STATS FCS Poll

[GrizRick]

At least we didn't drop out of the top 10:

Jackrabbits: 100 straight appearances in FCS Top 25

Ex-coach Richt 'fine' after heart attack
Tide QB Tagovailoa has ankle procedure
Ohio State edges past Clemson to No. 3
FAU's Kiffin fined $5K for tweet
Clemson again dominant on defense
Gamecocks DB Cook dismissed after arrest
Illini stun No. 6 Wisconsin on FG at :00
No. 7 Penn St. holds off No. 16 Michigan
Hurts' 5 TDs help No. 5 Sooners rout WVU
Burrow breaks LSU TD pass record in rout

(AP Photo/Andy Clayton- King)
By CRAIG HALEY
STATS FCS Senior Editor

(STATS) - South Dakota State made its 100th consecutive appearance in the STATS FCS Top 25 on Monday.

On Saturday, the No. 3 Jackrabbits hope to celebrate with an upset of the only team with a longer active run in the national media poll.

The 'Rabbits (6-1) have turned 100 heading into their biggest game of the FCS regular season against No. 1 North Dakota State (7-0), which has made 128 straight appearances in the Top 25. NDSU lost in its last visit to Brookings on Nov. 4, 2017, but the Bison have gone on to win 28 straight games, including two over SDSU last season on the way to capturing their second straight national title.

Saturday's rivalry matchup is so big that it is drawing ESPN's iconic "College GameDay" pregame show to SDSU.

Standing in between the two Missouri Valley Football Conference co-leaders in the rankings is CAA front-runner James Madison (7-1). The three powers have held the same 1, 2 and 3 spots since the preseason poll.

Sam Houston State (21) and Southeast Missouri (24) returned to the Top 25 after being ranked earlier this season. MEAC member Florida A&M entered at No. 20 - the Rattlers' first appearance since the 2009 postseason poll.

A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the STATS FCS Top 25. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.

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STATS FCS Top 25 (Oct. 21)

1. North Dakota State (7-0), 3,972 points (156 first-place votes)

Previous Ranking: 1; Last Week's Result: 22-0 win over Missouri State

2. James Madison (7-1), 3,765 (3 first-place votes)

Previous Ranking: 2; Last Week's Result: 38-10 win over William & Mary

3. South Dakota State (6-1), 3,677

Previous Ranking: 3; Last Week's Result: 42-23 win over Indiana State

4. Weber State (5-2), 3,443

Previous Ranking: 4; Last Week's Result: 51-28 win over Northern Arizona

5. Villanova (6-1), 3,168

Previous Ranking: 7; Last Week's Result: Bye

6. Kennesaw State (6-1), 3,137

Previous Ranking: 6; Last Week's Result: 55-10 win over Presbyterian

7. Sacramento State (5-2), 2,927

Previous Ranking: 15; Last Week's Result: 49-22 win over Montana

8. Illinois State (5-2), 2,781

Previous Ranking: 11; Last Week's Result: 28-14 win over Western Illinois

9. Montana State (5-2), 2,528

Previous Ranking: 12; Last Week's Result: Bye

10. Montana (5-2), 2,422

Previous Ranking: 5; Last Week's Result: 49-22 loss to Sacramento State

11. Northern Iowa (4-3), 2,316

Previous Ranking: 14; Last Week's Result: 42-27 win over South Dakota

12. Central Arkansas (5-2), 2,225

Previous Ranking: 13; Last Week's Result: 31-30 win over Northwestern State

13. Princeton (5-0), 1,780

Previous Ranking: 17; Last Week's Result: 65-22 win over Brown

14. Furman (4-3), 1,618

Previous Ranking: 8; Last Week's Result: 27-10 loss to The Citadel

15. Nicholls (4-3), 1,470

Previous Ranking: 9; Last Week's Result: 17-0 loss to Sam Houston State

16. Towson (4-3), 1,383

Previous Ranking: 18; Last Week's Result: 56-7 win over Bucknell

17. Dartmouth (5-0), 1,188

Previous Ranking: 21; Last Week's Result: 49-7 win over Marist

18. North Carolina A&T (4-2), 1,147

Previous Ranking: 10; Last Week's Result: 34-31 OT loss to Florida A&M

19. Delaware (4-3), 816

Previous Ranking: 24; Last Week's Result: 16-10 win over New Hampshire

20. Florida A&M (6-1), 762

Previous Ranking: N/R; Last Week's Result: 34-31 OT win over North Carolina A&T

21. Sam Houston State (5-3), 735

Previous Ranking: N/R; Last Week's Result: 17-0 win over Nicholls

22. UC Davis (4-4), 663

Previous Ranking: 23; Last Week's Result: 33-25 win over Southern Utah

23. Central Connecticut State (6-1), 645

Previous Ranking: 25; Last Week's Result: 52-14 win over Bryant

24. Southeast Missouri (4-3), 548

Previous Ranking: N/R; Last Week's Result: 24-21 win over Jacksonville State

25. Jacksonville State (5-3), 488

Previous Ranking: 16; Last Week's Result: 24-21 loss to Southeast Missour

Dropped Out: Youngstown State (19), Austin Peay (20), New Hampshire (22)

Others Receiving Votes: UT Martin 477, Wofford 264, UIW 196, Stony Brook 167, Alcorn State 131, New Hampshire 127, Austin Peay 103, The Citadel 88, Albany 82, Elon 72, Youngstown State 63, Eastern Washington 62, Southeastern Louisiana 44, Yale 43, Monmouth 34, South Carolina State 25, Portland State 23, Bethune-Cookman 21, Harvard 14, Chattanooga 12, North Dakota 9, Campbell 7, Southern Illinois 4, Duquesne 2, Eastern Kentucky 1

 

[AZGrizFan]

From NR to 15 to 7 in two weeks. That's a hell of a climb.

 

[uofmman1122]

From NR to 15 to 7 in two weeks. That's a hell of a climb.

They certainly earned it.

 

[Colter_Nuanez56]

From NR to 15 to 7 in two weeks. That's a hell of a climb.

They certainly earned it.

You beat Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana in consecutive weeks, you are a Top 5 team. I voted Sac State No. 4 in this week's poll, even ahead of Weber State.

 

[daGrizJ]

From NR to 15 to 7 in two weeks. That's a hell of a climb.

They certainly earned it.

You beat Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana in consecutive weeks, you are a Top 5 team. I voted Sac State No. 4 in this week's poll, even ahead of Weber State.

Agreed. I have watched several of Weber's games this year. Sac St will win their forth game against top 5 (4) ranked teams in two weeks.

 

[IdaGriz01]

From NR to 15 to 7 in two weeks. That's a hell of a climb.

They certainly earned it.

You beat Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana in consecutive weeks, you are a Top 5 team. I voted Sac State No. 4 in this week's poll, even ahead of Weber State.

Agreed. I have watched several of Weber's games this year. Sac St will win their fourth game against top 5 (4) ranked teams in two weeks.

Could be. Weber has had a stout defense, but was somewhat exposed by Cookus and his receivers. But the talent at NAU isn't even close to what Sac State brings to the table. Of course, the Weebs scored way more points than we're used to from them ... but that was because two guys ran all over the NAU defense. Does anyone think any RB can put up over 300 yards against the Hornets? How about two guys going over a hundred yards? I don't think so either.

 

[PlayerRep]

Undefeated Princeton and Dartmouth at nos. 13 and 17.

Yale came from behind to beat unranked Richmond, 28-27, after Dartmouth beat Yale 42-10 the prior weekend.

Princeton and Dartmouth on path to another game for the Ivy championship. Princeton won a close game last year, when both teams were undefeated.

This year's game will be played in Yankee Stadium on Nov. 9. A home game for Dartmouth. I will be there. One of the year's we played Princeton back in the dAy, we worked out in Yankee Stadium the Friday before the game.

Dartmouth leads nation in scoring defense at 8.2 per game, which includes last minute TD by Yale week when the Dart. coach didn't challenge the bounced TD pass for reasons of sportsmanship. The defense and D coaches were ready to kill him for not challenging. I told him that there was a movement of football alums to impeach him. A bunch of us were there for a football reunion.

A friend sent me this blurb from the Internet today:

"No. 5) Dartmouth - This program is mauling people, and Harvard and Princeton might want to take note, and Yale already found out what is going on with the Big Green. Last year, we saw Princeton go 10-0, now I get the feeling Dartmouth would like to ascend to that throne. It will be an interesting few weeks ... and as always?: I'm wondering how Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale etc would fit into this potential playoff picture, considering we (really) need solid teams. Hint hint (again)."

 

[SaskGriz]

Post deleted as poster was being a jackass.

 

[GrizRick]

Of course, the Weebs scored way more points than we're used to from them ... but that was because two guys ran all over the NAU defense.

And yet, early in the 4th Quarter, NAU was behind by only 2 points.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Of course, the Weebs scored way more points than we're used to from them ... but that was because two guys ran all over the NAU defense.

And yet, early in the 4th Quarter, NAU was behind by only 2 points.

All the more reason to wonder if Weber can hold its own against Sac State.

 

[nodak651]

They certainly earned it.

You beat Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana in consecutive weeks, you are a Top 5 team. I voted Sac State No. 4 in this week's poll, even ahead of Weber State.

Agreed. I have watched several of Weber's games this year. Sac St will win their fourth game against top 5 (4) ranked teams in two weeks.

Could be. Weber has had a stout defense, but was somewhat exposed by Cookus and his receivers. But the talent at NAU isn't even close to what Sac State brings to the table. Of course, the Weebs scored way more points than we're used to from them ... but that was because two guys ran all over the NAU defense. Does anyone think any RB can put up over 300 yards against the Hornets? How about two guys going over a hundred yards? I don't think so either.

How did Sac suddenly get SO good? Did they a bunch of transfers or something? UND put up 480 yards rushing against them last year. 9.1 ypc on 53 attempts. Talk about one hell of a turnaround.

 

[nodak651]

They certainly earned it.

You beat Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana in consecutive weeks, you are a Top 5 team. I voted Sac State No. 4 in this week's poll, even ahead of Weber State.

Agreed. I have watched several of Weber's games this year. Sac St will win their fourth game against top 5 (4) ranked teams in two weeks.

Could be. Weber has had a stout defense, but was somewhat exposed by Cookus and his receivers. But the talent at NAU isn't even close to what Sac State brings to the table. Of course, the Weebs scored way more points than we're used to from them ... but that was because two guys ran all over the NAU defense. Does anyone think any RB can put up over 300 yards against the Hornets? How about two guys going over a hundred yards? I don't think so either.

How did Sac suddenly get SO good? Did they a bunch of transfers or something? UND put up 480 yards rushing against them last year. 9.1 ypc on 53 attempts. Talk about one hell of a turnaround.

 

[EverettGriz]

If we are going to talk about their programs we should start posting Gaelic football scores from Country Derry.

I can do this if there is enough interest; I have the Derry Sports Package on my cable plan.

 

[PlayerRep]

Post deleted as poster was being a jackass.

POY candidate. I saw it, but refrained from responding. Thx.

 

[uofmman1122]

You beat Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana in consecutive weeks, you are a Top 5 team. I voted Sac State No. 4 in this week's poll, even ahead of Weber State.

Agreed. I have watched several of Weber's games this year. Sac St will win their fourth game against top 5 (4) ranked teams in two weeks.

Could be. Weber has had a stout defense, but was somewhat exposed by Cookus and his receivers. But the talent at NAU isn't even close to what Sac State brings to the table. Of course, the Weebs scored way more points than we're used to from them ... but that was because two guys ran all over the NAU defense. Does anyone think any RB can put up over 300 yards against the Hornets? How about two guys going over a hundred yards? I don't think so either.

How did Sac suddenly get SO good? Did they a bunch of transfers or something? UND put up 480 yards rushing against them last year. 9.1 ypc on 53 attempts. Talk about one hell of a turnaround.

They were decimated by injuries, and then got back (nearly) everyone on 6th year status another year older and more mature. Missing Obinna, Choate, and Thomson for most of last year really did a number on them, so getting those guys back was huge.

Also, Taylor seems to be a really, really good hire. His approach to hiring assistants is very similar to what Hauck has done here: get as many guys with as much experience as possible (in addition to just pillaging the barrel of ex-Griz coaches and players :lol: ). It's clear that they had a lot of talent on their team, but the coaches were holding them back, not unlike JMU the year before they won the Natty.

The Griz are kind of in the opposite spot, working our way up from less overall talent with a much better coaching staff. The true test of Taylor's ability may be next season and the season after, once all of his talent graduates. Will he be able to keep the Cinderella story going like Mike Houston at JMU, or will he turn into a pumpkin like Barnum at PSU after all his talent leaves?