NDSU Remains At No. 1 After A Week Of Upsets
College Sports Journal
News Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — North Dakota State survived another challenge, beating South Dakota State 20-17 at home in Missouri Valley Football Conference play, to remain No. 1 the College Sports Journal Football Championship Subdivision Top-25 poll for week 12 of the season.
North Dakota State, No. 3 Montana State and No. 4 Sam Houston State all received first-place votes, but Eastern Washington edged out MSU and SHSU to stay at No. 2 in the poll.
It was a tumultuous week in conference play for teams in the poll, with seven ranked teams losing games.
South Dakota State fell from 15th to 19th with its loss to the top-ranked Bison in a showdown for first place in the MVFC and fourth other teams also lost with first place on the line.
Previously No. 4 Stony Brook missed a chance to clinch the Big South automatic bid with a 28-14 lose at Liberty and dropped to 10th
Lehigh came up short at home in the Patriot League championship game when Colgate scored two late TDs to win 35-24. The Mountain Hawks plummeted from ninth to 14th, while Colgate entered the poll for the first time at No. 25.
Northern Arizona dropped a 35-29 triple-ovetime contest at home to Southern Utah to fall from eighth to 13th in Big Sky Conference action.
James Madison had the biggest fall, descending from sixth to 17th after a 35-20 thrashing on the road at now-No. 16 Villanova in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Tennessee-Martin was No. 23 last week, but a 45-44 overtime loss to defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Tennessee Tech caused the Skyhawks to drop out of the poll.
Harvard fell from 24th out of the rankings with its 30-21 loss at Penn. The loss also gave Penn at least a share of the Ivy League title, though Harvard can still earn a share if it beats Yale Saturday at home and Penn loses at Cornell.
Eastern Kentucky returned to the poll for the third time this season with a wild, 55-24 victory in OVC play at home against Murray State.
1: North Dakota State Bison (9-1, 6-1) 1 W vs South Dakota State 20-17
2: Eastern Washington Eagles (8-2, 6-1) 2 W vs UC Davis 31-28
3: Montana State Bobcats (9-1, 6-1) 3 W vs Portland State 65-30
4: Sam Houston State Bearkats (8-2, 6-1) 5 W at Northwestern State 52-17
5: Georgia Southern Eagles (8-2, 6-2) 7 W vs Howard 69-26
6: Central Arkansas Bears (8-2, 6-1) 10 Did Not Play
7: Wofford Terriers (8-2, 6-2) 11 W vs Tennessee-Chattanooga 16-13 OT
8: Appalachian State Mountaineers (8-3, 6-2) 13 W vs Furman 33-28
9: Old Dominion Monarchs (9-1, 6-1) 12 W vs William & Mary 41-31
10: Stony Brook Seawolves (9-1, 5-0) 4 L at Liberty 28-14
11: New Hampshire Wildcats (8-2, 6-1) 14 Did Not Play
12: Illinois State Redbirds (8-2, 5-2) 16 Did Not Play
13: Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (8-2, 6-1) 8 L vs Southern Utah 35-29 3OT
14: Lehigh Mountain Hawks (9-1, 4-1) 9 L vs Colgate 35-24
15: Towson Tigers (6-4, 5-2) 17 W vs Rhode Island 41-10
16: Villanova Wildcats (7-3, 5-2) 18 W vs James Madison 35-20
17: James Madison Dukes (7-3, 5-2) 6 L at Villanova 35-20
18: Cal Poly Mustangs (8-2, 6-1) 19 W vs Idaho State 70-14
19: South Dakota State Jackrabbits (7-3, 5-2) 15 L at North Dakota State 20-17
20: Richmond Spiders (7-3, 5-2) 20 W vs Delaware 23-17
21: Indiana State (7-3, 5-2) 21 DID NOT PLAY
22: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (7-2, 6-0) 22 W at Morgan State 24-13
23: Eastern Illinois Panthers (7-3, 6-1) 25 W vs Southeast Missouri State 39-20
24: Eastern Kentucky Colonels (8-3, 6-2) NR W vs Murray State 55-24
25: Colgate Raiders (7-3, 5-0) NR W at Lehigh 35-24
Also Received Votes (In Order Of Points):
Albany, Samford, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Sacramento State, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State, Harvard, Wagner.
Falling Out Of The Poll
23: Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks (7-3, 5-2) 23 L vs Tennessee Tech 45-44 OT
24: Harvard Crimson (7-1, 4-1) 24 L at Penn 30-21
