Since Chris Thomsen became the ACU head coach in January 2005 he’s coached the Wildcats to several firsts.

• First NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 2006.

• First unbeaten regular season since 1950 in 2008.

• First outright Lone Star Conference championship since 1973 in 2008.

• First Harlon Hill Award winner from ACU in 2008.

On Monday he added a new accomplishment to the list when the Wildcats ascended to the nation’s No. 1 ranking.

The Wildcats moved from No. 2 in the nation to No. 1 in Monday’s American Football Coaches’ Association (AFCA) poll after a 38-14 win over then-No. 23 Angelo State on Saturday and previous No. 1 Grand Valley State’s 27-24 upset loss against previously unranked Hillsdale (Mich.).

The 7-0 Wildcats claimed the No. 1 spot in the land with 621 votes, including 23 first-place votes.  Unbeaten North Alabama moved up one spot from No. 3 to No. 2 after a 50-3 win over North Greenville (S.C.) last Thursday.  The Lions picked up two first-place votes and 600 total points.

ACU is the first Lone Star Conference team to ever be ranked No. 1 in the nation by the AFCA and only the third LSC team to ever be voted No. 1 in the NCAA Division II poll, joining Central Oklahoma (last three regular-season polls of 1998) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (last two regular-season polls of 1996).  The AFCA didn’t begin publishing a poll until 2000.

Prior to Monday’s No. 1 ranking by the AFCA, the last time the Wildcats were ranked No. 1 in the nation in football was Sept. 20, 1978, when they were the nation’s top-ranked NAIA Division I football team.  ACU was ranked No. 1 at the end of the 1973 and 1977 seasons when the Wildcats won NAIA Division I national championships.  The Wildcats were also ranked No. 1 on Aug. 28, 1978, and Sept. 20, 1978.

FULL STORY

--Courtesy ACU Athletics