D3football.com Poll | AFCA Poll

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John's University football team ended the 2024 season ranked No. 7 in the final American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) and D3football.com polls.

SJU (11-1, 8-0 MIAC) won its MIAC-record 37th conference championship and made its 33rd postseason appearance (29th in Division III) this fall. The 10-win season was the program's 26th. The Johnnies have now been ranked in D3football.com's top 25 in 126-consecutive polls.

The Johnnies finished the regular-season schedule in November ranked No. 3 by D3football.com and No. 4 by the AFCA.

SJU ended the 2024 season as the NCAA Division III leader in passing offense (380.3 ypg.), third in completion percentage (.738), fifth in total offense (503.5 ypg.), sixth in passing efficiency (188.37), eighth in first downs (304) and 12th in scoring offense (43.5 ppg.). The Johnnies' defense, meanwhile, was third nationally on fourth down (.212/7-for-32), fourth in sacks (3.75 spg.) and ninth in the red zone (.594/19-for-32).

Individually, senior quarterback Aaron Syverson (Minnetonka, Minn.) was the Division III leader in completion percentage (.763), passing touchdowns (51), passing yards (4,382) and passing yards per game (365.2); second in completions per game (27.58), points responsible per game (26.0) and total offense per game (361.2); third in points responsible for (312); fourth in passing efficiency (198.0); and sixth in yards per pass attempt (10.10).

Junior wide receiver Dylan Wheeler (St. Paul, Minn./Mounds View) was second in Division III in receiving touchdowns (21); eighth in total points scored (126) and total touchdowns (21); 14th in receptions per game (7.3); and 15th in scoring (10.5 ppg.).

Senior wideout Marselio Mendez (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) finished 14th in Division III in receiving yards (1,183) and 15th in all-purpose yards per game (145.08).