WACO, Texas – The IUP football program opens the 2023 season ranked 16th in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) preseason poll, released by the organization on Monday.
The AFCA poll is one of two official Division II football national rankings, along with the D2Football.com poll. These preseason rankings carry over into week one of the season, followed by a weekly poll by the AFCA.
IUP has consistently been listed as a ranked squad during the five-year tenure of head coach
Paul Tortorella (48-11), earning a top 25 ranking in 51 of the possible 65 national polls during that span.
For the second straight year, Ferris State (Mich.) begins a new football season at No. 1 in the AFCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Bulldogs repeated as Division II national champions in 2022, opening the new season against Mercyhurst on Thursday, August 31. Colorado School of Mines, Grand Valley State, Pittsburg State and Angelo State round out the top five.
Coming off the heels of a 10-2 season that included a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western division title, a PSAC Championship and an appearance in the Super Region One Championship game, the Crimson Hawks were tabbed as the PSAC West preseason favorites on August 10. It marked the eighth time in the past 11 seasons that IUP was picked atop the PSAC West preseason poll.
IUP is one of three teams from the PSAC in the preseason rankings, along with No. 13 Shepherd and No. 15 Slippery Rock. Overall, five teams from Super Region One are listed among the preseason top 25, including IUP's season-opening opponent Ashland (No. 12). Elsewhere in the PSAC, California (Pa.), Millersville, Kutztown and Gannon were all among the teams "receiving votes".
The Crimson Hawks open the 2023 season with a ranked matchup against No. 12 Ashland on Thursday, August 31 from Miller Stadium at 7:00 p.m. IUP knocked off Ashland by a 19-13 score in the second round of the NCAA DII Playoffs last season.
IUP Football 2023 AFCA Rankings
Preseason: No. 16
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