| Year: | 2017 |
| Team: | Emporia State Hornets |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association |
| Short Conf: | MIAA |
| Record: | 6–5 |
| Conf Record: | 6–5 |
| Head Coach: | Garin Higgins |
| Hc Year: | 11th |
| Off Coach: | Matt Nardo |
| Oc Year: | 4th |
| Codef Coach1: | Mike LoPorto |
| Codc1 Year: | 10th |
| Codef Coach2: | Bryan Nardo |
| Codc2 Year: | 6th |
The 2017 Emporia State Hornets football team represented Emporia State University in the 2017 NCAA Division II football season. The Hornets played their home games on Jones Field at Francis G. Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas, as they have done since 1937.[1] 2017 was the 120th season in school history.[2] The Hornets were led by head coach Garin Higgins, who finished his 16th season overall, and 10th season at Emporia State.[3] Emporia State has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1991.[4]
The Hornets enter the 2017 season after finishing with an 11–2 overall, 10–1 in conference play last season under Higgins.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7]
On August 14, the American Football Coaches Association released its poll, with the Hornets ranked No. 4 in the nation, the highest in school history.[8]
Along with Higgins, there are 10 assistants.
| Head coach | 11 | Emporia State (1992) | |
| Matt Nardo | Off. Coordinator/Halfbacks | 4 | Ohio (2005) |
| Mike LoPorto | Co-Defensive Coordinator/defensive line Coach/Academic Coord. | 10 | Emporia State (2010) |
| Co-Defensive Coordinator/linebackers Coach | 6 | Ohio (2008) | |
| Nathan Linsey | Secondary/special teams Coordinator | 6 | Emporia State (2010) |
| Anthony Koehling | Offensive line Coach | 3 | Ohio (2013) |
| Antwon Crutcher | Defensive line | 2 | Ohio (2016) |
| Daniel Siehndel | Defensive Secondary Coach | 2 | Southeast Missouri State (2015) |
| Running backs/Strength & Conditioning Coach | 1 | Emporia State (2014) | |
| James Floyd | Inside Receivers Coach | 1 | Northern Colorado (2016) |
| Jarrett Sstastny | Offensive line Coach | 1 | Emporia State (2017) |
| Reference:[9] |
Source:[10]
See also: Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football.
See also: Nebraska–Kearney Lopers football.
See also: Missouri Southern Lions football.
See also: Central Missouri Mules football.
See also: Central Oklahoma Bronchos football.
See also: Northeastern State RiverHawks football.
See also: Lindenwood Lions football.
See also: Pittsburg State Gorillas football.
See also: Fort Hays State Tigers football.
See also: Missouri Western Griffons football.
See also: Washburn Ichabods football.