Friday, July 21, 2017
by Azusa Pacific Athletic Communications

AZUSA, Calif. - Azusa Pacific has collected a pair of top-15 preseason rankings from national football publications, picking up a No. 13 ranking from Lindy's Sports while Street & Smith's (formerly Sporting News) ranked the Cougars 15th in Division II heading into the 2017 season.

Azusa Pacific returns 18 players who started at least three games from last year's Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship squad, as the Cougars made their first NCAA Division II playoff appearance in just its third season of active NCAA membership.

"Preseason national recognition of this magnitude is a healthy indicator of the direction of our program," head coach Victor Santa Cruz said. "Although it won't win us a single game this fall, it does represent the program's commitment to excellence and strength as a brand."

Two of Azusa Pacific's non-conference opponents also appear in the top-25 of both publications, as Colorado Mines (Lindy's No. 14; Street & Smith's No. 18) visits the Cougars on Oct. 7 while Colorado Mesa (Lindy's No. 25; Street & Smith's No. 24) visits Citrus Stadium in the regular-season finale on Nov. 11.

Azusa Pacific opens the 2017 season on Sat., Sept. 2 at West Texas A&M. The Cougars and Central Washington will play in front of a national audience on Sat., oct. 28, as part of the Division II Football Showcase on ESPN3.

Lindy's Sports National Preview Magazine:
"Coach Victor Santa Cruz determined to build powerhouse; offense loaded & D gets after the passer."

Street & Smith's 2017 College Football Yearbook:
"Coach Victor Santa Cruz has built a solid program at Azusa Pacific, which returns 18 starters. The Cougars ranked among national leaders in six defensive categories while allowing 16 points per game. Seven defensive starters are back along with QB Andrew Elffers, who threw only three interceptions in 257 attempts last year."