WACO, Tex. -- For the first time since 2019 the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has released a Division II Top 25 Poll. Their preseason ranking has Notre Dame College at No. 9 heading into the fall 2021 season. (Release)

The Falcons were No. 10 in the final AFCA poll of 2019 after getting to the NCAA Playoff Quarterfinals and finishing with a 12-2 record. 

Although the poll was not released last season, the Falcons did put together an impressive shortened season in the spring. NDC had a 5-0 record and outscored opponents by an average of 38.6 points per game. The program won its third consecutive Mountain East Conference championship. Over the last three seasons, Notre Dame has a record of 30-3, which includes a playoff record of 4-2. The NCAA DII Playoffs were canceled last season.

Notre Dame's week one opponent, Ashland University, received votes in the AFCA poll as well as fellow MEC member Charleston.

Last week, the MEC coaches voted Notre Dame as the top team in the conference. The College Football America Yearbook ranked the Falcons as the fifth-best team in Division II.

NDC will host Ashland on Sept. 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Mueller Field.
 

AFCA Coaches Preseason Division II Coaches' Poll Top 10
Rank	School	Points
1	West Florida	698
2	Minnesota St. Mankato	673
3	Ferris St.	630
4	Northwest Missouri St.	575
5	Slippery Rock	544
6	Lenoir-Rhyne	540
	Valdosta State	540
8	Texas A&M-Commerce	520
9	Notre Dame	501
10	Colorado School of Mines	423