WACO, Tex. – The Delta State University football team are ranked number 18 in the American Football Coaches' Association's preseason poll released this afternoon presented by Hudl.
 
The Statesmen enter the 2024 season with high aspirations following back-to-back Gulf South Conference Championships. Delta State posted a 10-2 record in the 2023 campaign, leading to their ninth conference championship in program history along with their 11^th appearance in the NCAA Division II football playoffs.
 
Head Coach Todd Cooley and his staff, welcomed back 18 players (10 offense, eight defense) who played in 10 or more games during the Statesmen's 2023 GSC Championship run.
 
Delta State received 212 votes in a vote of 27 Division II head football coaches on the AFCA poll committee
 
Defending national champion Harding received 25 first-place votes and 672 points to earn the preseason no. 1 ranking. Central Missouri was tabbed number two with 620 votes, while Ferris State was picked third with 590 points and a first-place vote. Rounding out the top five was Grand Valley State, who had 566 points and a first-place vote, and the defending national runner-up Colorado School of Mines with 564 points.
 
The Statesmen open the 2024 campaign with one of four road trips to the Carolinas to face the Lions of Mars Hill University on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. (CDT) in Mears Stadium.
 
Here's a look at the poll below
 
2024 AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll, presented by Hudl – August 14, 2023
 

Rank	School (1st votes)	2023 Rec.	Pts.	2023 Rank	Season Opener	Head Coach
1	Harding (Ark.) (25)	15-0	672	1	Sept. 5 vs. Southern Nazarene (Okla.)	Paul Simmons
2	Central Missouri	11-2	620	6	Sept. 7 vs. Northeastern St. (Okla.)	Josh Lamberson
3	Ferris St. (Mich.) (1)	8-3	590	9	Aug. 31 at No. 6 Pittsburg St. (Kan.)	Tony Annese
4	Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (1)	11-2	566	3	Sept. 5 vs. Central St. (Ohio)	Scott Wooster
5	Colorado School of Mines	14-1	564	2	Sept. 5 vs. West Texas A&M	Pete Sterbick
6	Pittsburg St. (Kan.)	11-2	540	5	Aug. 31 vs. No. 3 Ferris St. (Mich.)	Tom Anthony
7	Valdosta St. (Ga.)	12-2	516	8	Aug. 31 vs. Albany St. (Ga.)	Tremaine Jackson
8	Central Washington	9-4	418	17	Sept. 7 at San Diego (Calif.)	Chris Fisk
9	Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)	13-2	416	4	Sept. 7 vs. Bowie St. (Md.)	Doug Socha
10	Kutztown (Pa.)	12-3	413	7	Sept. 5 vs. Assumption (Mass.)	Jim Clements
11	Slippery Rock (Pa.)	12-2	384	10	Sept. 7 vs. New Haven (Conn.)	Shawn Lutz
12	West Florida	8-4	330	23	Sept. 5 vs. McKendree (Ill.)	Kaleb Nobles
13	Minnesota St.	9-3	232	21	Aug. 29 at No. 22 Northwest Missouri St.	Todd Hoffner
14	Augustana (S.D.)	11-2	231	13	Sept. 5 at Mary (N.D.)	Jerry Olszewski
15	Western Colorado	10-2	230	15	Sept. 7 vs. Midwestern St. (Tex.)	Jas Bains
16	Indianapolis (Ind.)	9-2	216	22	Sept. 7 at Hillsdale (Mich.)	Chris Keevers
17	Minnesota-Duluth	9-2	214	25	Aug. 29 at Northern Michigan	Curt Wiese
18	Delta St. (Miss.)	10-2	212	11	Aug. 29 at Mars Hill (N.C.)	Todd Cooley
19	Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)	9-2	209	NR	Sept. 5 vs. Southwestern Oklahoma St.	Todd Knight
20	Virginia Union	10-2	183	20	Aug. 31 at Kentucky St.	Alvin Parker
21	Texas-Permian Basin	10-2	169	18	Aug. 31 vs. Western New Mexico	Kris McCullough
22	Northwest Missouri St.	7-4	167	NR	Aug. 29 vs. No. 13 Minnesota St.	Rich Wright
23	Charleston (W.Va.)	10-2	102	19	Aug. 31 at Livingstone (N.C.)	Quinn Sanders
24	Angelo St. (Tex.)	7-3	89	NR	Aug. 29 at Fort Hays St. (Kan.)	Jeff Girsch
25	Bemidji St. (Minn.)	9-3	70	16	Aug. 29 vs. Michigan Tech	Brent Bolte

 
*– Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2023
 
Others Receiving Votes: Benedict (S.C.), 64; Henderson St. (Ark.), 56; Virginia St., 54; Tiffin (Ohio), 34; Southern Arkansas, 24; Ashland (Ohio), 21; Davenport (Mich.), 21; Wingate (N.C.), 20; Emporia St. (Kan.), 18; Colorado St.-Pueblo, 17; Albany St. (Ga.), 15; Findlay (Ohio), 14; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 12; California (Pa.), 11; Oklahoma Baptist, 11; Shepherd (W.Va.), 8; New Haven (Conn.), 7; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 6; Wayne St. (Neb.), 3; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 2; Truman St. (Mo.), 2; Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 1; Indiana (Pa.), 1.