SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Eastern Illinois used a Sam Houston State loss to becomes the third different No. 2 team in three weeks, while North Dakota State took all 26 first-place votes in this week’s FCS Coaches' Poll.
The Bison dropped Southern Illinois 31-10 on Saturday to win their 16th consecutive game and keep hold of the No. 1 ranking. Eastern Illinois jumped to the No. 2 slot after being ranked third last week. The Panthers earned 617 points following their 55-33 win against Southeast Missouri State.
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Coastal Carolina also moved up one position in the poll to No. 3, as the 7-0 Chanticleers received 562 points from the coaches. Eastern Washington entered the top five with 543 points, leapfrogging Montana State (522), who remained at No. 5.
Towson is sixth with 509 points, followed by last week’s 10th-ranked team, McNeese State (505). Fordham and Sam Houston State share the No. 8 ranking after both teams received 470 points this week. Montana (431) rounds out the top 10, dropping one spot from last week.
Wofford (380), Youngstown State (347) and Bethune-Cookman (339) are next, followed by Maine and Lehigh with 298 and 272 points, respectively.
James Madison is No. 16 after notching 226 points, and Villanova droped six spots to No. 17 following a loss to New Hampshire. Northern Iowa (184), Northern Arizona (182) and Central Arkansas (177) round out the top 20.
Tennessee State (144) and New Hampshire (135) each move up one spot to No. 21 and No. 22, respectively, while Harvard jumps two spots to No. 23 with 56 points. Charleston Southern and South Dakota State round out the rankings tied at No. 24 with 49 points.
