FCS COACHES POLL  |  SPORTS NETWORK POLL

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois ended its 2009 season with a first round NCAA FCS playoff loss at Southern Illinois as the Panthers made their 13th trip to the NCAA FCS playoffs. On Monday EIU finished in the FCS national rankings for the 14th time in school history as the Sports Network and FCS Coaches final rankings were released.

Eastern Illinois landed at No. 15 in the FCS Coaches rankings while they finished at No. 19 in the Sports Network poll. EIU was 8-4 overall and champions of the Ohio Valley Conference with a 6-2 league record. EIU will open the 2010 season on Sept. 4 at Iowa.

Villanova which defeated Montana for the FCS National Championship on Dec. 18 was ranked No. 1 as the Wildcats posted a 14-1 overall record. Montana which had advanced to the championship game undefeated was ranked No. 2 also with a 14-1 record.

Appalachian State, William & Mary and Richmond rounded out the top five after Appalachian State and William & Mary lost in the FCS semifinals. Southern Illinois which had ended the season ranked No. 1 in the Sports Network poll was sixth overall. New Hampshire, South Carolina State, Stephen F. Austin and Elon rounded out the top ten in the rankings.

South Dakota State was number eleven in both polls with McNeese State 12th, Eastern Washington 13th and Holy Cross 14th.

The two major FCS polls differed on the final schools with the FCS Coaches ranking Eastern Illinois No. 15 followed by Jacksonville State, Weber State, Northern Iowa, Prairie View A&M, Colgate, Liberty, Florida A&M, Pennsylvania, Texas State and Lafayette.

The Sports Network final rankings listed Prairie View A&M at No. 15 followed by Jacksonville State, Weber State, Northern Iowa, Eastern Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colgate, Liberty, Florida A&M, Lafayette and Texas State.