WACO, Texas (SUBMITTED) -- The Carson-Newman Eagles dropped to # 20 in this week’s American Football Coaches Association Poll, which was released Monday.

The Eagles, who started the season ranked ninth, fell to Winona State on Saturday, 24-21, in their season opener. The Warriors entered the poll this week at No. 24.

C-N remains the only South Atlantic Conference team in the poll.

Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State remains at No. 1. Grand Valley State is ranked second, while Minnesota-Duluth, North Alabama and California (Pa.) round out the top five.

C-N returns to action at home on Thursday against Bentley. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Burke-Tarr Stadium. The meeting is just the second all-time between the schools. The Eagles defeated Bentley 59-18 in 2008.

American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll

Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev.
1 Northwest Missouri St. (23) 0-0 643 1
2 Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (1) 0-0 619 2
3 Minnesota-Duluth (1) 1-0 581 4
4 North Alabama (1) 0-0 564 3
5 California (Pa.) 0-0 524 6
6 Abilene Christian (Texas) 0-0 467 7
7 West Liberty (W.Va.) 0-0 451 8
8 West Texas A&M 0-0 417 11
9 Washburn (Kan.) 1-0 408 10
10 West Alabama 1-0 344 12
11 Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.) 0-0 332 14
12 Nebraska-Omaha 0-0 305 15
13 Central Washington 0-1 277 5
14 Texas A&M-Kingsville 0-0 274 16
15 Tuskegee (Ala.) 0-0 258 17
16 Hillsdale (Mich.) 0-0 242 18
17 Midwestern St. (Texas) 0-0 235 19
18 Minnesota St.-Mankato 0-0 188 21
19 Missouri Western St. 0-0 169 20
20 Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 0-1 133 9
21 West Chester (Pa.) 0-0 126 22
22 Delta St. (Miss.) 0-0 115 24
23 North Carolina-Pembroke 0-0 108 23
24 Winona St. (Minn.) 1-0 84 NR
25 Wayne St. (Neb.) 1-0 72 NR

Dropped Out: Nebraska-Kearney (13), East Stroudsburg (Pa.), (25).

Others Receiving Votes: Nebraska-Kearney, 52; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 44; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 43; Albany St. (Ga.), 40; Wingate (N.C.), 38; Central Missouri, 35; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 31; Morehouse (Ga.), 24; Tarleton St. (Texas), 24; Augustana (S.D.), 22; Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 20; Texas A&M-Commerce, 20; Bloomsburg (Pa.), 17; Edinboro (Pa.), 16; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 16; Shepherd (W.Va.), 14; Chadron St. (Neb.), 12; Colorado School of Mines, 12; Benedict (S.C.), 8; Bentley (Mass.), 7; Clarion (Pa.), 5; Henderson St. (Ark.), 5; C.W. Post (N.Y.), 3; Findlay (Ohio), 3; Shaw (N.C.), 2; Elizabeth City St. (N.C.), 1.