WACO, Texas – On the heels of advancing to the national semifinals for the first time in program history, the Kutztown University football team earned a program-record seventh place ranking in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Poll released Monday.
 
Kutztown's No. 7 final ranking is its highest ever and marks the second time in program history that the Golden Bears finished in the top 10. KU's previous high finish was No. 8 following a run to the quarterfinals in 2021.
 
After dropping its first two games, Kutztown went on a program-record 12-game winning streak to claim its sixth PSAC East title, third PSAC championship and first-ever Super Region 1 crown. The Maroon and Gold set a new standard for wins in a season, finishing with a 12-3 record.
 
The Golden Bears were not ranked in the final regular season poll, Nov. 13, but received 46 votes in that poll, most of any team outside the top 25. Only Kutztown and No. 17 Central Washington moved into the postseason poll.
 
Kutztown's path to the NCAA Division II semifinals included four straight victories over nationally ranked opponents.
 
The Bears defeated No. 4 Slippery Rock, 31-7, in the PSAC Championship game for the highest ranked win in program history (and first over a top five opponent). Kutztown went on to dispatch No. 13 Virginia Union, 38-14, in the first round of the NCAA playoffs, before coming from two scores down to beat No. 24 Charleston (W.Va.), 32-31, in the second round. KU outlasted No. 15 Slippery Rock, 28-16, on the road for its second win over The Rock in three weeks and the regional title. Kutztown's unparalleled run closed with a 35-7 loss to No. 1 and eventual national runner-up Colorado School of Mines in the semifinals.
 
Kutztown received 506 votes in the final poll and finished as the highest ranked PSAC and Super Region 1 team. Other region teams appearing in the poll included No. 10 Slippery Rock, No. 14 Tiffin and No. 19 Charleston.
 
The Golden Bears, guided by PSAC East and AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year Jim Clements, were never ranked during the regular season by the AFCA. Kutztown's highest ranking in the AFCA Poll all-time (regular or postseason) is sixth, on Nov. 14, 2011. KU broke into the final regular season D2Football.com Top 25 at No. 23 following the PSAC Championship game win over Slippery Rock.