FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll | STATS Perform Media Top 25 Poll
Eastern Illinois football completed one of the best turnarounds in FCS football this season as the Panthers finished 8-3 overall winning their fourth consecutive game on Saturday at Robert Morris.
The Panthers were one of the last four teams left out of this year's FCS Playoff Field on Sunday, but on Monday moved into the final regular season national rankings landing at No. 24 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. The Panthers were also listed eighth among the teams also receiving votes in the final regular season STATS Perform FCS Media Top 25 poll.
This marks the 18th time that Eastern Illinois has finished a season nationally ranked and the first since the 2015 season when EIU was ranked 23rd in the nation.
The Panthers had either been ranked or among the teams also receiving votes over the last nine weeks of the season climbing into the poll at No. 25 the first week in October.
South Dakota State was ranked No. 1 in both national polls to end the regular season. EIU was also joined in the FCS Coaches Top 25 poll by Big South-OVC Football Association member UT Martin at No. 21.
