ASHLAND — It’s early June, but the prognostications for the 2017 college football season already have begun.
In the Lindy’s Sports College Football National 2017 Preview magazine, Ashland University’s football team is slotted No. 20 in the NCAA Division II preseason poll.
The final 2016 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches’ Top 25 poll saw the Eagles, who finished 9-2 and won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference South Division championship, ranked No. 19.
Coach Lee Owens’ Eagles were the only team in the season-ending AFCA poll not to qualify for the Division II playoffs.
The Eagles will begin the 2017 season on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. at Indiana, Pa., which is ranked No. 5 in the Lindy’s preseason poll.
Ashland will play three of the top five teams in the Lindy’s preseason poll in 2017 – No. 5 IUP, No. 2 Ferris State on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field and No. 3 Grand Valley State at home on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
Coverage of Ashland University Eagles athletics is produced in partnership with OhioHealth, the official sports medicine provider for Ashland University and dozens of high schools and universities throughout Ohio.
