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Chadron State 21st in D2Football.com poll, UNK and Wayne have 3 ranked opponents

/ Kbear Country
KRVN Sports
Aug 17, 2026 | 7:58 PM
Chadron State 21st in D2Football.com poll, UNK and Wayne have 3 ranked opponents


Chadron State was picked No. 21 in the D2Football.com preseason poll, revealed Monday night.

Last season the Eagles went 8-4 in one of the best seasons of Jay Long’s tenure, with an NCAA Playoff appearance, falling to Pittsburg State in the opening round. Last month, the Eagles were picked fourth and received a first-place vote in the RMAC poll behind CSU-Pueblo, Western Colorado, and Colorado Mines. Two of their opponents were also ranked, with Western Colorado (Sept 12) ranked No. 11, and CSU-Pueblo (Sept 19) ranked No. 10.

UNK will see three opponents that were ranked in the preseason poll. The Lopers wrap up non-conference play against 21st ranked Chadron State (Sept 3). In conference play, the Lopers will host preseason No. 5 Pittsburg State on October 3 and No. 6 Northwest Missouri on October 24. The Lopers will travel to Central Oklahoma on October 31, who were in the “First 5 Out” category.

Wayne State will also play three ranked opponents. The Wildcats host No. 20 Minnesota Duluth on September 12, followed by trips No. 3 Minnesota State – Mankato on October 24 and No. 13 Augustana on November 14.

Defending champion Ferris State was the unanimous No. 1 in the preseason poll, followed by last year’s runner-up Harding at No. 2 and Minnesota State – Mankato at No. 3. Kutztown and Pittsburg State round out the top five. In the preseason poll, 49 teams received at least one vote.

The other major poll for Division II football teams, the American Football Coaches Association poll, has not yet released its preseason rankings.

A replay of the poll reveal can be found here.

D2FOOTBALL.COM 2026 PRESEASON POLL

  1. Ferris State (unanimous #1)
  2. Harding
  3. Minnesota State – Mankato
  4. Kutztown
  5. Pittsburg State
  6. Northwest Missouri
  7. Indianapolis
  8. Grand Valley
  9. Central Washington
  10. CSU-Pueblo
  11. Western Colorado
  12. Ashland
  13. Augustana
  14. Western Oregon
  15. Valdosta State
  16. Virginia Union
  17. Frostburg State
  18. UT-Permian Basin
  19. Findlay
  20. Minnesota-Duluth
  21. Chadron State
  22. Wingate
  23. Northeastern State
  24. Newberry
  25. Slippery Rock

First 5 Out: IUP, Michigan Tech, Benedict, Central Oklahoma, Johnson C. Smith

KRVN’s Alex Hammeke is a weekly voter in the D2Football.com poll.