The first month of the D2 college football season is in the books, and already we’ve seen significant upsets, fantastic individual performances, and underrated squads during the offseason skyrocket up our rankings.
[divider]MORE D2 FOOTBALL:
Grand Valley St. is No. 1, but Who’s No 2?
Studs off to Hot Starts[divider]
From teams hovering near the top to others that have flown up our rankings a whopping 68 spots, check out these phenomenal schools and then cast your vote for the D2 Team of the Month for September.
The poll is open until Friday at 5 p.m. Eastern/2 p.m. Pacific Time, so make your selection today and feel free to share with friends so they can get in on the action as well.
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Midwestern State
Conference: Lone Star
Rank on Sept. 1: BR-18
Current Rank: BR-3
Difference: 15 spots
The Mustangs opened the season ranked no. 20 and peaked at no. 1 thanks to an offense averaging 44.8-points-per game. QB Layton Rabb leads the conference in both passing yards per game at 335 and touchdowns with 18 to go along with zero interceptions.
COMPARE: Midwestern State vs. Any Team
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Colorado Mines
Conference: Rocky Mountain
Rank on Sept. 1: BR-82
Current Rank: BR-14
Difference: 68 spots
The D2 squad making one of nation’s biggest jumps up the rankings belongs to the Orediggers who are fresh off a 72-point performance last week against Colorado Mesa. The offense has scored 35 or more points during all five of its wins, and Isaac Harker’s 1,567 yards passing is seventh-best in the country.
The offense is so prolific that despite a potent air attack, sophomore running back Cameron Mayberry’s 625 yards rushing places him fourth in the nation.
COMPARE: Colorado Mines vs. Any Team
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Colorado State-Pueblo
Conference: Rocky Mountain
Rank on Sept. 1: BR-57
Current Rank: BR-15
Difference: 42 spots
The only team to hang tight with Colorado Mines, conference-mates Colorado State-Pueblo has also raced up our rankings thanks to a defense who — other than giving up 35 points to the Orediggers on September 15 — is surrendering only 13.5 points during its four victories en route to a 4-1 opening month.
COMPARE: Colorado State-Pueblo vs. Any Team
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Lenoir-Rhyne
Conference: South Atlantic
Rank on Sept. 1: BR-107
Current Rank: BR-51
Difference: 56 spots
Starting way back in the pack this summer, Lenoir-Rhyne suddenly finds themselves charging up the rankings thanks to its current four-game winning streak and tough opening-season battle with top 20 West Alabama that fell just four points shy of a massive upset.
One of the more amazing stats on the squad belongs to wideout T.J. Smith. The senior is averaging a modest 4.4 receptions per game through five contests, but those catches have accounted for 530 yards, seven touchdowns, and an eyebrow-raising 24.1-yards-per-catch average.
COMPARE: Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Any Team
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Tarleton State
Conference: Lone Star
Rank on Sept. 1: BR-52
Current Rank: BR-18
Difference: 34 spots
The Texans gave up just 11 points on average during the first three games of the season, and then the offense proved it could win a shootout as it knocked off Angelo State 54-33 on Saturday.
It’s a shame the school’s matchup against FCS foe Stephen F. Austin was canceled due to bad weather. Aside from being a fabulous litmus test, the Texans defense may have feasted on a Lumberjacks’ offense that averaged only 7.6-points-per game during its three September losses.
COMPARE: Tarleton State vs. Any Team
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Tiffin
Conference: Great Midwest Athletic
Rank on Sept. 1: BR-47
Current Rank: BR-49
Difference: -2 spots
It might seem odd to include a team that dropped a few spots in the rankings, but major kudos to Tiffin for surviving a brutal September schedule. After a season-opening home victory over Northwood, the Dragons hit the road for four straight weeks and emerged with four straight wins.
Expect to see Tiffin creep up the rankings if their winning ways continue.
COMPARE: Tiffin vs. Any Team
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Which School has the D2 Team of the Month for September 2018?
