The Missouri Western State University Griffons were ranked No. 18 in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Poll which was released on Monday. Missouri Western opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 30 against the University of Central Missouri at 6 p.m. in Spratt Stadium.
The Griffons finished the 2011 season tying a school-record nine wins going 9-3 hosting their first ever NCAA Playoff game on November 19th against rival Northwest Missouri State University . The Griffons finished the regular season tying a school record with seven straight victories.
Defending national champion Pittsburg State was picked 1st while Northwest Missouri was picked No. 3. The Washburn Ichabods were picked 20th while MIAA newcomer Nebraska-Kearney received votes and finished 28th in the rankings. The Griffons week one opponent Central Missouri finished 31st in the rankings with 72 points.
2012 American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Coaches’ Poll – August 13, 2012
| Rank | School (1st votes) | 2011 Rec. | Pts. | 2011 Rank* | Season Opener | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pittsburg St. (Kan.) (21) | 13-1 | 720 | 1 | Aug. 30 at Northeastern St. (Okla.) | Tim Beck |
| 2. | Minnesota-Duluth (5) | 11-3 | 661 | 6 | Aug. 30 at Southwest Minnesota St. | Bob Nielson |
| 3. | Northwest Missouri St. (1) | 11-3 | 613 | 5 | Aug. 30 vs. East Central (Okla.) | Adam Dorrel |
| 4. | Midwestern St. (Texas) (1) | 10-1 | 582 | 7 | Sept. 8 at Tarleton St. (Texas) | Bill Maskill |
| 5. | Wayne St. (Mich.) (1) | 12-4 | 502 | 2 | Sept. 8 at Ashland (Ohio) | Paul Winters |
| 6. | Colorado St.-Pueblo | 11-1 | 481 | 9 | Aug. 30 vs. No. 24 West Texas A&M | John Wristen |
| 7. | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 8-3 | 473 | NR | Sept. 1 at Western Oregon | Matt Mitchell |
| 8. | Valdosta St. (Ga.) | 6-4 | 415 | NR | Sept. 1 at Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.) | David Dean |
| 9. | Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) (1) | 13-1 | 386 | 3 | Sept. 1 vs. North Carolina-Pembroke | Connell Maynor |
| 10. | Abilene Christian (Texas) | 8-3 | 367 | 16 | Sept. 1 vs. McMurry (Texas) | Ken Collums |
| 11. | California (Pa.) | 10-3 | 347 | 15 | Aug. 30 vs. No. 17 Hillsdale (Mich.) | Mike Kellar |
| 12. | Kutztown (Pa.) | 11-2 | 329 | 13 | Aug. 30 vs. St. Anselm (N.H.) | Raymond Monica |
| 13. | New Haven (Conn.) | 11-2 | 322 | 8 | Sept. 1 vs. Merrimack (Mass.) | Peter Rossomando |
| 14. | Delta St. (Miss.) | 11-3 | 290 | 4 | Sept. 1 vs. Fort Valley St. (Ga.) | Jamey Chadwell |
| 15. | West Alabama | 8-4 | 274 | 23 | Sept. 1 at Clark Atlanta (Ga.) | Will Hall |
| 16. | St. Cloud State (Minn.) | 9-3 | 266 | 17 | Aug. 30 vs. Sioux Falls (S.D.) | Scott Underwood |
| 17. | Hillsdale (Mich.) | 8-3 | 228 | NR | Aug. 30 at No. 11 California (Pa.) | Keith Otterbein |
| 18. | Missouri Western St. | 9-3 | 218 | 18 | Aug. 30 vs. Central Missouri | Jerry Partridge |
| 19. | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 9-2 | 199 | 22 | Sept. 1 at Shippensburg (Pa.) | Monte Cater |
| 20. | Washburn (Kan.) | 10-3 | 187 | 11 | Aug. 30 vs. Nebraska-Kearney | Craig Schurig |
| 21. | Humboldt St. (Calif.) | 9-1 | 183 | 20 | Aug. 30 vs. Colorado Mesa | Rob Smith |
| 22. | Albany St. (Ga.) | 8-4 | 149 | NR | Sept. 1 vs. No. 23 North Greenville (S.C.) | Mike White |
| 23. | North Greenville (S.C.) | 11-3 | 139 | 12 | Sept. 1 at No. 22 Albany St. (Ga.) | Carroll McCray |
| 24. | West Texas A&M | 8-3 | 132 | 25 | Aug. 30 at No. 6 Colorado St.-Pueblo | Don Carthel |
| 25. | Bloomsburg (Pa.) | 9-2 | 129 | 21 | Aug. 31 at Stonehill (Mass.) | Danny Hale |
*– Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2011
Others Receiving Votes: Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 128; North Alabama, 128; Nebraska-Kearney, 122; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 100; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 96; Central Missouri, 72; Indianapolis (Ind.), 70; Mars Hill (N.C.), 57; Indiana (Pa.), 49; North Carolina-Pembroke, 47; Elizabeth City St. (N.C.), 44; Minnesota St.-Mankato, 41; Colorado School of Mines, 40; East Central (Okla.), 33; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 32; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 18; Miles (Ala.), 15; Concord (W.Va.), 9; Tarleton St. (Texas), 9; West Georgia, 9; Morehouse (Ga.), 7; Ashland (Ohio), 6; Michigan Tech, 6; Southern Connecticut St., 6; Central Washington, 4; Henderson St. (Ark.), 3; Assumption (Mass.), 2; West Virginia Wesleyan, 2; Azusa Pacific, 1; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 1; Harding (Ark.), 1.
— MWSU Sports Information —