WACO, Texas  The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) on Monday released its 2024 preseason NCAA Division II poll, slotting Western Colorado into the rankings at No. 15, right where it finished in the previous season's final poll.

The Mountaineers earned 230 points in the voting, one point behind 14th-ranked Augustana (S.D.) University and two points behind No. 13 Minnesota State University.

Defending D-II champion Harding (Ark.) University tops the preseason poll with 672 points, edging out second-ranked University of Central Missouri (620 pts.).

Western completed the 2023 campaign with a 10-2 overall record in a season that ended in the opening round of the NCAA tournament with an overtime loss to visiting Central Washington University, which is ranked eighth in the 2024 preseason poll.

The 2023 Mountaineers were 8-1 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action, the lone defeat coming against Colorado School of Mines, which was felled in the D-II championship game by Harding.

Mines, at No. 5, and Western are the RMAC representatives in the preseason AFCA rankings.