WACO, Texas – One week after being ranked No. 17 in the Stats Perform Preseason Top 25 rankings, North Dakota was announced as the No. 18 team in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll on Monday morning. The Missouri Valley Football Conference has four teams represented in the poll.
Much like in the Stats Perform Preseason Rankings, defending national champion South Dakota State holds the top spot. North Dakota State, who also appeared in the FCS title game, sits No. 2. North Dakota comes in at No. 18, while Northern Iowa rounds out the MVFC in the poll at No. 20.
Three teams on UND's 2023 schedule appeared in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, with all three of them being MVFC members (South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Northern Iowa).
Conference foes Youngstown State, Southern Illinois and Illinois State also received votes in the poll, with Illinois State being the only one from that group appearing on UND's schedule.
North Dakota's week two opponent, Northern Arizona, also sits just outside the top 25.
The Fighting Hawks will open the 2023 season on Saturday, Sept. 2, hosting the Bulldogs of Drake inside the Alerus Center. Kickoff between North Dakota and Drake is set for 3 p.m. (CT).
AFCA FCS Preseason Coaches Top 25
1. South Dakota State (24)
2. North Dakota State (1)
3. Montana State
4. William & Mary
5. Holy Cross
6. Furman
7. Incarnate Word
8. Sacramento State
9. Samford
10. Weber State
11. Southeast Missouri State
12. New Hampshire
13. Idaho
14. Montana
15. Southeastern Louisiana
16. Richmond
17. UC Davis
18. North Dakota
19. North Carolina Central
20. Northern Iowa
21. Delaware
22. Mercer
23. Rhode Island
24. Gardner-Webb
25. Florida A&M
Others Receiving Votes: Yale, 64; Eastern Kentucky, 59; Fordham, 58; Jackson St., 37; Elon, 30; St. Thomas (Minn.), 30;
Youngstown St., 28; Princeton, 26;
Southern Illinois, 26; UT Martin, 23; Central Arkansas, 22; Chattanooga, 13; North Carolina A&T, 13;
Illinois St., 12; Northern Arizona, 12; Southern, 9; Davidson, 7; St. Francis (Pa.), 7; Tennessee Tech, 6; Howard, 5; Pennsylvania, 5; Abilene Christian, 4; Austin Peay, 3; Campbell, 2; Villanova, 1.
