	D. Washburn (Kan.), 55-45	Oct. 2 at Truman St. (Mo.)
17.	Nebraska-Kearney	3-1	198	19	D. Western St. (Colo.), 13-6	Oct. 2 vs. Adams St. (Colo.)
18.	Morehouse (Ga.)	5-0	186	20	D. Lincoln (Mo.), 30-14	Oct. 9 vs. No. 22 Tuskegee (Ala.)
19.	Delta St. (Miss.)	3-1	165	23	D. Henderson St. (Ark.), 41-37	Sept. 30 vs. No. 15 West Alabama
20.	Augustana (S.D.)	4-0	134	24	D. Southwest Minnesota St., 53-21	Oct. 2 at Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)
21.	Central Washington	3-2	111	22	D. Simon Fraser (B.C.) 44-30	Oct. 2 at Humboldt St. (Calif.)
22.	Tuskegee (Ala.)	3-1	103	25	D. Texas Southern, 21-14	Oct. 2 vs. Miles (Ala.)
23.	Winston-Salem St. (N.C.)	5-0	87	NR	D. Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 31-14	Oct. 2 at Johnson C. Smith (N.C.)
24.	North Carolina-Pembroke	3-1	78	NR	D. No. 14 Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 30-7	Oct. 2 at Glenville St. (W.Va.)
25.	Minnesota St.-Mankato	3-1	75	11	Lost to Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), 28-26	Oct. 2 at Winona St. (Minn.)

Courtesy: AFCA