CHARLESTON, Ill. -- With a close call win at Murray State on Saturday afternoon, Eastern Illinois paid the price in one of the two FCS football polls released on Monday afternoon. The Panthers fell out of the Sports Network rankings while dropping one spot in the FCS Coaches poll to No. 24.
Eastern Illinois (4-3, 3-1 OVC) saw a streak of 23 straight weeks of being ranked in the Sports Network poll come to an end as the Panthers slipped from No. 24 to the first team receiving votes in the poll. The streak had dated back to the latter portion of the 2005 season when EIU made the first of two straight FCS playoff appearances.
The Panthers were able to remain ranked in the FCS Coaches poll falling one spot from No. 23 last week to No. 24 this week. Eastern Illinois will host Tennessee Martin at 1:30 p.m. this Saturday in a match-up of last year''s OVC co-champions.
While EIU was one of the teams involved in a shake-up at the bottom of both polls, Northern Iowa made some noise in the Sports Network poll. UNI moved into first place in the Sports Network rankings following a win over Southern Illinois. The win also moved UNI up to No. 2 in the FCS Coaches poll. Southern Illinois dropped to No. 9 and No. 10 in both polls.
The FCS Coaches voted North Dakota State No. 1 in their polls for the second straight week with 12 first place votes. Montana fell to No. 3 in both polls despite 12 first place votes by the FCS Coaches and 40 first place votes by the Sports Network voters.
Massachusetts remained at No. 4 despite a three over win against Villanova. Appalachian State, McNeese State, Wofford and James Madison occupied spots five through nine. Hofstra was No. 10 and No. 9 in the two rankings sharing those spots with SIU.
The middle ten in both polls contained the same teams with New Hampshire, Youngstown State, Nicholls State, Delaware, Delaware State, Yale, Western Illinois, Richmond, Cal Poly and Montana State.
Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Washington and Grambling State were ranked 21, 22 and 23 in both polls. EWU was a newcomer to both polls after a win over Montana State. Elon and Norfolk State joined the Sports Network rankings at No. 24 and 25. EIU was No. 24 in the Coaches poll while Hampton and San Diego were tied for No. 25.
Dropping out of the Sports Network poll were Georgia Southern, Hampton and Eastern Illinois. Georgia Southern and Lafayette fell from the FCS Coaches poll.
2007 SPORTS NETWORK TOP 25
(Week 8)
Rk. Team 2007 Record
1. Northern Iowa (35) 6-0
2. North Dakota State (23) 6-0
3. Montana (40) 6-0
4. Massachusetts (4) 5-1
5. Appalachian State (3) 5-1
6. McNeese State (2) 6-0
7. Wofford (3) 6-1
8. James Madison 6-1
9. Southern Illinois 6-1
10. Hofstra 6-0
11. New Hampshire 4-2
12. Youngstown State 5-2
13. Nicholls State 5-1
14. Delaware 6-1
15. Delaware State 5-1
16. Yale 5-0
17. Western Illinois 5-2
18. Richmond 4-2
19. Cal Poly 4-2
20. Montana State 4-2
21. Eastern Kentucky 5-2
22. Eastern Washington 4-2
23. Grambling State 5-1
24. Elon 4-2
25. Norfolk State 5-1
2007 FCS Coaches Poll
(Week 8)
Rk. Team 2007 Record
1. North Dakota State (12) 6-0
2. Northern Iowa (1) 6-0
3. Montana (12) 6-0
4. Massachusetts (2) 5-1
5. Appalachian State 5-1
T6. McNeese State (1) 6-0
Wofford 6-1
8. James Madison 6-1
9. Hofstra 6-0
10. Southern Illinois 6-1
11. New Hampshire 4-2
12. Youngstown State 5-2
13. Delaware 6-1
14. Nicholls State 5-1
15. Yale 5-0
16. Delaware State 5-1
17. Western Illinois 5-2
18. Richmond 4-2
19. Montana State 4-2
20. Cal Poly 4-2
21. Eastern Kentucky 5-2
22. Eastern Washington 4-2
23. Grambling State 5-1
24. EASTERN ILLINOIS 4-3
T25. Hampton 4-2
San Diego 6-0
