Texas A&M Commerce may be the defending champions at the Division 2 level, but they were no automatic pick to land the top spot in the preseason AFCA Division 2 Coaches Poll. On Monday, the preseason poll from the D2 coaches put the defending champs on top, but five different schools received first-place votes, and Texas A&M Commerce did not receive the most.
No. 1 Texas A&M Commerce received 13 first-place votes in the D2 preseason coaches poll, racking up 748 points in the voting. They remained 27 points ahead of No. 2 West Florida, who received the most first-place votes in the preseason poll (14). Texas A&M Commerce won its first national championship last season by defeating West Florida, 37-27. West Florida is quickly becoming one of the most well-respected programs in the country, after signing the first recruiting class in program history in 2015 and playing its first game in 2016.
Other schools receiving first-place votes in the AFCA D2 Coaches Poll were No. 3 Minnesota State, No. 4 IUP, and No. 5 Northwest Missouri State. Each school received two first-place votes. Fort Hays State, who tied for No. 5 with traditional D2 power Northwest Missouri State, did not receive a first-place vote.
2018 AFCA Preseason Division 2 Coaches Poll
1. Texas A&M Commerce (13)
2. West Florida (14)
3. Minnesota State (2)
4. IUP (2)
5. (t) Fort Hays St
5. (t) Northwest Missouri State (2)
7. Hardin
8. Ferris State
9. Central Washington
10. Gran Valley State
11. Midwestern State
12. West Alabama
13. Indianapolis
14. Colorado State-Pueblo
15. Ashland
16. Shepherd
17. Assumption
18. Central Missouri
19. West Georgia
20. Sioux Falls
21. Winona State
22. Carson-Newman
23. Ohio Dominican
24. Ouchita Baptist
25. Findlay