TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE FOOTBALL: Lions rise 10 spots to No. 11 in final AFCA poll of 2019
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WACO – After a run to the regional final, the Texas A&M University-Commerce football team has finished the 2019 season as the No. 11 team in the nation in the final American Football Coaches Association Division II coaches’ poll, as announced Monday.
The Lions defeated two undefeated teams on the road in Tarleton and Colorado School of Mines, advancing to the regional final before seeing the season end at eventual national runner-up Minnesota State. The Lions made the second-largest jump in the rankings with their playoff performance, rising 10 spots from the end of the regular season. National Champion West Florida rose 19 spots from No. 20 to No. 1.
A&M-Commerce played five teams who finished the year in the top 25 or receiving votes. Minnesota State ended at No. 2, Colorado School of Mines ended at No. 8, Tarleton ended at No. 9, Colorado State-Pueblo ended at No. 12, and West Texas A&M was receiving votes.
A&M-Commerce has been ranked in 65 consecutive AFCA polls, dating back to the 2015 preseason poll. This is A&M-Commerce’s 71st all-time appearance in the AFCA poll since its inception in 2000. In the polls recognized by Division II as the top rating system, the Lions have been recognized as a nationally ranked team 120 times since joining Division II in 1981.
The Lions will look to keep their momentum of five straight NCAA playoff appearances rolling into the 2020 season. The coaching staff will recruit for the 2020 signing class with spring practices following thereafter.
2019 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Final Poll – December 23, 2019
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. | West Florida (31) | 13-2 | 774 | 20 |
| 2. | Minnesota St. | 14-1 | 744 | 4 |
| 3. | Ferris St. (Mich.) | 12-1 | 705 | 2 |
| 4. | Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) | 13-1 | 635 | 6 |
| 5. | Valdosta St. (Ga.) | 10-1 | 614 | 1 |
| 6. | Slippery Rock (Pa.) | 13-1 | 605 | 8 |
| 7. | Northwest Missouri St. | 12-2 | 528 | 10 |
| 8. | Colorado School of Mines | 12-1 | 501 | 7 |
| 9. | Tarleton (Texas) | 11-1 | 497 | 3 |
| 10. | Notre Dame (Ohio) | 12-2 | 488 | 13 |
| 11. | A&M-COMMERCE | 11-3 | 448 | 21 |
| 12. | Colorado St.-Pueblo | 11-2 | 434 | 9 |
| 13. | Central Missouri | 11-2 | 409 | 15 |
| 14. | Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) | 11-1 | 335 | 5 |
| 15. | Harding (Ark.) | 10-2 | 332 | 12 |
| 16. | Kutztown (Pa.) | 11-2 | 307 | 17 |
| 17. | Indianapolis (Ind.) | 9-2 | 234 | 14 |
| 18. | Bowie St. (Md.) | 11-1 | 218 | 11 |
| 19. | Wingate (N.C.) | 10-2 | 216 | 16 |
| 20. | Carson-Newman (Tenn.) | 9-3 | 205 | 25 |
| 21. | Indiana (Pa.) | 10-2 | 171 | 18 |
| 22. | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 10-3 | 165 | NR |
| 23. | Tiffin (Ohio) | 9-2 | 145 | 19 |
| 24. | West Chester (Pa.) | 9-3 | 88 | 22 |
| 25. | Lindenwood (Mo.) | 9-4 | 77 | NR |
Dropped Out: Truman St. (Mo.) (23), Henderson St. (Ark.) (24)
Others Receiving Votes: Truman St. (Mo.), 59; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 40; Henderson St. (Ark.), 37; Missouri Western St., 22; Augustana (S.D.), 20; Wayne St. (Mich.), 5; Virginia Union, 4; Dixie St. (Utah), 3; Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 3; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 2; West Texas A&M, 2; Central Washington, 1; Ohio Dominican, 1; Virginia St., 1.
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