EIU Also Receives Votes In STATS FCS Top 25 Poll

Eastern Illinois landed as the first team also receiving votes as the STATS (formerly Sports Network) FCS Top 25 poll was released on Monday. The Panthers received 431 total points, just nine behind 25th ranked McNeese State. EIU was tabbed No. 25 in the FCS Coaches Top 25 poll that was released last week marking the third straight season EIU will open as a nationally ranked team.

EIU was 5-7 last year but finished the season in the thick of the Ohio Valley Conference race. The Panthers return 16 starters from last year’s squad including quarterback Jalen Whitlow and preseason defensive All-Americans Kamu Grugier-Hill and Dino Fanti. EIU was picked second in the OVC preseason poll announced at this year’s conference football media day in Nashville.

EIU opens the season on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Western Illinois. Following a Sept. 12 game at Big Ten member Northwestern, EIU opens its home season Sept. 19 against Illinois State in the 104th playing of the Mid-America Classic. Illinois State is ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll and is one three preseason top 25 teams that will play at O’Brien Field this year. Season and single game tickets are now on sale by calling 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com Jacksonville State, No. 9 in the preseason poll, visits O’Brien Field on Nov. 7. Eastern Kentucky comes to Charleston for the final regular season game on Nov. 21, the Colonels are ranked 17th.

North Dakota State was a unanimous preseason No. 1 after the Bison won their fourth straight FCS National Championship last season. NDSU collected 144 of 147 first place votes. Illinois State, last year’s national runner-up, was second followed by Sam Houston State, Villanova and Coastal Carolina in the top five. Eastern Washington was sixth with Jacksonville State, Chattanooga, New Hampshire and Northern Iowa rounding out the top ten. Montana State led schools ranked 11 through 20 with James Madison. Montana, Youngstown State, Liberty, South Dakota State, Eastern Kentucky, Richmond, Southeastern Louisiana and Fordham. The final five schools in the poll were Fordham, Indiana State, Idaho State, Harvard, Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State. Harvard at 10-0 was the lone unbeaten FCS school last year.

EIU was the first school also receiving votes. Tennessee State received one preseason vote as the only other OVC school recognized. EIU’s season opening opponent Western Illinois was the 14th team also receiving votes in the preseason poll with 23 points.