Ashland University's football team moved up two spots in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches Poll despite not playing for almost nine months.
The 2026 AFCA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Tuesday (Aug. 18) morning, and the Eagles were placed at No. 13 in the nation.
"It's obviously flattering that we've garnered that respect nationally, that we're in the Top 25," said Ashland head coach
Doug Geiser. "As I'll talk to the team about, though, this ranking is not this year's team's ranking. It's the ranking for the 2025 team, it's what they've earned.
"Now, it's our job to earn this ranking."
The 2026 Eagle football season will open at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field vs. No. 25 Indiana (Pa.) at 7 p.m. on Sept. 3. Ashland will play a second straight home game on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. against No. T-9 Grand Valley State.
Earlier in August, Ashland was picked as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference 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. The Eagles were 15
th in the final AFCA D-II poll – their highest slotting last fall (also 15
th on Nov. 3).
This is the 98
th time all-time Ashland has been in the Top 25 of the AFCA (since 2000). Tuesday marks the Eagles' best AFCA preseason ranking since 2023 (No. 12).
Ashland is the highest-ranked Great Midwest team in the AFCA preseason poll. Findlay is at No. 16, while Northwood is receiving votes.
2026 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL AFCA COACHES POLL RANKINGS: No. 13 (preseason).
