Lenoir-Rhyne Earns No. 4 National Ranking in Final AFCA Poll of the Year
December 18, 2023
The Lenoir-Rhyne Bears finished the 2023 season ranked No. 4 in the nation according to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II National Poll.
The Bears had a 13-2 overall record.
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Postseason | Head Coach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harding (Ark.) (28) | 15-0 | 700 | 3 | D. No. 1 Colorado Mines, 38-7, in national championship | Paul Simmons | |
| 2 | Colorado School of Mines | 14-1 | 672 | 1 | Lost to No. 3 Harding (Ark.), 38-7, in national championship | Pete Sterbick | |
| 3 | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 11-2 | 612 | 2 | Lost to No. 3 Harding (Ark.), 7-6, in quarterfinals | Scott Wooster | |
| 4 | Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) | 13-2 | 571 | 11 | Lost to No. 3 Harding (Ark.), 55-14, in semifinals | Mike Jacobs | |
| 5 | Pittsburg St. (Kan.) | 11-2 | 525 | 7 | Lost to No. 2 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 24-21, in second round | Brian Wright | |
| 6 | Central Missouri | 11-2 | 523 | 6 | Lost to No. 3 Harding (Ark.), 35-34, in second round | Josh Lamberson | |
| 7 | Kutztown (Pa.) | 12-3 | 506 | NR | Lost to No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, 35-7, in semifinals | Jim Clements | |
| 8 | Valdosta St. (Ga.) | 12-2 | 464 | 14 | Lost to No. 11 Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 35-7, in quarterfinals | Tremaine Jackson | |
| 9 | Ferris St. (Mich.) | 8-3 | 436 | 5 | Lost to No. 2 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 21-14, in first round | Tony Annese | |
| 10 | Slippery Rock (Pa.) | 12-2 | 431 | 15 | Lost to Kutztown (Pa.), 28-16, in quarterfinals | Shawn Lutz | |
| 11 | Delta St. (Miss.) | 10-2 | 407 | 8 | Lost to No. 14 Valdosta St. (Ga.), 38-31, in second round | Todd Cooley | |
| 12 | Benedict (S.C.) | 11-1 | 404 | 4 | Lost to No. 11 Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 35-25, in second round | Chennis Berry | |
| 13 | Augustana (S.D.) | 11-2 | 307 | 16 | Lost to No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, 56-10, in second round | Jerry Olszewski | |
| 14 | Tiffin (Ohio) | 11-1 | 302 | 9 | Lost to No. 15 Slippery Rock (Pa.), 45-35, in second round | Cris Reisert | |
| 15 | Western Colorado | 10-2 | 266 | 10 | Lost to Central Washington, 16-13 OT, in first round | Jas Bains | |
| 16 | Bemidji St. (Minn.) | 9-3 | 264 | 21 | Lost to Central Washington, 21-17, in second round | Brent Bolte | |
| 17 | Central Washington | 9-4 | 262 | NR | Lost to No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, 38-14, in quarterfinals | Chris Fisk | |
| 18 | Texas-Permian Basin | 10-2 | 213 | 12 | Lost to No. 21 Bemidji St. (Minn.), 10-3, in first round | Kris McCullough | |
| 19 | Charleston (W.Va.) | 10-2 | 179 | 24 | Lost to Kutztown (Pa.), 32-31, in second round | Quinn Sanders | |
| 20 | Virginia Union | 10-2 | 161 | 13 | Lost to Kutztown (Pa.), 38-14, in first round | Alvin Parker | |
| 21 | Minnesota St. | 9-3 | 147 | 19 | Lost to No. 16 Augustana (S.D.), 51-24, in first round | Todd Hoffner | |
| 22 | Indianapolis (Ind.) | 9-2 | 141 | 17t | Lost to No. 7 Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 35-14, in first round | Chris Keevers | |
| 23 | West Florida | 8-4 | 113 | 23 | Lost to No. 8 Delta St. (Miss.), 49-14, in first round | Kaleb Nobles | |
| 24 | Henderson St. (Ark.) | 9-3 | 80 | 25 | Lost to No. 6 Central Missouri, 56-14, in first round | Scott Maxfield | |
| 25 | Minnesota-Duluth | 9-2 | 69 | 17t | DNQ Playoffs | Curt Wiese |
Dropped Out: Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) (20), Davenport (Mich.) (22)
Others Receiving Votes: Davenport (Mich.), 58; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 51; Shepherd (W.Va.), 38; Southern Arkansas, 37; New Haven (Conn.), 25; Emporia St. (Kan.), 23; Limestone (S.C.), 18; Missouri Western St., 16; Southern Nazarene (Okla.), 15; Ashland (Ohio), 14; McKendree (Ill.), 13; Colorado St.-Pueblo, 12; Angelo St. (Tex.), 11; Virginia St., 11; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 2; Frostburg St. (Md.), 1.