News/Commentary

FCS Coaches' Poll: Top 3 Unchanged As UIW Slides Into 4th

October 23, 2023 by AFCA.com

Furman racked up 508 yards of total offense and rushed for a season high 334 yards while its defense held Western Carolina to just 84 rushing yards in a 29-17 victory. The Paladins took sole possession of first place in the Southern Conference with the win and stayed at No. 3 in this week’s AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 poll. The loss dropped Western Carolina only two places to No. 16.

It was another crazy week for the Top 25 as eight ranked teams lost on Saturday. South Dakota State pulled out a tough 17-10 win over No. 12 Southern Illinois and remained No. 1 with all 26 first-place votes. The road doesn’t get any easier for the Jackrabbits as they must travel to in-state rival and No. 9 South Dakota this coming weekend. The Coyotes are 6-1 after a 17-3 victory over Indiana State. Montana State is still No. 2 after a dominant 42-30 win over then-No. 4 Sacramento State, but they have a tough road game as well. The Bobcats go to No. 8 Idaho, who had an extra week to prepare for the Top 10 matchup after being idle this past week.

After their upset, 38-35, win over then-No. 11 Holy Cross, the Lafayette Leopards jump into the AFCA Top 25 for the first time this season. Lafayette is 6-1 on the season, which guarantees them a winning season for the first time since 2009. This was the Leopards first win over a ranked opponent since 2013. The loss dropped Holy Cross 11 spots to No. 22.

Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Last Next
1 South Dakota St. (26) 7-0 650 1 D. (12) Southern Illinois, 17-10 10/28 at (9) South Dakota
2 Montana St. 6-1 623 2 D. (4) Sacramento St., 42-30 10/28 at (8) Idaho
3 Furman 6-1 587 3 D. (14) Western Carolina, 29-17 10/28 ETSU
4 UIW 6-1 545 5 D. McNeese, 35-24 10/28 at Lamar
5 Montana 6-1 537 6 Idle 10/28 Northern Colorado
6 Delaware 6-1 510 7 D. Hampton, 47-3 10/28 at Towson
7 Sacramento St. 5-2 475 4 L. (2) Montana St., 42-30 10/28 Idaho St.
8 Idaho 5-2 471 8 Idle 10/28 (2) Montana St.
9 South Dakota 6-1 423 16 D. Indiana St., 17-3 10/28 (1) South Dakota St.
10 North Carolina Central 6-1 418 10 D. Morgan St., 16-10 10/26 South Carolina St.
11 North Dakota St. 5-2 388 15 D. Western Illinois, 52-7 10/28 Murray St.
12 Southern Illinois 5-2 343 12 L. (1) South Dakota St., 17-10 10/28 at Western Illinois
13 UT Martin 6-1 314 19 D. Charleston Southern, 17-0 10/28 at Gardner-Webb
14 Florida A&M 6-1 304 18 D. Texas Southern, 31-21 10/28 Prairie View A&M
15 Chattanooga 6-2 266 20 D. East Tennessee St., 34-3 10/28 at VMI
16 Western Carolina 5-2 253 14 L. (3) Furman, 29-17 10/28 Mercer
17 North Dakota 4-3 198 9 L. Northern Iowa, 27-0 10/28 Indiana St.
18 Central Arkansas 5-2 197 21 Idle 10/28 Tarleton
19 Lafayette 6-1 120 NR D. (11) Holy Cross, 38-35 10/28 at Georgetown
20t. Austin Peay 5-2 116 24 D. Southern Utah, 48-45 10/28 North Alabama
20t. New Hampshire 4-3 116 22 D. Stony Brook, 45-14 10/28 at Rhode Island
22 Holy Cross 4-3 108 11 L. Lafayette, 38-35 10/28 at Fordham
23 Harvard 5-1 87 17 L. Princeton, 21-14 10/28 Dartmouth
24 William & Mary 4-3 83 13 L. Towson, 34-24 10/28 Monmouth
25 UC Davis 4-3 82 23 Idle 10/28 at Northern Arizona

Dropped Out: Illinois St. (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Northern Iowa, 65; Villanova, 51; Fordham, 44; Youngstown St., 41; Pennsylvania, 25; Albany, 4; Mercer, 3; Eastern Illinois, 1; Illinois St., 1; Nicholls, 1.

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