CHARLESTON, Ill. – On the heels of a 54-20 win on Saturday night, Eastern Illinois inched up in both the Sports Network and FCS Coaches polls released on Monday afternoon. The Panthers landed at No. 19 in the Sports Network rankings and No. 21 in the FCS Coaches poll.
Eastern Illinois will take those rankings on the road this week as they battle Southeast Missouri in Ohio Valley Conference action. EIU is 2-2 on the year and 1-0 in the OVC after winning its season opener over Tennessee Tech on August 30.
The shake-up in both polls was at the top as multiple teams split first-place votes in both polls following Wofford's win over previous No. 1 Appalachian State. Montana was a narrow No. 1 in both polls with 46 first-place votes in the Sports Network rankings and 20 in the FCS Coaches poll.
Massachusetts, North Dakota State and Northern Iowa all garnered first-place votes landing positions No. 2 through No. 4. Appalachian State dropped four spots to land at No. 5 and was still receiving first-place votes in the Sports Network poll.
Southern Illinois and McNeese State moved up to No. 6 and No. 7 while Wofford jumped up to No. 8 in both polls as the Terriers improved to 3-1. James Madison and Youngstown State slipped back one spot each to ninth and tenth despite big wins over the weekend.
Spots 11 through 18 included the same bunch of teams with Delaware, New Hampshire, Hampton, Hofstra, Sam Houston State, Illinois State, Montana State and Western Illinois all remaining in the Top 20. Eastern Illinois was 19th in the Sports Network poll with Furman 20th. The FCS Coaches had Furman at No. 19 and Yale at No. 20 followed by EIU at No. 21.
The Sports Network final five included Eastern Washington, Yale, Nicholls State, Elon and Richmond. The last three were all newcomers to the poll with Nicholls State returning after a one-week absence.
The FCS final five included EIU, Nicholls State, Eastern Washington, Cal Poly and Richmond. EWU and Richmond were newcomers in the Coaches poll.
EIU was also ranked 20th in the SME Broadcasters poll and 23rd in the AnyGivenSaturday.com online fan poll.
2007 SPORTS NETWORK
TOP 25
(Week 5)
Rk. Team 2007 Record
1. Montana (46) 3-0
2. Massachusetts (18) 4-0
3. North Dakota State (14) 3-0
4. Northern Iowa (8) 4-0
5. Appalachian State (8) 3-1
6. McNeese State (2) 3-0
7. Southern Illinois (1) 4-0
8. Wofford (2) 3-1
9. James Madison 3-1
10. Youngstown State 3-1
11. New Hamphire 2-1
12. Delaware 4-0
13. Hampton 3-0
14. Hofstra 3-0
15. Sam Houston State 2-1
16. Illinois State 2-2
17. Western Illinois 3-1
18. Montana State 2-1
19. EASTERN ILLINOIS 2-2
20. Furman 1-2
21. Eastern Washington 3-0
22. Yale 2-0
23. Nicholls State 3-1
24. Elon 2-1
25. Richmond 2-1
2007 FCS Coaches Poll
(Week 5)
Rk. Team 2007 Record
1. Montana (20) 3-0
2. Massachusetts (4) 4-0
3. North Dakota State (3) 3-0
4. Northern Iowa 4-0
5. Appalachian State 3-1
6. Southern Illinois 4-0
7. McNeese State (1) 3-0
8. Wofford 3-1
9. James Madison 3-1
10. Youngstown State 3-1
11. New Hampshire 2-1
12. Delaware 4-0
13. Hampton 3-0
14. Hofstra 3-0
15. Sam Houston State 2-1
16. Illinois State 2-2
T17. Montana State 2-1
T17. Western Illinois 3-1
19. Furman 1-2
20. Yale 2-0
21. EASTERN ILLINOIS 2-2
22. Nicholls State 3-1
23. Eastern Washington 3-0
24. Cal Poly 2-2
25. Richmond 2-1
