WACO, Tex. – The IUP football program checks in at No. 17 as the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) released its Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll Monday afternoon. 

2019 Division II champion West Florida opens as the overwhelming favorite at No. 1, garnering 26 first place votes. Minnesota State is No. 2 and has two first place votes with Ferris State at No. 3, Northwest Missouri State (one first place vote) is No. 4, and Slippery Rock is No. 5.

There are four teams, including IUP and Slippery Rock, from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) that make up the Top 25. Shepherd is No. 15 in the voting with Kutztown is No. 20. West Chester and Cal U are among teams receiving votes but outside of the rankings. 

The Crimson Hawks will see the field for the first time since 2019 after the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 season for nearly all Division II teams. 

IUP has put together 10 straight winning seasons, including a 10-2 record and NCAA playoff appearance in 2019. The Hawks return 10 starters from that team, including preseason All-Americans in senior offensive lineman Josh Dauberman, redshirt junior receiver Duane Brown, and redshirt senior cornerback Nazir Streater.

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