Five Teams Ranked in The Sports Network Preseason Top 25
Link to The Sports Network Release
Link to the Top 25
Philadelphia, PA (August 13, 2013) - Five Big Sky Conference teams will begin the 2013 football season ranked in The Sports Network FCS Top 25 College Football Poll.
Montana State, which has shared the league championship three straight seasons, was selected second in the preseason poll, behind two-time defending national champion North Dakota State.
North Dakota State earned 127 first-place votes and 3340 points. Montana State earned one first-place vote and 3079 total points.
Eastern Washington, which shared the 2012 Big Sky Championship with Montana State and Cal Poly, is ranked fourth. The Eagles earned 2873 total points.
Cal Poly, entering its second season as a Big Sky football member, is ranked 14
th. The Mustangs finished 9-3 last season, going 7-1 in conference play.
Northern Arizona enters the season ranked 18
th. The Lumberjacks went 8-3 in 2012, finishing 6-2 in conference.
Perennial power Montana, coming off an uncharacteristic 5-6 season, is ranked 20
th.
The Big Sky placed five teams in the preseason top 25. The CAA had the most teams in the preseason Top 25 with six.
Sacramento State (44) and Weber State (2) also received votes.
The Sports Network FCS Top 25 College Football Poll's national panel consists of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries. In the Top 25 voting, 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.
|
|
Team (First Place Votes) |
2012 Record |
Points |
Previous Rank |
|
1. |
North Dakota State Bison (127) |
14-1 |
3340 |
1 |
|
2. |
Montana State Bobcats (1) |
11-2 |
3079 |
5 |
|
3. |
Sam Houston State Bearkats (5) |
11-4 |
2941 |
2 |
|
4. |
Eastern Washington Eagles |
11-3 |
2873 |
4 |
|
5. |
Villanova Wildcats |
8-4 |
2334 |
15 |
|
6. |
South Dakota State Jackrabbits |
9-4 |
2268 |
14 |
|
7. |
Central Arkansas Bears |
9-3 |
2244 |
10 |
|
8. |
Wofford Terriers |
9-4 |
2089 |
7 |
|
9. |
Georgia Southern Eagles (1) |
10-4 |
2002 |
3 |
|
10. |
New Hampshire Wildcats |
8-4 |
1920 |
13 |
|
11. |
Towson Tigers |
7-4 |
1871 |
17 |
|
12. |
Appalachian State Mountaineers |
8-4 |
1696 |
9 |
|
13. |
Illinois State Redbirds |
9-4 |
1657 |
8 |
|
14. |
Cal Poly Mustangs |
9-3 |
1646 |
12 |
|
15. |
Richmond Spiders |
8-3 |
1384 |
18 |
|
16. |
Stony Brook Seawolves |
10-3 |
1178 |
11 |
|
17. |
Northern Iowa Panthers |
5-6 |
1106 |
NR |
|
18. |
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks |
8-3 |
988 |
20 |
|
19. |
James Madison Dukes |
7-4 |
964 |
19 |
|
20. |
Montana Grizzlies |
5-6 |
813 |
NR |
|
21. |
Eastern Illinois Panthers |
7-5 |
686 |
NR |
|
22. |
Lehigh Mountain Hawks |
10-1 |
587 |
16 |
|
23. |
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats |
9-3 |
514 |
22 |
|
24. |
Chattanooga Mocs |
6-5 |
505 |
NR |
|
25. |
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers |
8-5 |
489 |
24 |
Others receiving votes: Eastern Kentucky 468, Youngstown State 463, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 174, Colgate 174, Tennessee State 151, Wagner 140, Delaware 130, The Citadel 100, Indiana State 90, Penn 57, McNeese State 46,
Sacramento State 44, Samford 39, Southern Illinois 39, Harvard 35, South Carolina State 32, Southeastern Louisiana 30, Tennessee-Martin 29, Stephen F. Austin 17, San Diego 15, Albany 13, Liberty 12, Bucknell 11, Grambling State 8, North Carolina Central 8, Tennessee Tech 6, Jackson State 6, Furman 4, Alabama A&M 4, Alabama State 4, Alcorn State 4, William & Mary 4, Jacksonville State 3, Missouri State 3,
Weber State 2, Murray State 2, Butler 2, Elon 2, Florida A&M 2, Northwestern State 1, Duquesne 1, Drake 1