Big Sky Conference

Eagles, Griz, Cats all in top 10 of FCS coaches poll

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Two Big Sky Conference teams are ranked inside the top 10 and six are ranked overall in the first STATS FCS Top 25 poll. Five Big Sky squads are ranked in the top 25 of the most recent FCS Coaches’ Poll, including three in the top 10.

The Montana Grizzlies capitalized on their Week 0 win over top-ranked North Dakota State. Despite losing 20-19 to Cal Poly on Saturday, the Griz jumped from No. 12 to No. 8 in the coaches’ poll and from No. 13 to No. 8 in the STATS poll. UM received three first-place votes from the FCS coaches.

Eastern Washington dropped from No. 6 to No. 7 in both polls after losing at Oregon, 61-35. Montana State moved from No. 11 to No. 9 in the coaches’ poll and held steady in the STATS poll at No. 11 following a 45-14 win over Division II Fort Lewis.

Cal Poly moved into the top 25 after winning in Missoula. The Mustangs are No. 18 in the STATS poll and No. 20 in the coaches’ poll.

Idaho State fell one spot to No. 23 in the STATS poll and held steady at No. 24 in the coaches’ poll following a 55-0 win over Division II Black Hills State.

Portland State moved into the top 25 in the STATS poll, earning a No. 24 distinction in the poll after a 24-17 win over FBS Washington State.

Coastal Carolina beat Furman 38-35 to move atop the FCS coaches’ poll. CCU moved up from No. 5. North Dakota State got the most first-place votes in the coaches’ poll (6) but fell to No. 2. Villanova is No. 3 in the coaches poll. No. 4 Sam Houston State, No. 5 Illinois State, No. 6 Jacksonville State and No. 10 South Dakota State all got first-place votes from the coaches.

Sam Houston piled up 45 points but lost by two touchdowns at Texas Tech. Still, the Bearkats moved on top of the STATS poll. NDSU is No. 2 in the STATS poll followed by Coastal Carolina, Illinois State, Jacksonville State, Villanova, EWU, UM and South Dakota State. Chattanooga was 10th in the STATS poll, one spot ahead of Montana State.

Northern Arizona, a 34-28 winner over former No. 24 Stephen F. Austin, and Portland State finished just outside the top 25 of the STATS poll.

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About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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