WACO, TEX. – The University of Sioux Falls Football Team, which has reached the NCAA DII playoffs in fourth of the past five seasons, received votes in the AFCA Division II Coaches' Top-25 Poll released today.

In 2019, the Cougars finished 8-4 which included a berth in the NCAA DII playoffs. Directed by five-year head coach Jon Anderson, the Cougars have had 26 straight winning seasons. USF, which returns 38 letter winners and 13 starters from the 2019 team, opened practice on August 9 in preparation of the season opener at home against Bemidji State on Thursday, Sept. 2 at Bob Young Field. In this preseason DII poll, the Cougars received 23 ballot points.

Two years off the program's first national title, West Florida begins the 2021 season at No. 1 in the AFCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll. As with most teams in Division II, the Argonauts are almost two years removed from their last football game. West Florida, who received 26 first-place votes, begins their title defense on September 2 against FCS-member McNeese. The runner-up in 2019, Minnesota State, sits at No. 2 and received two first-place votes. Ferris State (Mich.), Northwest Missouri State, who earned the final first-place vote, and Slippery Rock (Pa.) round out the Top 5.
 
2021 American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Coaches' Poll – August 16, 2021                                                              
1.  West Florida, 13-2 (26) , 698 
2. Minnesota State, 14-1 (2), 673
3. Ferris State (Mich.), 12-1, 630
4. Northwest Missouri State, 12-2 (1), 575
5. Slippery Rock (Pa.), 13-1, 544
6T. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 13-1, 540
6T. Valdosta State (Ga.), 10-1, 540
8. Texas A&M Commerce, 10-3
9. Notre Dame (Ohio), 12-2, 501
10. Colorado School of Mines, 12-1, 423
11. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 11-1, 387
12. Colorado St.-Pueblo, 11-2, 327
13. Central Missouri, 11-2, 323
14. Indianapolis (Ind.), 9-2, 261
15. Shepherd (W. Va.), 10-3, 256
16. Grand Valley State (Mich.), 8-3, 231
17. Indiana (Pa.), 10-2, 220
18. Bowie State (Md.), 11-1, 210
19. Tiffin (Ohio), 9-2, 188
20. Kutztown (Pa.), 11-2, 144
21. Lindenwood (Mo.), 9-4, 134
22. Harding (Ark.), 10-2, 120
23. Minnesota-Duluth, 8-3, 100
24T. Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 9-3, 95
24T. Wingate (N.C.), 10-2, 95

Others Receiving Votes: Fort Hays St., 90; Tusculum (Tenn.), 52; Angelo St. (Texas), 49; Augustana (S.D.), 42; Ashland (Ohio), 38; West Chester (Pa.), 38; Delta St. (Miss.), 35; West Texas A&M, 26; Midwestern St. (Texas), 25; Bentley (Mass.), 24; Henderson St. (Ark.), 24; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 23; UT-Permian Basin (Texas), 23; Ohio Dominican, 20; Findlay (Ohio), 18; West Alabama, 18; California (Pa.), 17; Charleston (W.Va.), 16; Central Washington, 15; Miles (Ala.), 15; Truman St. (Mo.), 15; Oklahoma Baptist, 14; Assumption (Mass.), 9; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 8; Wayne St. (Mich.), 8; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 6; Virginia Union, 6; Chadron St. (Neb.), 4; Nebraska-Kearney, 4; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 2; West Georgia, 2; Hillsdale (Mich.), 1; Missouri Western, 1; Virginia St., 1; Western Oregon, 1.