The 2017 Emporia State Hornets football team represented

Emporia State University Emporia State University (Emporia State or ESU) is a public university in Emporia, Kansas, United States. Established in March 1863 as the Kansas State Normal School, Emporia State is the third-oldest public university in the state of Kansas. Em ...

in the

2017 NCAA Division II football season The 2017 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, began on August 31, 2017 and ended with the Division II champio ...

. The Hornets played their home games on Jones Field at

Francis G. Welch Stadium Francis G. Welch Stadium, also known as Jones Field at Welch Stadium or Welch Stadium, is a sport stadium in Emporia, Kansas. The facility is primarily used by the Emporia State University college football, football and Track and field, track & f ...

Emporia, Kansas Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 24,139. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 ...

, as they have done since

1937 Events January * January 1 – Anastasio Somoza García becomes President of Nicaragua. * January 5 – Water levels begin to rise in the Ohio River in the United States, leading to the Ohio River flood of 1937, which continues into Fe ...

. 2017 was the 120th season in school history. The Hornets were led by head coach Garin Higgins, who finished his 16th season overall, and 10th season at Emporia State. Emporia State has been a member of the

Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) is a List of NCAA conferences, college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the NCAA Division II, Division II level, headquartered ...

(MIAA) since 1991.

Preseason

The Hornets enter the 2017 season after finishing with an 11–2 overall, 10–1 in conference play last season under Higgins. On August 1, 2017 at the MIAA Football Media Day, the Hornets were chosen to finish second in both the Coaches Poll and Media Polls. On June 1, 2017, the Hornets were ranked No. 4 in Street & Smith's National Preseason Ranking Poll, and landed in the same spot by Lindy's Sports on June 23, 2017. On August 14, the

American Football Coaches Association The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) is an association of over 11,000 American football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "mainta ...

released its poll, with the Hornets ranked No. 4 in the nation, the highest in school history.

Personnel

Coaching staff

Along with Higgins, there are 10 assistants.

Roster

Schedule

Source:

Game notes, regular season

Northwest Missouri

Nebraska–Kearney

Missouri Southern

Central Missouri

Central Oklahoma

Northeastern State

Lindenwood

Pittsburg State

Fort Hays State

Missouri Western

Washburn

References

{{Emporia State Hornets football

Emporia State Emporia State University (Emporia State or ESU) is a public university in Emporia, Kansas, United States. Established in March 1863 as the Kansas State Normal School, Emporia State is the third-oldest public university in the state of Kansas. E ...

Emporia State Hornets football seasons Emporia State Hornets football