ELMHURST, Ill.-  The National Tenpin Coaches Association released its 2025-2026 December Coaches Poll. The Jets took the 16th spot in the poll, the second highest ranked DII in the poll. 

So far this season, the Jets have earned a first-place finish at the Warhawk Classic, a second-place finish at the Midstates Championship, fifth place at the Track Kat Klash, seventh at the Bearcat Classic, and fourth at the DII Classic.I n the preseason NTCA Coaches Poll, the Jets were receiving votes. Their strong results throughout the first semester have helped propel them to a No. 16 national ranking. Freshman Claire Jacobson has secured a spot on the All-Tournament Team in four events this season.

Jacksonville State maintained a firm grip on its No. 1 ranking but much of the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25 encountered significant turbulence in the most recent polling of 46head coaches. Jacksonville State ended the fall portion of the 2025-26 season with a glossy 31-8 won-loss record that included tournament championships in the Bulldog Classic and Destination Orlando to go along with one third-place finish. The Gamecocks rank first in the NCAA Power Index and boast three members in the Top 10 of the Player Composite Performance Index. JSU earned 43 of the poll's 46 votes.

Mount St. Mary's 42-17 record caught voters' attention and they soared from 14th place into ninth. The Mountaineers had a pair of tournament titles at the Garden State and Coppin State Invitationals. Traditionally ranked programs Arkansas State and Nebraska were third and fourth with both programs turning in identical 36-16 worksheets. Louisiana Tech made a hefty jump from ninth into fifth with all four of its finishes fifth place or higher. The Bulldogs were followed by Wichita State (6), Youngstown State (7) and Maryville (10) rounding out the Top 10. The poll's second 10 also saw some new faces. Among the other big climbers were Wright State, up from 20th
into 12th, Monmouth (15th) and Newman (16), the latter pair both unranked in the pre-season. Sacred Heart remained 11th after a solid fall campaign, followed by Wright State, North Carolina A&T, Sam Houston and Monmouth. Newman checked in at 16, followed by Tulane, Valparaiso, and McKendree. Bryant and Saint Vincent made its poll debut at 20, and 21, followed by Duquesne, Kutztown, Delaware State and Central Missouri.

The season will resume after final exams and the winter holidays in January.

December 9, 2025 NTCA Coaches Poll 

Rank |  School |  Location | Conference Affiliation | 1st Place Votes | Point Total | Previous Rank

1 Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL (CUSA) 43 1974 1

2 Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (CUSA) 2 1839 3

3 Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR (CUSA) 1686 6

4 University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (CUSA) 1 1666 2

5 Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA (CUSA) 1612 9

6 Wichita State University, Wichita, KS (CUSA) 1520 5

7 Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH (CUSA) 1278 4

8 Niagara University, Niagara University, NY (NEC) 1123 25

9 Mount St. Mary's University, Emmitsburg, MD (INDEPENDENT) 1055 14

10 Maryville University, St. Louis, MO (GLVC) 1026 10

11 Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT (CUSA) 985 11

12 Wright State University, Fairborn, OH (CUSA) 953 20

13 North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC (MEAC) 895 7

14 Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX (CUSA) 788 8

15 Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ (NEC) 707 RV

16 Newman University, Wichita, KS (GLVC) 660 RV

17 Tulane University, New Orleans, LA (CUSA) 635 19

18 Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN (CUSA) 608 21

19 McKendree University, Lebanon, IL (GLVC) 594 15

20 Bryant University, Smithfield, RI (ECC) 479 NR

21 Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA (AMCC) 459 RV

22 Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA (NEC) 380 12

23 Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA (ECC) 325 RV

24 Delaware State University, Dover, DE (MEAC) 279 23

25 University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO (GLVC) 275 RV

Also Receiving Votes: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Carroll University, Dominican University (New York),

Fairleigh Dickinson University, Felician University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Mercyhurst University, Molloy University, Oklahoma Christian University, William Smith College, University of Wisconsin Whitewater