With the FBS and FCS polls of record out, our tour of college football Top 25s continues with Division II. (For the five of you who care, we'll use the coaches polls in every division except FBS; the FBS coaches poll is historically awful.)
Just like in FCS, the defending champions are starting where they left off. After surviving Central Missouri and Grand Valley State by a point apiece in their first two playoff games, the Bison stampeded to a 15-0 season by crushing Lenoir-Rhyne and Colorado School of Mines by a combined 93-21 in the semifinals and championship game. After missing the playoffs in 2022, Harding carries a 19-game winning streak into 2023.
Last season's runner-up fell to No. 5 in the eyes of Division II coaches, while Central Missouri rose to No. 2. The biggest risers were Ferris State (No. 9 to No. 3), Central Washington (No. 17 to No. 8), West Florida (No. 23 to No. 12), and Ouchita Baptist (unranked to No. 19).
No. 2 Central Missouri did not earn a first-place vote, while No. 3 Ferris State and No. 4 Grand Valley State garnered one apiece.
The full poll:
1. Harding (Ark.) -- 672 total points (25 first-place votes)
2. Central Missouri -- 620
3. Ferris State (Mich.) -- 590 (1)
4. Grand Valley State (Mich.) -- 566 (1)
5. Colorado School of Mines -- 564
6. Pittsburg State (Kan.) -- 540
7. Valdosta State (Ga.) -- 516
8. Central Washington -- 418
9. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) -- 416
10. Kutztown (Pa.) -- 413
11. Slippery Rock (Pa.) -- 384
12. West Florida -- 330
13. Minnesota State -- 232
14. Augustana (S.D.) -- 231
15. Western Colorado -- 230
16. Indianapolis -- 216
17. Minnesota-Duluth -- 214
18. Delta State (Miss.) -- 212
19. Ouchita Baptist (Ark.) -- 209
20. Virginia Union -- 183
21. Texas-Permian Basin -- 169
22. Northwest Missouri State -- 167
23. Charleston (W. Va.) -- 102
24. Angelo State (Texas) -- 89
25. Bemidji State (Minn.) -- 70
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.