SPORTS NETWORK TOP 25 | FCS COACHES TOP 25
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Hot off the program's first 4-0 start since the 1996 season, Eastern Illinois climbed slightly in the Sports Network poll while making their first appearance of the season in the FCS Coaches Top 25.
EIU moved up to No. 23 in the Sports Network poll following the Panthers 30-20 victory over Austin Peay on Saturday night. EIU was ranked 24th in the country by the Sports Network last week. EIU moved up to No. 24 in the FCS Coaches poll after being listed as the second team also receiving votes last week.
The Panthers will have a first-place Ohio Valley Conference showdown this Saturday with co-conference leader Eastern Kentucky. Both programs are 2-0 in the OVC following EKU's win over Murray State on Saturday night. EKU moved up to No. 18 in the Sports Network poll and No. 21 in the FCS Coaches poll.
Kick off is at 1:30 p.m. at O'Brien Field with the game also serving as Family Weekend at EIU. Tickets are available online at www.eiupanthers.com or by calling (217) 581-2106.
Richmond held on to the No. 1 ranking in both polls with all 28-first place votes in the FCS Coaches poll and 117 of 139 in the Sports Network poll. Villanova was second followed by Northern Iowa, Montana and William & Mary.
New Hampshire led the next five schools in the rankings with James Madison seventh, Southern Illinois eighth, McNeese State ninth and Appalachian State tenth. Weber State, Elon and Central Arkansas occupied spots 11 through 13 in both polls.
The final spots in each poll shifted teams around several ranking positions. Schools 14 through 25 in the Sports Network poll included Massachusetts, South Carolina State, South Dakota State, Eastern Washington, Eastern Kentucky, Cal Poly, Jacksonville State, Holy Cross, Texas State, Eastern Illinois, Florida A&M and Colgate. Florida A&M and Colgate were both new additions to this week's TSN rankings.
The schools ranked 14 through 25 by the FCS Coaches were South Carolina State, South Dakota State, Massachusetts, Cal Poly, Eastern Washington, Texas State, Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky, Holy Cross, Florida A&M, Eastern Illinois and Montana State. EIU and MSU were both new to this week's poll.
