EIU Slips in Polls Following Loss Saturday

Eastern Illinois had its three game win streak snapped on Saturday at Southeast Missouri dropping the Panthers in all three FCS football polls released on Monday. EIU landed at No. 19 in two polls and No. 20 in the other poll as they will host Tennessee State this Saturday for the annual Hall of Fame game at 6 p.m. Tennessee State is ranked No. 25 in the HERO Sports Media poll and among the top teams also receiving votes in the other two polls. Tickets for Saturday’s game are on sale by calling 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com. The game will be followed by a fireworks show.

Eastern Illinois, now 3-2 on the season, fell from No. 13 last week in all three polls to No. 19 in both the STATS FCS Media poll and HERO Sports Media poll. The Panthers landed at No. 20 in the FCS Coaches Top 25.

The top 11 teams in all three polls remained virtually unchanged as the only team in the top 12 from last week to lose was Western Illinois after the Leathernecks lost at nationally ranked South Dakota State.

North Dakota State was the unanimous No. 1 in all three polls with Sam Houston State second. Jacksonville State was third followed by Eastern Washington, Chattanooga, Richmond, James Madison, Charleston Southern, The Citadel, Montana and Northern Iowa.

In the STATS Media Top 25 South Dakota moved up to No. 12 followed by Western Illinois, Villanova, Youngstown State, Albany, Coastal Carolina, North Carolina A&T, Eastern Illinois and McNeese State.  Cal Poly was 21st with Harvard, Illinois State, North Dakota and Central Arkansas rounding out the poll.

In the FCS Coaches Top 25 Villanova moved up to No. 12 with Youngstown State, South Dakota State, Western Illinois, Harvard, Albany, North Carolina A&T, McNeese State and Eastern Illinois in the top 20.  The final five ranked schools were North Dakota, Cal Poly, Illinois State, Central Arkansas and Grambling State.

South Dakota State was ranked 12th in the HERO Sports Media poll followed by Villanova, Western Illinois, Youngstown State, Albany, Coastal Carolina, North Carolina A&T, Eastern Illinois and McNeese State.  Cal Poly was 21st with Illinois State, Harvard, Central Arkansas and Tennessee State the final ranked schools.