News/Commentary

Coaches' Poll: Jackrabbits No. 1 as NC Central Continues To Climb

November 6, 2023 by AFCA.com

As teams above them in the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 Poll keep losing, North Carolina Central keeps on winning and moving up the rankings. The Eagles latest victim was Norfolk State, who battled back from a 28-3 deficit in the second quarter to close within four points in the third, but North Carolina Central scored the game’s final 10 points to win, 38-24. The Eagles moved up to No. 7, their highest ranking in school history. With a victory over Howard this coming Saturday, NCCU will clinch their second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.

No. 1 South Dakota State continued its 23-game winning streak with a decisive 33-16 win over arch-rival North Dakota State and retained the Dakota Marker. The loss dropped the Bison to No. 13 as they get ready to face No. 15 Southern Illinois, who dropped a close game with South Dakota, 14-7. With that win, the Coyotes made the biggest jump in the poll, moving up six spots to No. 6.

Furman remains No. 2 after beating then-No. 13t Chattanooga, 17-14, while the Mocs dropped four spots to No. 17. Montana also remained in the No. 3 spot after handing then-No. 7 Sacramento State a 34-7 loss. The Hornets fell to No. 11 with the defeat. Idaho moves into the fourth spot after beating Northern Colorado, 27-13, while Montana State re-enters the top-5 thanks to a 45-21 win over Northern Arizona.

Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Last Next
1 South Dakota St. (26) 9-0 650 1 D. (10) North Dakota St., 33-16 11/11 at Youngstown St.
2 Furman 8-1 612 2 D. (13t) Chattanooga, 17-14 11/11 VMI
3 Montana 8-1 603 3 D. (7) Sacramento St., 34-7 11/11 at Portland St.
4 Idaho 7-2 575 5 D. Northern Colorado, 27-13 11/11 at Weber St.
5 Montana St. 7-2 533 8 D. Northern Arizona, 45-21 11/11 Eastern Washington
6 South Dakota 7-2 492 12 D. (11) Southern Illinois, 14-7 11/11 (12) North Dakota
7 North Carolina Central 8-1 491 9 D. Norfolk St., 38-24 11/11 at Howard
8 Delaware 7-2 386 6 L. Elon, 33-27 11/11 at Campbell
9 Florida A&M 8-1 378 13t D. Alabama A&M, 42-28 11/11 Lincoln (Calif.)
10 UIW 7-2 368 4 L. Nicholls, 45-32 11/11 Northwestern St.
11 Sacramento St. 6-3 355 7 L. (3) Montana, 34-7 11/11 Cal Poly
12 North Dakota 6-3 346 15 D. Murray St., 45-31 11/11 at (6) South Dakota
13 North Dakota St. 6-3 324 10 L. (1) South Dakota St., 33-16 11/11 (15) Southern Illinois
14 Austin Peay 7-2 304 17 D. Eastern Kentucky, 33-30 OT 11/11 Utah Tech
15 Southern Illinois 6-3 285 11 L. (12) South Dakota, 14-7 11/11 at (13) North Dakota St.
16 UT Martin 7-2 263 18 D. Tennessee Tech, 44-41 OT 11/11 Southeast Missouri St.
17 Chattanooga 7-3 258 13t L. (2) Furman, 17-14 11/18 at Alabama
18 Villanova 7-2 193 22 D. New Hampshire, 45-33 11/11 Towson
19 Harvard 7-1 191 19 D. Columbia, 38-24 11/11 Penn
20 Northern Iowa 6-3 161 23 D. Western Illinois, 50-6 11/11 at Missouri St.
21 Western Carolina 6-3 158 20 D. Wofford, 28-25 11/11 East Tennessee St.
22 Holy Cross 6-3 129 21 D. Lehigh, 28-24 11/11 at Army
23 Lafayette 7-2 91 16 L. Colgate, 37-34 11/11 Fordham
24 Central Arkansas 6-3 79 25 D. North Alabama, 27-14 11/11 Eastern Kentucky
25 Albany 7-3 67 NR D. (24) William & Mary, 24-8 11/11 at Stony Brook

Dropped Out: William & Mary (24)

Others Receiving Votes: Youngstown St., 59; Mercer, 56; Illinois St., 16; Davidson, 9; Eastern Illinois, 5; Fordham, 3; Samford, 3; Tarleton, 3; William & Mary, 3; Nicholls, 1.