EIU Remains Steady In One Poll, Drops In Another

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Published on September 3 2014 8:11 am
Last Updated on September 3 2014 8:11 am
Written by Millie Lange

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois football held steady in one poll while dropping three spots in another following last week’s loss to Big Ten Conference member Minnesota. The Panthers dropped three spots to No. 14 in the FCS Coaches Poll and remained at No. 16 in the Sports Network poll as the FCS Top 25 rankings were released Monday.
 
The Panthers return to action this Saturday hosting Southern Illinois in the Panthers home opener. Kickoff is 6 p.m. with tickets available by calling 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com  The game will be the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame Game and will be followed by a Fireworks display.  The Salukis climbed into the FCS Coaches poll at No. 25 this week while they are the first team also receiving votes in the Sports Network poll.
 
North Dakota State returned to No. 1 in both FCS polls after beating Big 12 Conference member Iowa State over the weekend. The three-time defending FCS National Champions were followed by Eastern Washington and Southeastern Louisiana in second and third in both polls. Montana was fourth and Coastal Carolina fifth in the Sports Network poll with those two schools flip-flopped in the FCS Coaches poll.
 
McNeese State was sixth in the FCS Coaches poll followed by Villanova, New Hampshire, Jacksonville State and Fordham in the top ten. South Dakota State was 11th followed by Northern Iowa, Sam Houston State, Eastern Illinois, Chattanooga, Tennessee State, Furman, Bethune-Cook man, Towson and Richmond in the top twenty. The final five ranked teams were Youngstown State in 21st with Maine, Montana State, William & Mary and Southern Illinois 22nd through 25th.
 
New Hampshire was sixth in the Sports Network poll with McNeese State, Northern Iowa, Jacksonville State and Villanova in the top 10. Fordham was 11th followed by South Dakota State, Chattanooga, Tennessee State, Sam Houston State, Eastern Illinois, Richmond, Bethune-Cook man, Furman, and Montana State in 20th. The final five ranked teams included William & Mary, Towson, Youngstown State, Maine and Northern Arizona in spots 21 through 25.