Bison Stay Atop Sports Network FCS Poll

The Sports Network released its most recent FCS Top 25 Poll on Monday, and the North Dakota State Bison remained at No. 1. NDSU received 140 of a possible 165 first-place votes, strengthening its hold on the top spot. 

The CAA has six teams ranked, including Old Dominion (No. 5), James Madison (No. 6), Delaware (No. 12), Towson (No. 13), New Hampshire (No. 18), and Maine (No. 23).

After the CAA's six teams, the Missouri Valley Football Conference was second with five ranked teams. The Big Sky and Southern conferences had four each.

North Dakota State (2-0), the defending Missouri Valley and FCS national champion, had a bye this past weekend.

Montana State (3-0) received nine first-place votes, Sam Houston State (1-1) eight and No. 4 Youngstown State (3-0) seven. The surging Penguins had not been ranked as high as No. 4 since they held that spot in the final 2006 poll.

After ODU and James Madison (2-1), the rest of the Top 10 teams were No. 7 Wofford (3-0), which received one first-place vote; No. 8 Northern Iowa (1-2), whose two close losses are to Big Ten members Wisconsin and Iowa; No. 9 Eastern Washington (1-1); and No. 10 The Citadel (3-0).

The Citadel, which has defeated national powers Georgia Southern and Appalachian State over the last two weekends, moved up 11 spots and into the Top 10 for the first time since being ranked No. 1 during its 1992 Southern Conference championship season.

Georgia Southern (1-1) followed at No. 11. Then it was Delaware (3-0), Towson (1-1), No. 14 Montana (2-1), No. 15 Illinois State (3-0), No. 16 Lehigh (3-0), No. 17 Appalachian State (1-2), New Hampshire (2-1), No. 19 McNeese State (3-0) and No. 20 Stony Brook (2-1).

Rounding out the rankings were No. 21 Eastern Kentucky (2-1), No. 22 Indiana State (2-1), Maine (1-1), No. 24 Jacksonville State (1-1) and No. 25 Central Arkansas (2-1), which moved back into the Top 25 as Stephen F. Austin fell out of it.

A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the 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.

During the regular season, the Top 25 is released every Monday afternoon, except for the final weekend of the regular season, when it will be released Sunday morning, Nov. 18, prior to the selection of the FCS playoff field.

The Sports Network will release a final Top 25 following the FCS championship game, which will be held Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas.