Montana State slips in both weekly rankings

The Daily Inter Lake

Montana is still undefeated, but no longer ranked No. 1.

The Grizzlies, who took over the No. 1 spot in The Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision (TSN FCS) and the Coaches Football Championship Subdivision polls on Sept. 24 for the first time this season, are now ranked third in both.

Montana dropped from first to third in this week's TSN FCS ranking and slipped from second to third in the coaches' poll.

Since Montana took over the No. 1 ranking in both polls, the Grizzlies have posted three lackluster victories - 18-10 versus Weber State, 24-23 over Eastern Washington and 17-3 at Sacramento State.

Montana, 6-0 overall and 3-0 Big Sky, hosts Northern Colorado on Saturday.

Northern Iowa (6-0) replaces Montana in the No. 1 spot in this week's TSN FCS poll.

North Dakota State, for a second straight week, is the top ranked team in the coaches' poll.

Montana State, 4-2, dropped to 19th this week in the coaches' poll and 20th in the TSN FCS ranking following Saturday's 35-13 loss at Eastern Washington. The Bobcats were ranked as high as No. 11.

Eastern Washington moves into the polls. The Eagles are ranked 22nd in both.

Montana State entertains Sacramento State on Saturday.

TSN FCS Poll

PHILADELPHIA - The top 25 teams in The Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Oct. 14 and previous ranking:

Record Pts Pvs

1. Northern Iowa (35) 6-0 2,577 2

2. North Dakota State (23) 6-0 2,443 3

3. Montana (40) 6-0 2,431 1

4. Massachusetts (4) 5-1 2,280 4

5. Appalachian State (3) 5-1 2,231 5

6. McNeese State (2) 6-0 2,154 6

7. Wofford (3) 6-1 2,113 8

8. James Madison 6-1 1,883 9

9. Southern Illinois 6-1 1,735 7

10. Hofstra 6-0 1,700 10

11. New Hampshire 4-2 1,468 13

12. Youngstown State 5-2 1,444 12

13. Nicholls State 5-1 1,326 14

14. Delaware Blue 6-1 1,275 15

15. Delaware State 5-1 1,054 17

16. Yale 5-0 1,006 16

17. Western Illinois 5-2 935 19

18. Richmond 4-2 705 20

19. Cal Poly 4-2 633 22

20. Montana State 4-2 584 11

21. Eastern Kentucky 5-2 584 23

22. Eastern Washington 4-2 514 -

23. Grambling State 5-1 319 25

24. Elon 4-2 306 -

25. Norfolk State 5-1 293 -

Others receiving votes: Eastern Illinois 237, Hampton 204, Alabama A&M 175, The Citadel 166, San Diego 153, Georgia Southern 64, Villanova 44, Central Arkansas 21, Holy Cross 19, Fordham 15, South Carolina State 14, Jackson State 10, Furman 8, Lehigh 8, Northern Arizona 8, Southern 8, Jacksonville State 7, Illinois State 6, Lafayette 6, Harvard 3, Missouri State 2, Sam Houston State 1, South Dakota State 1.

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FCS Coaches Poll

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The top 25 teams in the Coaches Football Championship Subdivision poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Oct. 14 and previous ranking:

Record Pts Pvs

1. North Dakota State (12) 6-0 669 1

2. Northern Iowa (1) 6-0 653 3

3. Montana (12) 6-0 650 2

4. Massachusetts (2) 5-1 614 4

5. Appalachian State 5-1 580 5

6t. McNeese State (1) 6-0 544 7

6t. Wofford 6-1 544 8

8. James Madison 6-1 525 9

9. Hofstra 6-0 443 10

10. Southern Illinois 6-1 415 6

11. New Hampshire 4-2 393 11

12. Youngstown State 5-2 388 13

13. Delaware 6-1 366 15

14. Nicholls State 5-1 322 14

15. Yale 5-0 283 16

16. Delaware State 5-1 262 17

17. Western Illinois 5-2 235 19

18. Richmond 4-2 198 20

19. Montana State 4-2 158 12

20. Cal Poly 4-2 143 22

21. Eastern Kentucky 5-2 104 NR

22. Eastern Washington 4-2 89 NR

23. Grambling State 5-1 79 25

24. Eastern Illinois 4-3 76 23

25t. Hampton 4-1 61 18

25t. San Diego 6-0 61 NR

Others Receiving Votes: Elon (57), The Citadel (35), Norfolk State (29), Alabama A&M (27), Lafayette (23), Georgia Southern (17), Villanova (15), Central Arkansas (12), Sam Houston State (10), Harvard (6), South Dakota State (4), Fordham (2), Wagner (2), Dayton (1), Jackson State (1), N.C. Central (1), South Carolina State (1), Southern (1), William & Mary (1).