Meant to get to this a day ago, but the AFCA released its Division II preseason top 25 on Monday. Just like they finished 2013, Northwest Missouri State tops the poll by a resounding margin. The Bearcats garnered 31 of 32 available first-place votes. The lone defector went to Henderson State, which checks in at No. 8. Grand Valley State, Minnesota-Duluth, Colorado State-Pueblo and North Alabama rounded out the top five.
The full poll:
1. Northwest Missouri State - 799 total points (31 first-place votes)
2. Grand Valley State (Mich.) - 725
3. Minnesota-Duluth - 634
4. Colorado State-Pueblo - 619
5. North Alabama - 589
6. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) - 538
7. Minnesota State-Mankato - 530
8. Henderson State (Ark.) - 523
9. Pittsburg State (Kan.) - 522
10. West Chester (Pa.) - 477
11. West Texas A&M - 407
12. Shepherd (W. Va.) - 393
13. Ohio Dominican - 390
14. Winston-Salem State (N.C.) - 389
15. St. Cloud State (Minn.) - 350
16. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) - 333
17. Tarleton State (Texas) - 266
18. Indianapolis - 229
19. Delta State (Miss.) - 206
20. Indiana (Pa.) - 167
21. North Carolina-Pembroke - 140
t-22. Azusa Pacific (Calif.) - 133
t-22. Emporia State (Kan.) - 133
24. Bloomsburg (Ind.) - 103
25. Tuskegee (Ala.) - 98