Emporia State University's football and volleyball programs have achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Hornets teams to be ranked simultaneously in the national polls.
The volleyball squad is listed No. 25 in the AVCA National Poll, while the football team holds the No. 24 position in the AFCA poll, marking the inaugural moment both programs appear in the Top 25 together.
A Milestone in Hornets History
Both teams have built their rankings on early-season success; the football team improved to 2-0 after a decisive victory over Pittsburg State, a program that entered the game ranked tenth, and the program had not been placed in the AFCA Top 25 since November 2024. The volleyball side sits at 7-1, having last been ranked No. 23 on November 24, 2025, and continues its ascent.
Emporia State is the only university in the Mid-State Athletic Association (MIAA) with both its football and volleyball teams ranked nationally, highlighting the conference’s growing prominence in Division II athletics. The Hornets join a select group of Division II schools—Ferris State, Grand Valley State and Central Washington—that also field dual Top 25 programs.
Looking ahead, the volleyball Hornets will travel to Wichita for a non-conference matchup on Tuesday night, while the football team is slated to face No. 24 Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday in Shawnee, Oklahoma. On Saturday, the football squad will host Michigan Tech at the newly opened Blackcreek Diesel Field at Welch Stadium, a Top 25 showdown that pits two ranked programs against each other.
The simultaneous national rankings underscore the rising competitiveness of Emporia State’s athletic programs and signal heightened interest from national observers, potentially boosting recruiting, alumni engagement, and the university’s profile within the Division II landscape.