VERMILLION, S.D. - For the first time since transitioning to NCAA Division I, the University of South Dakota football team has broken into the Top 20 nationally, according to the latest FCS Coaches Poll released Monday. The Coyotes (3-2) are 18th this week following a 30-0 shutout of Lindenwood University Saturday at the DakotaDome. The Coyotes also are 18th in the Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top-25 Coaches Football Poll.

This week marks the fourth straight week the Coyotes have been ranked. South Dakota broke into the polls after a 30-17 upset over then-No. 1 Eastern Washington Sept. 10 in the DakotaDome, and moved to 20th following a 48-10 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State (Sept. 17).

The Coyotes open the 2011 Great West Conference season as they host No. 22 Southern Utah this Saturday in the annual Dakota Days game. Southern Utah, picked to win the Great West Conference by the league's coaches in August, is 3-2 and 0-1 in conference play after a 26-20 loss at home Saturday to GWC foe North Dakota. North Dakota is 20th in the latest FCS poll and is the top other receiving votes' team in the Sports Network Poll.

Saturday's game will mark the first game in the DakotaDome featuring two ranked teams since the Coyotes defeated seventh-ranked Nebraska-Omaha 45-28 Nov. 4, 2006. The Coyotes entered that game ranked 20th in the NCAA Division II poll.

Both Cal Poly and UC Davis are receiving votes in both the FCS and Sports Network polls marking the second consecutive week all five Great West Conference teams are either ranked or receiving votes.

Tickets are still available for Saturday's game. For ticket information or to purchase tickets, please call the Coyote Ticket Office at (605) 677-5959. Ticket Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the DakotaDome.

2011 FCS Coaches Week 5 Poll (October 3, 2011) Team (No. 1 Votes) Record Points Last Week 1. Georgia Southern (26) 4-0 698 1 2. Northern Iowa (2) 3-1 666 2 3. Montana State 4-1 638 4 4. Wofford 3-1 611 T6 5. North Dakota State 4-0 597 T6 6. James Madison 4-1 549 8 7. New Hampshire 3-1 516 9 8. Appalachian State 3-2 495 3 9. William & Mary 3-2 471 T10 10. Leigh 4-1 407 14 11. Delaware 3-2 396 5 12. Jacksonville State 4-1 382 13 13. McNeese State 3-1 339 15 14. Montana 3-2 323 16 15. Sam Houston State 4-0 312 18 16. Richmond 3-2 278 T10 17. Southern Illinois 2-2 211 12 18. South Dakota 3-2 205 21 19. Indiana State 4-1 204 23 20. North Dakota 3-2 124 24 21. Tennessee Tech 4-1 84 NR 22. Southern Utah 3-2 83 19 23.Chattanooga 2-3 81 17 24. Coastal Carolina 3-1 64 NR 25. Jackson State 4-1 49 NR

Others receiving votes: Maine (42); Old Dominion (39); Massachusetts (31); Harvard (24); South Dakota State (17); Jacksonville (16); Sacramento State (16); Liberty (14); Towson (14); Duquesne (12); Stephen F. Austin (12); Norfolk State (10); Illinois State (9); Butler (6); UC Davis (6); Holy Cross (6); Cal Poly (5); South Carolina State (4); Youngstown State (4); Eastern Washington (3); Alabama State (2); Florida A&M (2); Brown (1); Bucknell (1); Elon (1).