Bison Top FCS Coaches Poll for 6th Staight Week

The North Dakota State football team owns the top spot in the FCS Coaches Poll for the sixth straight week, according to the latest poll released Monday. The Bison are the only team in the nation to be ranked No. 1 in the coaches poll this season, having remained in the top position since the preseason rankings were released.

NDSU was a unanimous No. 1 selection for the second straight week.

For the second consecutive week, two previously unranked teams enter the FCS Coaches Poll after dominant victories. Albany enters the poll this week at No. 24, while Alabama A&M debuts at No. 25.

North Dakota State maintained its No. 1 raking this week, receiving all 26 first-place votes. Montana State also maintained its No. 2 ranking, after defeating UC Davis 48-41 on Saturday.

Old Dominion (No. 3), Wofford (No. 4), James Madison (No. 5), Eastern Washington (No. 6), Georgia Southern (No. 7) and Sam Houston State (No. 8) each moved up one spot after all six teams were victorious Saturday. Youngstown State fell to No. 9, while Lehigh remained at No. 10.

Cal Poly made the largest jump in the poll this week, moving up five spots to No. 14. The Mustangs are a perfect 5-0 on the season after defeating Weber State 45-23 on Friday. Tennessee State (No. 20) climbed four spots after defeating then-No. 16 Eastern Kentucky, 23-20. New Hampshire (No. 13) jumped four spots as well.

Eleven conferences are represented in the poll. The Colonial Athletic Association has the most teams in the top-25 with five. The Big Sky is represented by four teams, while the Missouri Valley, Southern Conference, and Southland each have three teams in this week's poll. The Ohio Valley conference is represented by two teams, and the Big South, Ivy League, Northeast, Patriot League and Southewestern Athletic Conference each have one team in the top-25.

The FCS Coaches Poll is based exclusively on a voting panel of head coaches in the FCS under the cooperation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and is administered by the Southern Conference.

FCS Coaches Poll - Week Six - October 8, 2012

Others Receiving Votes: South Dakota State (29), Samford (28), Northern Iowa (26), The Citadel (22), Montana (19), Jacksonville State (16), Indiana State (10), Maine (9), UT Martin (6), Bethune-Cookman (2), Sacramento State (2).