News/Commentary

AFCA Coaches' Poll: Missouri State Drops Illinois State For Fourth Straight Win

October 14, 2024 by AFCA.com

Missouri State dominated then-No. 16 Illinois State from start to finish, beating the Redbirds 41-7 and extending their winning streak to four games. The Bears racked up 468 yards of total offense and their defense didn’t allow Illinois State to score until midway through the third quarter. The victory moved Missouri State up to No. 20 in this week’s AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl, while Illinois State dropped to No. 23.

Both South Dakota State and North Dakota State won on Saturday setting up the FCS Game of the Year. The schools will collide this Saturday night at 8 ET on ESPN-2 in the Fargodome. The Jackrabbits have not lost to NDSU since 2019 and have not lost to an FCS opponent since the semifinals of the 2021 FCS playoffs.

No. 3 Montana State stayed unbeaten with a commanding 38-7 win over then-No. 8 Idaho. The Bobcats, who are 7-0, dropped the Vandals to No. 14 in this week’s poll. No. 7 Mercer also stayed unblemished at 6-0 with a 34-7 win over Princeton. The Bears will travel to Samford in hopes of continuing their winning streak. The only other undefeated team in the top 25 this week is Dartmouth, who enters for the first time this year at No. 24. The Big Green are 4-0 after erasing a 23-point deficit to beat Yale, 44-43, in overtime.

Learn more at AFCA.com.

Rank School (1st votes) W-L Points LW
1 South Dakota St. (21) 5-1 644 1
2 North Dakota St. (2) 6-1 621 2
3 Montana St. (3) 7-0 603 3
4 South Dakota 5-1 572 4
5 Villanova 5-1 535 5
6 UC Davis 6-1 514 6
7 Mercer 6-0 491 7
8 Southeast Missouri St. 6-1 455 9
9 Tarleton St. 6-1 418 11
10 North Dakota 4-2 403 10
11 Montana 5-2 367 14
12 Central Arkansas 5-2 342 13
13 UIW 4-2 325 15
14 Idaho 4-3 309 8
15 Richmond 4-2 255 17
16 William & Mary 4-2 249 18
17 Rhode Island 5-1 219 21
18 Florida A&M 3-2 157 19
19 New Hampshire 4-2 136 22
20 Missouri St. 4-2 131 25
21t. ACU 4-3 127 12
21t. North Carolina Central 5-2 127 24
23 Illinois St. 4-3 92 16
24 Dartmouth 4-0 84 NR
25 Jackson St. 4-2 37 NR

Dropped Out: Sacramento St. (20), Weber St. (23)

Others Receiving Votes: Stony Brook, 36; Duquesne, 35; Chattanooga, 30; East Tennessee St., 28; UT Martin, 22; McNeese, 17; Monmouth (N.J.), 11; Sacramento St., 11; Western Carolina, 11; Drake, 8; Columbia, 6; Stephen F. Austin, 5; Tennessee St., 5; Weber St., 4; Butler, 2; Northern Arizona, 2; Georgetown (D.C.), 1; Indiana St., 1; Lafayette, 1; Lamar, 1