VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota football has entered the national rankings following an impressive season-opening performance against Kansas State Saturday, a team that was receiving national consideration at the FBS level. The Coyotes are No. 23 in the STATS FCS Top 25 poll announced Monday. They host Northern Colorado (0-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday inside the DakotaDome.
South Dakota is one of five teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference ranked in the poll. North Dakota State and South Dakota State held steady at No. 1 and No. 3, respectively. Illinois State moved up two spots to No. 18 after handling an NAIA opponent at home. Northern Iowa fell eight spots to No. 21 following a three-point loss to Montana.
1. North Dakota State (1-0), 3,997 points – 157 first-place votes
2. James Madison (0-1), 3,700 – 1 first-place vote
3. South Dakota State (0-0), 3,619
4. Sam Houston State (0-0), 3,410
5. North Carolina A&T (1-0), 3,103 – 2 first-place votes
6. Eastern Washington (1-0), 2,930
7. Kennesaw State (0-1), 2,807
8. Wofford (1-0), 2,637
9. Samford (1-0), 2,398
10. Weber State (0-1), 2,388,
11. Nicholls (0-1), 2,297
12. Villanova (1-0), 2,169
13. Jacksonville State (0-1), 2,116
14. Montana (1-0), 1,716
15. Elon (0-1), 1,586
16. McNeese (1-0), 1,493
17. Central Arkansas (0-1), 1,253
18. Northern Arizona (1-0), 1,142
19. Illinois State (1-0), 974
20. New Hampshire (0-1), 964
21. Northern Iowa (0-1), 921
22. Maine (1-0), 568
23. South Dakota (0-1), 538
24. Stony Brook (0-1), 433
25. Furman (0-1), 432
Previous Ranking: 23;
Last Week's Result: 48-7 loss to Clemson
Others Receiving Votes: UC Davis 417, Delaware 361, Austin Peay 343, Rhode Island 178, Montana State 169, Yale 141, Sacramento State 136, San Diego 117, Grambling State 94, Southern Utah 67, Colgate 50, Richmond 44, Butler 42, Western Illinois 42, North Alabama 33, North Dakota 28, Tennessee State 22, Lehigh 21, Youngstown State 21, Prairie View A&M 16, Western Carolina 16, Southeastern Louisiana 10, Chattanooga 9, Monmouth 8, Southern Illinois 5, Howard 5, Idaho 4, Alabama State 3, Central Connecticut State 3, Fordham 2, Duquesne 1, Harvard 1
