WACO, Tex. – After finishing last year ranked No. 24 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Poll, the Bemidji State University Football team jumped to their highest ranking in program history coming in 11th in the AFCA Coaches' Preseason Poll on Monday. BSU's previous program high was opening the 2022 season ranked 19th.
"We are excited about the opportunity to get national recognition going into the season and look forward to continuing to elevate our program," head coach Brent Bolte said. "I think our guys understand and view this ranking as a complement to what we have been able to accomplish the last few years, with the understanding we have to go out and prove we are deserving of it as we get a chance to compete."
Bemidji State is coming off a second-straight 10-win season to tie for the program high in wins. The Beavers advanced to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs for the second straight season and along the way picked up the first program home playoff win against Winona State.
BSU is starting the season off strong coming in eighth in the Lindy's Preseason College Football Magazine Poll and were selected as the team to beat in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Beavers return six All-NSIC offensive players from last season (Brandon Alt, Ty Cobb, Dhel Duncan-Busby, Jake Gannon, Conor Kovas and Will LeMire) and seven All-NSIC defensive players from a season ago (Princeten Harris, Stephen Hoffman, Max Buduris, Spencer Wehr, Colton Herman, Caleb Young and Marco Cavallaro).
Alt was selected as the NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Buduris was listed as a Player to Watch. Cobb was tabbed a Lindy's Preseason All-American.
NCAA Super Region 4 was well represented in the AFCA Top-25 Poll with Colorado School of Mines leading the way ranked second. Angelo State checked in fifth and Minnesota State is just ahead of the Beavers in ninth.
Bemidji State will open the 2023 season on Thursday, August 31 hosting Northern State in NSIC action with kickoff set for 6 p.m. inside Chet Anderson Stadium.
For more information on the Bemidji State Football program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@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).
