CHICAGO – Sept. 17, 2018 – Four conference games have been played within CAA Football this season and the results reflect the depth of quality teams. The winner in each game was picked to finish below the losing team in the conference’s preseason poll.
The depth helps indicate why the CAA has had the most teams ranked in the STATS FCS Top 25 this season, including six on Monday.
Three-time defending CAA champ James Madison remains the team to beat as the conference schedule begins to take over. The Dukes, the 2016 FCS national champ and the 2017 runner-up, has been at No. 2 all season behind reigning national champ North Dakota State, which garnered 152 of the 157 first-place votes in the national media poll.
Other ranked CAA teams were Elon (12), Maine (13), Villanova (15), Stony Brook (20) and Rhode Island (23). Towson also received the most votes for teams outside the Top 25.
McNeese made the week’s biggest move, up seven spots to No. 9 after posting an impressive Southland Conference win over Nicholls. North Dakota (22) entered the poll for the first time this season, while Austin Peay (24) re-entered after being ranked in the preseason.
Weber State head coach Jay Hill / by Brooks Nuanez
With Big Sky Conference play set to begin this weekend, the league has four teams ranked in the FCS STATS and American Football Coaches (AFCA) Top 25 national polls.
Eastern Washington is the highest ranked Big Sky team in the national polls after Week 3. The Eagles fell to Washington State on the road, and with that loss dropped one spot in the AFCA poll to No. 6 and also remain in the No. 6 spot in the FCS STATS poll. The Eagles rank third in the FCS in total offense (542.0 ypg).
Weber State controlled the game versus South Dakota last week to earn the 27-10 win. The victory propelled the Wildcats up five spots to No. 8 in the AFCA poll, giving the Big Sky two teams in the Top 10. In the FCS STATS poll, Weber State jumped four spots to No. 7 in the FCS STATS poll. The Wildcats are tied for fourth in the FCS in turnovers gained at nine.
Montana remains in the Top 25 in the AFCA poll, after losing to Western Illinois on the road, 31-27 in the final minutes. The Griz were slated in the 20th spot by the AFCA and come in at No. 19 spot in the FCS STATS poll. Montana ranks eighth in the nation in kickoff returns and 11th in rushing defense.
After being slotted just outside the AFCA Top 25 last week, UC Davis enters the poll for the first time this season at No. 25. The Aggies fell to Stanford on the road, 30-10, to suffer its first loss of the season as it holds a 2-1 overall mark. The FCS STATS poll ranked the Aggies at No. 23. A week ago, while this week the Aggies improve to No. 21. UC Davis ranks fourth in the FCS in passing offense (360 ypg).
Other Big Sky teams receiving votes: Sacramento State, Montana State, Northern Arizona, and Idaho.
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.
The STATS FCS Top 25 for Sept. 17:
1. North Dakota State (2-0), 3,919 points – 152 first-place votes
Previous Ranking: 1; Last Week’s Result: 38-7 win over North Alabama
2. James Madison (2-1), 3,734 – 2 first-place votes
Previous Ranking: 2; Last Week’s Result: 73-7 win over Robert Morris
3. South Dakota State (2-0), 3,590
Previous Ranking: 3; Last Week’s Result: 90-6 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff
4. North Carolina A&T (3-0), 3,394 – 3 first-place votes
Previous Ranking: 4; Last Week’s Result: Bye
5. Kennesaw State (2-1), 3,169
Previous Ranking: 7; Last Week’s Result: 62-13 win over Alabama State
6. Eastern Washington (2-1), 2,907
Previous Ranking: 6; Last Week’s Result: 59-24 loss to Washington State
7. Weber State (2-1), 2,904
Previous Ranking: 11; Last Week’s Result: 27-10 win over South Dakota
8. Wofford (2-1), 2,676
Previous Ranking: 8; Last Week’s Result: 17-14 loss to Wyoming
9. McNeese (3-0), 2,676
Previous Ranking: 16; Last Week’s Result: 20-10 win over McNeese
10. Jacksonville State (1-1), 2,369
Previous Ranking: 12; Last Week’s Result: Bye
11. Sam Houston State (1-1), 2,256
Previous Ranking: 5; Last Week’s Result: 24-23 loss to North Dakota
12. Elon (1-1), 2,037
Previous Ranking: 14; Last Week’s Result: Postponed vs. William & Mary
13. Maine (2-0), 1,856
Previous Ranking: 17; Last Week’s Result: Bye
14. Central Arkansas (2-1), 1,663
Previous Ranking: 18; Last Week’s Result: 33-25 win over Southeastern Louisiana
15. Villanova (2-1), 1,564
Previous Ranking: 10; Last Week’s Result: 45-35 loss to Towson
16. Illinois State (2-0), 1,457
Previous Ranking: 19; Last Week’s Result: Bye
17. Samford (1-2), 1,381
Previous Ranking: 9; Last Week’s Result: 30-24 loss to Mercer
18. Nicholls (1-2), 1,184
Previous Ranking: 13; Last Week’s Result: 20-10 loss to McNeese
19. Montana (2-1), 938
Previous Ranking: 15; Last Week’s Result: 31-27 loss to Western Illinois
20. Stony Brook (2-1), 812
Previous Ranking: 24; Last Week’s Result: 28-6 win over Fordham
21. UC Davis (2-1), 717
Previous Ranking: 23; Last Week’s Result: 30-10 loss to Stanford
22. North Dakota (2-1), 677
Previous Ranking: NR; Last Week’s Result: 24-23 win over Sam Houston State
23. Rhode Island (2-1), 531
Previous Ranking: 25; Last Week’s Result: 56-49 loss to UConn
24. Austin Peay (2-1), 404
Previous Ranking: NR; Last Week’s Result: 78-40 win over Morehead State
25. Northern Iowa (0-2), 377
Previous Ranking: 21; Last Week’s Result: 38-14 loss to Iowa
Dropped Out: Northern Arizona and South Dakota
Others Receiving Votes: Towson 275, South Dakota 249, Mercer 221, Colgate 219, Delaware 216, Chattanooga 184, Sacramento State 143, Montana State 112, Western Illinois 87, Richmond 86, Missouri State 54, Northern Arizona 50, Monmouth 38, Princeton 32, Harvard 30, New Hampshire 28, Tennessee State 22, Yale 16, Furman 12, Southeastern Louisiana 8, Idaho 7, North Alabama 6, Southeast Missouri 5, Northwestern State 3, Prairie View A&M 2, Western Carolina 2, Dartmouth, 1, Howard 1, Sacred Heart 1
