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The FCS Coaches' poll, one of two official ranking systems, dropped this afternoon. To nobody's surprise, North Dakota State was a unanimous pick as the top team in the country. Villanova came in at #3, higher than their #7 ranking at the end of last season after bowing out in the quarterfinals to Sam Houston State (who ironically is ranked #4 - that will ruffle some feathers!).
The CAA is expected to have another strong season and it's reflected in this preseason poll. New Hampshire (#7) joins Villanova in the Top 10 while James Madison (#13) and Richmond (#18) also make an appearance. William & Mary, Maine and Towson also received some votes, but didn't make the Top 25.
Fordham, Villanova's week two opponent, was also ranked at #21.
FCS Coaches' Poll
| Rank | School | 2014 Record | Points | 2014 Final Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota State Bison (24) | 15-1 | 600 | 1 |
| 2 | Illinois State Redbirds | 13-2 | 551 | 2 |
| 3 | Villanova Wildcats | 11-3 | 512 | 7 |
| 4 | Sam Houston State Bearkats | 11-5 | 511 | 6 |
| 5 | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 12-2 | 502 | 5 |
| 6 | Eastern Washington Eagles | 11-3 | 481 | 4 |
| 7 | New Hampshire Wildcats | 12-2 | 445 | 3 |
| 8 | Chattanooga Mocs | 10-4 | 409 | 8 |
| 9 | Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 10-2 | 396 | 9 |
| 10 | Northern Iowa Panthers | 9-5 | 381 | 10 |
| 11 | Montana State Bobcats | 8-5 | 296 | 20 |
| 12 | Montana Grizzlies | 9-5 | 278 | 11 |
| 13 | James Madison Dukes | 9-3 | 272 | 19 |
| 14 | Liberty Flames | 9-5 | 256 | 17 |
| 15 | South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 9-5 | 215 | 13 |
| 16 | Youngstown State Penguins | 7-5 | 205 | 25 |
| 17 | Eastern Kentucky Colonels | 9-4 | 171 | 21 |
| 18 | Richmond Spiders | 9-5 | 170 | 16 |
| 19 | Southeastern Louisiana Lions | 9-4 | 164 | 12 |
| 20 | Indiana State Sycamores | 8-6 | 106 | 18 |
| 21 | Fordham Rams | 11-3 | 103 | 14 |
| 22 | Harvard Crimson | 10-0 | 99 | 15 |
| 23 | McNeese State Cowboys | 6-5 | 91 | NR |
| 24 | Idaho State Bengals | 8-4 | 82 | NR |
| 25 | Eastern Illinois Panthers | 5-7 | 73 | NR |
| Others receiving votes: Alcorn State 52, Stephen F. Austin 51, William & Mary 43, Cal Poly 42, Northern Arizona 34, Bethune-Cookman 25, North Carolina A&T 24, Jackson State 21, South Carolina State 21, Charleston Southern 14, Sacred Heart 14, Western Carolina 13, Furman 12, South Dakota 12, Maine 9, Bucknell 9, Lehigh 8, Towson 5, Samford 5, Bryant 4, San Diego 4, Yale 4, Central Arkansas 2, Duquesne 2, UT Martin 1. | ||||