Waco, TX (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State University football team has officially broken into the AFCA Top-25 Poll, sitting at No. 25 in the October 5 edition. The ranking marks the first appearance for the Wolves in the AFCA Top-25. Northern is 5-1 this season, following a win over Bemidji State, and earned 42 votes.
The Wolves are joined by NSIC opponents No. 5 Minnesota State and (RV) Minnesota Duluth. Northern matches up with the Bulldogs on Saturday at 12 p.m. from Duluth; David Tukesbrey will provide the play-by-play on Fox Sports Aberdeen with pregame coverage starting at 11am.
AFCA TOP-25 POLL
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. | Ferris St. (31) | 5-0 | 775 | 1 |
| 2. | Harding | 5-0 | 744 | 2 |
| 3. | Kutztown | 5-0 | 704 | 3 |
| 4. | CSU Pueblo | 6-0 | 672 | 4 |
| 5. | Minnesota St. | 6-0 | 651 | 5 |
| 6. | Grand Valley St. | 5-0 | 628 | 6 |
| 7. | Western Colorado | 6-0 | 572 | 7 |
| 8. | Slippery Rock | 5-0 | 554 | 8 |
| 9. | Emporia St. | 5-0 | 499 | 10 |
| 10. | Indiana (Pa.) | 5-0 | 476 | 9 |
| 11. | Davenport | 5-0 | 464 | 11 |
| 12. | Northwood | 5-0 | 385 | 14 |
| 13. | Central Washington | 3-2 | 378 | 12 |
| 14. | Northwest Missouri St. | 3-1 | 376 | 13 |
| 15. | North Greenville | 5-0 | 325 | 17 |
| 16. | Findlay | 4-1 | 308 | 16 |
| 17. | Henderson St. | 5-0 | 273 | 19 |
| 18. | Valdosta St. | 4-1 | 243 | 18 |
| 19. | Michigan Tech | 4-1 | 213 | 20 |
| 20. | Mars Hill | 5-0 | 190 | 21t |
| 21. | Carson-Newman | 5-1 | 146 | 23 |
| 22. | West Alabama | 5-1 | 124 | 24 |
| 23. | UT Permian Basin | 4-1 | 117 | NR |
| 24. | Central Missouri | 4-1 | 59 | NR |
| 25. | Northern St. | 5-1 | 42 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Virginia Union, 40; Benedict, 24; Minnesota-Duluth, 24; Northeastern St., 14; Shepherd, 14; Wayne St. (Neb.), 10; West Liberty, 9; Virginia St., 7; Newberry, 4; Midwestern St., 3; Tiffin, 3; Johnson C. Smith, 2; East Central, 1; Edward Waters, 1; South Dakota Mines, 1.
________________________
ABERDEEN, SD (NSUWolves.com) – Following the release of the AFCA Top-25 Poll this morning, the Northern State University football team moved up three spots to No. 22 in the D2Football.com Top-25 Poll. This marks the first time in program history where the Wolves are ranked in the top-25 of both active NCAA Division II polls.
The Wolves are joined by NSIC opponents No. 3 Minnesota State and No. 18 Minnesota Duluth. Northern will face off against the Bulldogs at 12 p.m. on Saturday in Duluth.
D2FOOTBALL.COM TOP-25 POLL
1. Ferris State (5-0)
2. Harding (5-0)
3. Minnesota State (6-0)
4. Kutztown (5-0)
5. Grand Valley State (5-0)
6. CSU Pueblo (6-0)
7. Western Colorado (6-0)
8. Central Washington (3-2)
9. Slippery Rock (5-0)
10. Emporia State (5-0)
11. Northwest Missouri State (3-1)
12. Northwood (5-0)
13. IUP (5-0)
14. Davenport (5-0)
15. Valdosta State (4-1)
16. North Greenville (5-0)
17. Findlay (4-1)
18. Minnesota Duluth (4-2)
19. Central Missouri (4-1)
20. Henderson State (5-0)
21. Mars Hill (5-0)
22. Northern State (5-1)
23. UT Permian Basin (4-1)
24. Michigan Tech (4-1)
25. Edward Waters (5-1)