D2football.com Preseason Top 25

GOLDEN, Colo. - The final preseason poll of the 2024 football season has Colorado School of Mines sitting at #7 as D2football.com unveiled their top 25 on Sunday night.

The Orediggers are the top RMAC and Super Region IV team in the poll, which is topped by defending national champion Harding ahead of #2 Central Missouri, #3 Ferris State, #4 Pitt State, and #5 Grand Valley State in the top five. 

Mines was one of two RMAC schools in the ranking along with #19 Western Colorado. The Orediggers lead eight ranked teams from Super Region IV including their regional final opponent last year, #8 Central Washington, along with two teams they have faced in the playoffs over the past two seasons in #11 Minnesota State and #21 Augustana, plus #16 UT-Permian Basin, #20 Bemidji State, and #25 Minnesota-Duluth.

It is the 63rd consecutive appearance by the Orediggers in the D2football.com top 25 and 22nd consecutive top-10 ranking. Earlier this month, Mines was ranked #5 in the AFCA preseason poll. 

Mines went 14-1 and advanced to its second consecutive NCAA Division II championship game last fall, winning its fifth consecutive RMAC title and third straight NCAA regional crown under first-year head coach Pete Sterbick. The Orediggers continue to work through their preseason practices and make their season debut Sept. 5 at home against West Texas A&M.