WACO, Texas – Fort Hays State moved back into the receiving votes section of the AFCA Top 25 Poll on Tuesday (Sept. 8). The Tigers moved into the Top 25 last week at No. 25, but are now the third-highest listed team on the receiving votes list this week after a loss to No. 5 ranked CSU Pueblo.
Fort Hays State is one of five MIAA schools referenced in the September 8 edition of the poll. Northwest Missouri State leads the group, ranked No. 7 this week. Emporia State moved into the Top 25 at No. 24 after a win over No. 10 ranked Pittsburg State last week. Even with the loss to ESU, Pittsburg State, now 0-2 on the season, remained in the Top 25 at No. 25. Fort Hays State and Central Oklahoma are among the receiving votes list.
Fort Hays State is currently in a bye week. The Tigers' next game will be at home on Saturday, September 19 against Pittsburg State. The Gorillas are on the road this week for a non-conference game at West Alabama.
Fort Hays State also fell out of the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll for this week. The Tigers were ranked No. 23 in that poll last week. Northwest Missouri State is No. 5 and Emporia State is No. 22 in that poll this week as the representation from the MIAA.
Below is the AFCA Top 25 Poll for September 8, 2026.
| Rank |
School |
Record |
Pts. |
Prev |
| 1 |
Ferris St. (31) |
2-0 |
775 |
1 |
| 2 |
Harding |
1-0 |
744 |
2 |
| 3 |
Kutztown |
1-0 |
707 |
3 |
| 4 |
Minnesota St. |
2-0 |
666 |
4 |
| 5 |
CSU Pueblo |
2-0 |
647 |
5 |
| 6 |
Grand Valley St. |
2-0 |
626 |
7 |
| 7 |
Northwest Missouri St. |
1-0 |
579 |
8 |
| 8 |
Western Colorado |
2-0 |
536 |
11 |
| 9 |
Central Washington |
0-1 |
480 |
6 |
| 10 |
Findlay |
1-0 |
477 |
15 |
| 11 |
Newberry |
1-0 |
463 |
13 |
| 12 |
Western Oregon |
2-0 |
421 |
17 |
| 13 |
Slippery Rock |
1-0 |
361 |
18 |
| 14 |
Indiana (Pa.) |
1-0 |
329 |
22 |
| 15 |
Minnesota-Duluth |
1-1 |
316 |
19 |
| 16 |
Valdosta St. |
2-0 |
284 |
23 |
| 17 |
UIndy |
1-1 |
247 |
9 |
| 18 |
Northeastern St. |
2-0 |
225 |
24 |
| 19 |
Ashland |
0-1 |
170 |
12 |
| 20 |
Michigan Tech |
2-0 |
127 |
NR |
| 21 |
Benedict |
2-0 |
115 |
NR |
| 22 |
Augustana (S.D.) |
1-1 |
112 |
16 |
| 23 |
Frostburg St. |
0-1 |
71 |
14 |
| 24 |
Emporia St. |
2-0 |
60 |
NR |
| 25 |
Pittsburg St. |
0-2 |
57 |
10 |
Receiving Votes: West Alabama, 55; Central Oklahoma, 52;
Fort Hays St., 41; Carson-Newman, 38; UT Permian Basin, 36; Northwood, 35; California (Pa.), 30; Virginia St., 24; Davenport, 23; Lenoir-Rhyne, 20; East Stroudsburg, 18; Shepherd, 18; North Greenville, 17; Henderson St., 14; Ouachita Baptist, 9; Concord, 8; Virginia Union, 7; East Central, 6; Black Hills St., 5; Fayetteville St., 4; MSU Moorhead, 4; Wingate, 4; Northern St., 3; Walsh, 3; Saginaw Valley St., 2; Arkansas Tech, 1; Assumption, 1; Lincoln (Mo.), 1; Wayne St. (Neb.), 1.
