CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State football will end the 2025 season as a consensus nationally-ranked program as the Eagles appeared in the final polls of both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D2Football.com. Chadron State earned a No. 23 ranking in the final AFCA poll and a No. 18 ranking in the final D2Football.com poll. 

In both cases, the Eagles dropped one spot from their rankings of No. 22 and No. 17, respectively, prior to CSC's first-round NCAA playoff matchup against Pittsburg State. Those were CSC's highest rankings of the season in each poll. 

When Chadron State cracked the AFCA rankings earlier this season, it was the Eagles' first appearance in the national polls since 2013. Now, Chadron State has secured a spot in the year-end AFCA poll for the first time since 2012.

Chadron State finished with an 8-4 record (8-3 regular season), a five-win improvement from a season ago. The Eagles were picked to finish tied for seventh out of 10 teams in the RMAC's Preseason Coaches Poll, but were in contention for the league title until the final week of the regular season, eventually finishing second. 

Chadron State closed the season with a stretch of three consecutive games against teams ranked in the Top 10 (Western Colorado, CSU Pueblo and Pittsburg State). In that stretch, the Eagles went 1-2 with each contest decided by one score and two going to overtime or double overtime. 

The Eagles are one of three RMAC teams to appear in both polls. CSU Pueblo finished No. 11 in the AFCA and No. 15 in D2Football.com while Western Colorado finished No. 12 in the AFCA and No. 11 in D2Football.com. Pittsburg State, CSC's NCAA playoff opponent, finished No. 6 in both polls.