VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota football remained in the No. 4 spot of the FCS Coaches Poll announced Monday. That announcement followed the Coyotes' 56-6 win against Indiana State at home Saturday that moved the team to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC).
South Dakota is playing in one of three top-25 matchups this week as the Coyotes will travel to Normal, Illinois, to take on the 24
th-ranked Illinois State Redbirds (4-2, 2-1). Illinois State fell nine spots from last week following a 42-7 setback at Southern Illinois. The Redbirds have lost back-to-back games after starting the year 4-0.
South Dakota is one of seven unbeaten FCS teams. This will be the Coyotes' fourth nationally-ranked opponent in their last five games.
The top six teams in the rankings remained unchanged in James Madison, North Dakota State, Jacksonville State, South Dakota, Wofford and Central Arkansas. Youngstown State at No. 9 gives the Valley three teams inside the top 10. Western Illinois at No. 12 and South Dakota State at No. 13 give the conference six teams in the top 25.
This week's top-25 matchups:
No. 12 Western Illinois (5-1) at No. 2 North Dakota State (6-0)
No. 4 South Dakota (6-0) at No. 24 Illinois State (4-2)
No. 14 Samford (4-2) at No. 5 Wofford (6-0)
| Week 7 FCS Coaches Poll (Oct. 16, 2017) |
Points |
Last Week |
2017 Record |
| Team (First-Place Votes) |
|
|
|
| 1 |
James Madison (26) |
650 |
1 |
6-0 |
| 2 |
North Dakota State |
624 |
2 |
6-0 |
| 3 |
Jacksonville State |
589 |
3 |
5-1 |
| 4 |
South Dakota |
575 |
4 |
6-0 |
| 5 |
Wofford |
539 |
5 |
6-0 |
| 6 |
Central Arkansas |
516 |
6 |
5-1 |
| 7 |
Sam Houston State |
470 |
T-9 |
5-1 |
| 8 |
Eastern Washington |
467 |
T-9 |
5-2 |
| 9 |
Youngstown State |
389 |
8 |
3-3 |
| 10 |
Richmond |
388 |
13 |
4-2 |
| 11 |
North Carolina A&T |
382 |
11 |
7-0 |
| 12 |
Western Illinois |
366 |
17 |
5-1 |
| 13 |
South Dakota State |
315 |
7 |
4-2 |
| 14 |
Samford |
259 |
18 |
4-2 |
| 15 |
Elon |
243 |
20 |
5-1 |
| 16 |
Villanova |
223 |
14 |
4-3 |
| 17 |
Grambling State |
217 |
19 |
5-1 |
| 18 |
New Hampshire |
191 |
12 |
4-2 |
| 19 |
McNeese |
189 |
21 |
5-1 |
| 20 |
Nicholls |
127 |
23 |
5-2 |
| 21 |
Western Carolina |
125 |
25 |
5-2 |
| 22 |
Northern Arizona |
102 |
24 |
4-2 |
| 23 |
Weber State |
90 |
16 |
4-2 |
| 24 |
Illinois State |
79 |
15 |
4-2 |
| 25 |
Montana |
58 |
RV |
5-2 |
Others receiving votes: Stony Brook (50), Northern Iowa (49), Kennesaw State (40), N.C. Central (31), Monmouth (29), The Citadel (22), Southern Utah (16), Delaware (13), Saint Francis (10), Dartmouth (7), Alcorn State (5), Albany (4), SE Louisiana (1).
