WACO, TEXAS – For the first time since 2006 the William Jewell football team has entered the national conversation receiving one vote in the American Football Coaches Association Division II national poll. The Cardinals enter the week at a perfect 3-0 after defeating McKendree last weekend, 28-21 on Homecoming.
Jewell boasts one of the nation's best defenses, ranking top-25 in Division II in first down defense (2nd), interceptions (10th), rushing defense (12th), turnovers gained (15th), defensive touchdowns (18th), third down conversion defense (18th), passing efficiency defense (20th), red zone defense (21st), scoring defense (24th), total defense (24th), and tackles for loss (25th). The Cardinals get it done by committee as eight different players have double digit tackles, six have at least one sack and/or one interception, and three have a fumble recovery. On the other side, Jewell is third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in scoring as Charlie Loose ranks 28th nationally with more than 14 passing yards per completion while Hunter Bailey is 33rd in Division II in rushing yards per game (91.0).
Jewell faces their toughest test yet this weekend as the University of Indianapolis comes to town. Despite entering the week at 1-4 on the season, the Greyhounds are the four-time defending GLVC Champions and started the year ranked No. 8 nationally.
2026 AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by GoRout Gridiron – September 28, 2026
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
Week 4 |
Next Game |
| 1 |
Ferris St. (31) |
4-0 |
775 |
1 |
D. Kentucky Christian, 73-6 |
Oct. 3 at Northern Michigan |
| 2 |
Harding |
4-0 |
742 |
2 |
D. Ouachita Baptist, 28-27 |
Oct. 3 at East Central |
| 3 |
Kutztown |
4-0 |
707 |
3 |
D. Shepherd, 28-18 |
Oct. 3 at Shippensburg |
| 4 |
CSU Pueblo |
5-0 |
654 |
5 |
D. Colorado Mesa, 35-23 |
Oct. 3 at Adams St. |
| 5 |
Minnesota St. |
5-0 |
649 |
4 |
D. Sioux Falls, 28-14 |
Oct. 3 vs. Concordia-St. Paul |
| 6 |
Grand Valley St. |
4-0 |
609 |
6 |
Idle |
Oct. 3 vs. Wayne St. (Mich.) |
| 7 |
Western Colorado |
5-0 |
576 |
8 |
D. Adams St., 70-21 |
Oct. 3 at New Mexico Highlands |
| 8 |
Slippery Rock |
4-0 |
552 |
10 |
D. California (Pa.), 41-26 |
Oct. 3 vs. Gannon |
| 9 |
Indiana (Pa.) |
4-0 |
494 |
11 |
D. Seton Hill, 35-7 |
Oct. 3 at Edinboro |
| 10 |
Emporia St. |
4-0 |
473 |
12 |
Idle |
Oct. 3 vs. Missouri Western |
| 11 |
Davenport |
4-0 |
407 |
18 |
Idle |
Oct. 3 at Saginaw Valley St. |
| 12 |
Central Washington |
2-2 |
404 |
14 |
D. Sul Ross St., 61-22 |
Oct. 3 at Angelo St. |
| 13 |
Northwest Missouri St. |
3-1 |
368 |
7 |
Lost to Central Oklahoma, 19-14 |
Oct. 10 vs. Central Missouri |
| 14 |
Northwood |
4-0 |
356 |
23 |
D. No. 9 Findlay, 34-11 |
Oct. 3 vs. Kentucky Christian |
| 15 |
Newberry |
3-1 |
299 |
21 |
D. Emory & Henry, 28-14 |
Oct. 3 vs. UVA Wise |
| 16 |
Findlay |
3-1 |
278 |
9 |
Lost to No. 23 Northwood, 34-11 |
Oct. 3 at Ohio Dominican |
| 17 |
North Greenville |
4-0 |
262 |
25 |
D. Ferrum, 41-10 |
Oct. 3 at UNC Pembroke |
| 18 |
Valdosta St. |
3-1 |
226 |
22 |
Idle |
Oct. 3 vs. Erskine |
| 19 |
Henderson St. |
4-0 |
180 |
NR |
D. Southern Arkansas, 20-7 |
Oct. 3 vs. Southwestern Oklahoma |
| 20 |
Michigan Tech |
3-1 |
178 |
24 |
Idle |
Oct. 3 at Roosevelt |
| 21t. |
Mars Hill |
4-0 |
110 |
NR |
D. No. 16 Carson-Newman, 10-6 |
Oct. 3 vs. Tusculum |
| 21t. |
Northeastern St. |
3-2 |
110 |
19 |
Lost to Stephen F. Austin, 63-14 |
Oct. 3 vs. UT Permian Basin |
| 23 |
Carson-Newman |
4-1 |
103 |
16 |
Lost to Mars Hill, 10-6 |
Oct. 3 at Lenoir-Rhyne |
| 24 |
West Alabama |
4-1 |
75 |
NR |
D. Barton, 17-7 |
Oct. 3 vs. Chowan |
| 25 |
Walsh |
4-0 |
71 |
NR |
D. Ashland, 17-10 |
Oct. 3 at Thomas More |
Dropped Out: Benedict (15), Western Oregon (17), Augustana (S.D.) (20), Minnesota-Duluth (24)
Others Receiving Votes: Minnesota-Duluth, 70; Benedict, 68; UT Permian Basin, 68; Virginia Union, 37; Northern St., 32; East Central, 30; Western Oregon, 29; UNC Pembroke, 23; Central Oklahoma, 19; Shepherd, 13; Roosevelt, 11; Augustana (S.D.), 5; Anderson (S.C.), 4; Wayne St. (Neb.), 3; Central Missouri, 2; Tiffin, 1; Virginia St., 1; William Jewell, 1.
