WACO, Tex. – Following their third straight season reaching the second round of the NCAA Playoffs, the Bemidji State University Football team was ranked No. 16 in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Poll.
The Beavers moved up from No. 21 to No. 16 after defeating then No. 12 Texas-Permian Basin 10-3 in the opening round of the playoffs. Central Washington who defeated Bemidji State in the second round went from unranked to No. 17 as they advanced to the third round before falling at Colorado School of Mines. Harding won the national championship 38-7 against Colorado School of Mines to finish as the top-ranked team. Colorado School of Mines finishes No. 2 and Grand Valley State rounds out the top three. Augustana was the top-ranked team from the NSIC at No. 13, while Minnesota State (No. 21) and Minnesota Duluth (No. 25) also remained in the top 25.
Bemidji State went 9-3 and 8-2 in NSIC play this season, winning a third straight opening round NCAA Playoff game. The Beavers hosted their first-ever second round NCAA Playoff game at Chet Anderson Stadium. Bemidji State has now put a stretch together since 2021 going 29-9 and competing in six NCAA Playoff games. BSU also claimed a pair of NSIC titles and finishes in a tie for second this year.
Ty Cobb was named an All-American by both Associated Press and D2CCA, while Marcus Hansen was tabbed an All-American by Associated Press. Cobb also finished sixth in the Gene Upshaw Award voting.
For more information on the Bemidji State Football program, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversFB). Like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversFB).
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
