The Tusculum Pioneers are receiving votes in this week’s American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II Coaches’ Poll.
The Pioneers (8-1, 6-1 South Atlantic Conference) are receiving four votes and are one of four SAC teams listed in the AFCA Poll including No. 20 Wingate, No. 22 Newberry and Lenoir-Rhyne (receiving votes).
Grand Valley State is the top-ranked team in the country as the Lakers received 748 total points including 28 first place votes. Angelo State is second with 720 points and a pair of first place nods. Shepherd is third, followed by Ouachita Baptist, Pittsburg State, Delta State, Ferris State, West Florida, Benedict, Slippery Rock, Northwest Missouri State, Colorado School of Mines, Davenport, Ashland, Indianapolis, Virginia Union, Harding, Indiana (Pa.), West Georgia, Wingate, Truman State, Newberry, Emporia State, Minnesota State and Sioux Falls.
Tusculum is also listed sixth in the official NCAA II Super Region 2 Poll, which is the official rankings utilized in selecting the Division II Playoff bracket.
The Pioneers have won six consecutive games including last week’s 49-14 home win over Erskine. TU is 8-1 for the first time in school history and are tied for the top-spot in the SAC Mountain Division (6-1).
Tusculum will travel to Mountain Division co-leader Mars Hill (6-2, 6-1 SAC) this Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The winner will advance to next week’s SAC Championship Game.
AFCA Division II Coaches Poll
| Rk | Team (1st Place Votes) | PRV |
| 1 | Grand Valley St. (28) | 1 |
| 2 | Angelo St. (2) | 2 |
| 3 | Shepherd | 3 |
| 4 | Ouachita Baptist | 4 |
| 5 | Pittsburg St. | 5 |
| 6 | Delta St. | 8 |
| 7 | Ferris St. | 7 |
| 8 | West Florida | 9 |
| 9 | Benedict | 15 |
| 10 | Slippery Rock | T13 |
| 11 | Northwest Missouri St. | T13 |
| 12 | Colorado School of Mines | 16 |
| 13 | Davenport | 18 |
| 14 | Ashland | 6 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 17 |
| 16 | Virginia Union | 10 |
| T17 | Harding | 21 |
| T17 | Indiana, Pa. | 11 |
| 19 | West Georgia | 24 |
| 20 | Wingate | NR |
| 21 | Truman St. | NR |
| 22 | Newberry | 12 |
| 23 | Emporia St. | NR |
| 24 | Minnesota St. | NR |
| 25 | Sioux Falls | 19 |
Others Receiving Votes: Texas A&M-Kingsville 42, Albany St. 31, Henderson St. 26, Winona St. 26, Saginaw Valley St. 13, Assumption 12, Kutztown 12, Notre Dame (Ohio) 9, Wayne St. (Neb.) 9, Bemidji St. 8, TUSCULUM 4, Colorado St.-Pueblo 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 3, New Haven 3.
