EIU Remains Ranked in FCS Top 25

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Published on September 9 2014 4:51 am
Last Updated on September 9 2014 4:51 am
Written by Millie Lange

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois football remained ranked in the FCS Top 25 as both the Sports Network and FCS Coaches poll were released Monday afternoon. EIU fell to No. 24 in the FCS Coaches poll (14th last week) and No. 25 in the Sports Network poll (16th last week).
 
EIU plays Illinois State on Saturday in the 103rd playing of the Mid-America Classic. The Redbirds are receiving votes in both polls. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. with the game televised on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
 
North Dakota State continued as the No. 1 team in the nation in both polls with 137 first place votes in the Sports Network rankings and 25 of 26 votes in the FCS Coaches poll. Eastern Washington ranked second in both polls had 21 first-place votes by Sports Network voters. Southeastern Louisiana ranked third in both polls had the other first place vote in the FCS Coaches poll. Montana and Coastal Carolina rounded out the top five in both polls.
 
McNeese State was sixth followed by New Hampshire, Villanova, Jacksonville State and Northern Iowa in the Sports Network poll. South Dakota State climbed to 11th with Furman, Bethune-Cookman, Chattanooga, Sam Houston State, William & Mary, Montana State, Richmond, Fordham and Southern Illinois rounding out the top twenty. SIU moved into the poll following its win over Eastern Illinois. Youngstown State, Tennessee State, Maine, Northern Arizona and Eastern Illinois were the final five in the Sports Network rankings.
 
McNeese State led teams six through ten in the FCS Coaches poll joined by Villanova, Jacksonville State, New Hampshire and South Dakota State. Northern Iowa was 11th followed by Furman, Bethune-Cookman, Southern Illinois, Sam Houston State, Youngstown State, Chattanooga, Montana State, William & Mary and Maine.  The final five schools were Richmond in 21st with Tennessee State, Fordham, Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky. EKU joined the top 25 following a win over FBS member Miami of Ohio.
 
Towson, the team that beat EIU in the quarterfinals of last year’s FCS playoffs, dropped out of both top 25 polls.