WACO, Texas (August 11, 2025) – The Northern Arizona football team received its highest preseason ranking this fall thus far, slotting in at No. 18 in the initial AFCA FCS Coaches Poll presented by Hudl. This marks the first time in nine years that the Lumberjacks were voted in the preseason top 25 in the Coaches Poll.
Like the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 released last week, NAU is one of six Big Sky Conference teams ranked in the Coaches Poll. Montana State leads the league as the preseason No. 2, followed by UC Davis (No. 7), Montana (No. 9), Idaho (No. 12) and Sacramento State (No. 14).
North Dakota State, the defending national champion, is the unanimous favorite in the first Coaches Poll. The Bison received all 26 first-place votes.
The Lumberjacks concluded the 2024 season ranked No. 21 in the AFCA Coaches Poll following their first FCS Playoff appearance since 2017. NAU's eight victories in head coach
Brian Wright's debut season were the program's most since 2013.
NAU is also ranked No. 19 in both the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 and HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25.
Fans may purchase their 2025 season tickets for the Lumberjacks' six-game home slate in the Walkup Skydome at this
link. Single-game tickets, flex plans and family 4-packs are also available at this
link.
For the full AFCA FCS Coaches Preseason Poll presented by Hudl, please click
here.
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