On Monday (Dec. 22), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) released the final national ranking poll of the 2025 season. Ashland University football ranked number 15, ending the year with 337 points.
With 378 points, Frostburg State finished one spot ahead of the Eagles, and Ashland's playoffs round-one opponent University of Minnesota-Duluth placed one rank below at number 16 with 320 points.
The Eagles' season ended in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs against the eventual champions, the Ferris State University Bulldogs. Ashland's 2025 postseason run marked their second appearance in the playoffs in a row.
Ashland ended the year with a 10-3 overall record and an 8-1 conference record. The Eagles' excellence in the Great Midwest Athletice Conference led to a second-consecutive conference title, becoming the 2025 co-champions with Findlay University.
Eagles football also saw numerous individual accolades, most recently with senior defensive end
Michael Shimek earning the title D2CCA Defensive Player of the Year and D2CCA All-America First Team after finishing the year with a nation-leading 17.5 total sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss.
Redshirt freshman kicker
Manaki Watanabe joined Shimek on the D2CCA First Team after leading Division II in field-goal percentage at 95.5. He set the school record in field goals made in a single season with 21 total. He also record Ashland football's longest made field goal, making a 59-yard field goal against Walsh University on November 1 in front of the home crowd in Jack Miller Stadium.
In the conference, Ashland football highlighted a long list of award winners. Shimek won the Great Midwest Player of the Year, and sophomore right tackle
Nico Traczyk won Offensive Lineman of the Year. Shimek and Traczyk were joined by five other Eagles to the Great Midwest First Team list, and six were named to the Great Midwest Second Team roster.
With numerous individual and team accolades, Eagles football's final AFCA Coaches Poll ranking signals a tremendous upswing for the program in recent years.
2025 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL AFCA COACHES POLL RANKINGS:Â 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), No. 17 (Oct. 27), No. 15 (Nov. 3), No. 20 (Nov. 10), No. 18 (Nov. 17), No. 15 (Dec 22).
