NDSU Returns to No. 1 in Sports Network FCS Poll

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State returned to its familiar perch as the No. 1 team in the Sports Network FCS Top 25 poll Monday, Sept. 1, after powering its way to 34 unanswered points in a 34-14 win at Iowa State on opening weekend.

NDSU spent 20 consecutive weeks atop the Sports Network rankings before slipping to second in the 2014 preseason poll.  But after rolling up 506 yards of total offense and holding their Big 12 opponent to just 57 yards in the second half, the Bison are back at No. 1 for the 29th time in 36 weeks.

North Dakota State got 93 of the 156 first-place votes ahead of No. 2 Eastern Washington, which had the remaining 63 first-place votes.  Southeastern Louisiana was third, Sept. 20 opponent Montana was fourth, and Coastal Carolina was fifth.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference had four teams in the Sports Network Top 25.  Northern Iowa checked in at No. 8, South Dakota State was 12th, and Youngstown State was 23rd.

North Dakota State remained No. 1 in the FCS Coaches Poll for the 21st straight week.  The Bison had 24 of the 26 first-place votes ahead of Eastern Washington, Southeastern Louisiana, Coastal Carolina and Montana.  South Dakota State was 11th, Northern Iowa 12th, Youngstown State 21st and Southern Illinois 25th.

The Sports Network FCS Top 25

Team (First-place votes)		W-L	Points	Previous
1.	North Dakota State (93)	1-0	3830	2
2.	Eastern Washington (63)	2-0	3804	1
3.	Southeastern Louisiana	1-0	3553	3
4.	Montana	0-1	3064	5
5.	Coastal Carolina	1-0	3028	7
6.	New Hampshire	0-1	2998	4
7.	McNeese State	0-0	2661	8
8.	Northern Iowa	0-1	2634	9
9.	Jacksonville State	0-1	2580	6
10.	Villanova	0-1	2488	12
11.	Fordham	1-0	2423	11
12.	South Dakota State	0-1	2242	10
13.	Chattanooga	0-1	1793	14
14.	Tennessee State	1-0	1701	15
15.	Sam Houston State	1-1	1484	17
16.	Eastern Illinois	0-1	1402	16
17.	Richmond	1-0	1323	20
18.	Bethune-Cookman	1-0	1109	22
19.	Furman	1-0	1004	21
20.	Montana State	0-1	965	18
21.	William & Mary	0-1	945	19
22.	Towson	0-1	829	13
23.	Youngstown State	0-1	540	24
24.	Maine	1-0	469	25
25.	Northern Arizona	0-1	352	23

Others receiving votes: Southern Illinois 323, South Carolina State 176, Liberty 141, Central Arkansas 126, Central Connecticut State 107, Wofford 94, Princeton 64, Samford 62, Cal Poly 54, Delaware 44, Harvard 42, James Madison 37, Southern Utah 37, Charleston Southern 23, Gardner-Webb 19, Missouri State 15, Alcorn State 13, Sacred Heart 12, North Carolina A&T 12, Stephen F. Austin 11, Southern 10, Alabama State 9, Illinois State 9, Eastern Kentucky 8, Lehigh 7, Southeast Missouri State 7, Western Illinois 6, Duquesne 3, Bryant 2, Norfolk State 2, San Diego 1, Sacramento State 1, Indiana State 1, Murray State 1.

FCS Coaches Poll

Team (First-place votes)	W-L	Points	Previous
1. North Dakota State (24)	1-0	647	1
2. Eastern Washington (2)	2-0	626	2
3. Southeastern Louisiana	1-0	598	3
4. Coastal Carolina	1-0	540	6
5. Montana	0-1	495	5
6. McNeese State	0-0	452	9
7. Villanova	0-1	445	13
8. New Hampshire	0-1	426	4
9. Jacksonville State	0-1	413	8
10. Fordham	1-0	360	12
11. South Dakota State	0-1	341	10
12. Northern Iowa	0-1	327	15
13. Sam Houston State	1-1	323	14
14. Eastern Illinois	0-1	289	11
15. Chattanooga	0-1	278	16
16. Tennessee State	1-0	234	17
17. Furman	1-0	229	18
18. Bethune-Cookman	1-0	216	23
19. Towson	0-1	193	7
20. Richmond	1-0	174	24
21. Youngtown State	0-1	147	21
22. Maine	1-0	144	20
23. Montana State	0-1	128	19
24. William & Mary	0-1	80	22
25. Southern Illinois	1-0	49	NR

Others receiving votes: Central Arkansas 38, Northern Arizona 35, Liberty 25, Missouri State 24, South Carolina State 23, Wofford 20, Southern Utah 19, Samford 15, Central Connecticut State 13, Princeton 11, Bryant 10, Eastern Kentucky 10, Cal Poly 8, Abilene Christian 7, Alcorn State 7, Harvard 7, Charleston Southern 5, Jackson State 4, Lehigh 4, Sacramento State 4, Western Illinois 3, James Madison 2, Delaware 1, North Carolina A&T 1.