The University of Minnesota Duluth, which posted its sixth consecutive double-digit win season in 2013, checked in at No. 8 in the final American Football Coaches Association Division II Poll. The Bulldogs closed out their 81st season of football with an 11-2 overall record and secured a NCAA II playoff berth for the sixth time in as many years. Their two losses this season came at top-ranked and eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State University (45-21 in the NCAA II Super Region three semifinals) and to No. 6 Minnesota State University-Mankato (21-17 on Sept. 21 in Duluth). UMD, the six-time defending Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division titleholder, has appeared in every AFCA II poll since Aug. 12, 2008 and hasn't been knocked out of the Top 15 in well over five years (a run that started on Sept. 8, 2008).

In additon, the 2013 Bulldogs placed among the NCAA II leaders in a number of team statistics this past fall including:

Category                                Rank    Avg./Total
Time of Possession                3rd        34:59
Total Defense                          4th        283.8 ypg
4th Down Conv. (Defense)     4th         27.7%
Rushing Defense                    5th        78.8 ypg
3rd Down Conv. (Defense)     6th        25.9%
Turnovers Gained                   7th        32
Fumbles Recovered               7th        16
Rushing Offense                    9th        287.3 ypg
Scoring Defense                    10th       17.2 ppg
Scoring Offense                     10th       41.5 ppg
Kickoff Return Defense          12th       15.97 ypr
Punt Returns                          16th       14.55 ypr
First Downs                            17th       287