The Northwest Missouri State University football team held onto their No. 2 ranking as announced by the AFCA on Monday.

The Bearcats (2-0) rolled in their home opener over Sioux Falls, 52-17 over the weekend as they received two first-place votes holding steady at No. 2. Minnesota-Duluth continues to hold the top spot after receiving the remaining 27 first-place votes.

No. 3 Abilene Christian also remained the same while North Alabama is the new No. 4 after Grand Valley State was upset by Hillsdale, 34-31, over the weekend. Abilene Christian and North Alabama meet this week in a showdown of top five schools in Arlington, Texas, at Cowboys Stadium. Texas A&M-Kingsville moves up to round out the top five.

MIAA teams in the top 25 include Washburn, who moves from No. 15 to No. 13, Central Missouri which made the polls’ biggest drop, and Pittsburg State. The Mules fell from No. 12 to No. 24 after unranked Missouri Western knocked off UCM, 23-6, and the Gorillas jumped six spots to No. 19.

— NWMSU Sports Information —