[1 | four teams set for home openers]
Four GLVC football programs will make their home openers on Saturday, while another remains at home, leaving three teams on the road. One of those teams hitting the road is Indianapolis, which upset No. 2 Grand Valley State last week. The Greyhounds will look to tackle their second straight GLIAC opponent in Wayne State. Truman State (Morningside) and William Jewell (Texas A&M-Commerce) will also play away from their home stadiums this week. After a heartbreaking home loss in the season opener, Missouri S&T stays in Rolla to welcome Northwood. Ready to kick it off at home will be Lincoln (Lincoln-Pa.), McKendree (Kentucky State), Quincy (Alderson Broaddus), Southwest Baptist (Mississippi College). Both Lincoln and Southwest Baptist will make their debut hosting games on the GLVC Sports Network, while McKendree, Missouri S&T and Quincy will also stream live on GLVCSN.  William Jewell will provide an audio only broadcast on GLVCSN.
[2 | indianapolis vaults to 18th in afca top 25 poll]
Indianapolis has entered the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches Poll in dramatic fashion with its week one debut at No. 18, it was announced Monday. The Hounds were one of four GLVC squads to receive preseason recognition by the AFCA, garnering votes outside the top 25.  Following UIndy’s 24-20 upset over then-No. 2 Grand Valley State, which dropped to 14th this week, the Hounds secured their highest ranking in the AFCA poll since earning the No. 16 slot in the 2016 preseason poll.  They finished the 2015 season ranked 18th. Defending GLVC co-champion Southwest Baptist is currently receiving votes outside the poll.
[3 | three programs take home first weekly honors of 2017]
Indianapolis freshman running back Al McKeller and junior linebacker Cole Sigmund, along with Missouri S&T sophomore placekicker Ben Styron, have garnered the first GLVC Player of the Week honors for the 2017 football season, it was announced by the league office Monday. McKeller, the GLVC Offensive Player of the Week, racked up 206 rushing yards on 21 carries in his first collegiate game – a 24-20 upset over No. 2 Grand Valley State. Sigmund earned Defensive Player of the Week accolades after leading all players with 10 total tackles, including two for a loss. Styron, the Special Teams Player of the Week honoree, accounted for 10 of Missouri S&T’s 16 points in the Miners’ 20-16 home loss to West Florida.
[4 | week one performances measure up nationally]
A number of individual performances in GLVC action rated among the nation’s best outputs in the first week of competition. Quincy return specialist Jordan Smith averaged 55.3 yards on kickoff returns to rank second nationally after week one, while Missouri S&T wideout Braxton Graham hauled in 206 receiving yards, good for third. UIndy’s Al McKeller, the GLVC Offensive Player of the Week, rushed for 206 yards in the Greyhounds’ upset over No. 2 Grand Valley State, good for the fourth-highest yardage in the country last week. William Jewell quarterback Brad Strauss threw for 427 yards in the Cardinals’ loss to South Dakota Mines, a total that also ranks fourth-best in the nation.
[5 | glvc standouts among ncaa active leaders]
A handful of GLVC standouts are found among active NCAA Division II leaders in select statistical categories. Missouri S&T return specialist Braxton Graham leads the nation with a 16.1 punt return average, while UIndy’s Brad Schickel rates second with a .850 field goal percentage, and fifth with 34 field goals made. On defense, Missouri S&T’s Landon Compton (8.64) and Southwest Baptist’s Tyler Curts (8.60) rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in total tackles per game. Quincy’s Adehkeem Brown is fifth with 11 interceptions. UIndy’s Tuwan Payton is fifth in kickoff return average at 27.3 yards per return.
[6 | maximum capacity]
A total of 5,553 fans entered Key Stadium last week to watch UIndy defend its home turf with a 24-20 victory over No. 2 Grand Valley State. With a seating capacity of 5,500, the Greyhounds were one of six Division II programs to exceed the stated stadium capacity in week one. UIndy ranked sixth at 100.96 percent stadium capacity, while Northwest Missouri State (123.92), Minnesota Duluth (113.87), Oklahoma Baptist (113.78), Nebraska-Kearney (108.57) and Pace (102.88) rated first through fifth for the first week of competition.