Photo by: Tim Sanger
North Dakota State No. 1 in AFCA FCS Coaches Poll
8/13/2018 12:00:00 PM | Football
WACO, Texas - North Dakota State, coming off its sixth national title in seven seasons, will begin the 2018 football season ranked No. 1 in the first-ever American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches Poll released Monday, Aug. 13.
The AFCA is beginning administration of the FCS Coaches Poll for the first time in addition to its polls for NCAA Division II and Division III. The FCS poll was previously administered by the Southern Conference.
Last season's national runner-up, James Madison, starts the season at No. 2 followed by South Dakota State third, Sam Houston State fourth and Kennesaw State rounding out the top five.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference has five teams ranked in the preseason coaches poll. Northern Iowa is 12th, Illinois State 20th and Youngstown State 24th.
Others receiving votes: Idaho, 41; Northern Arizona, 36; Yale, 22; Grambling St., 14; Monmouth (N.J.), 12; Southern Utah, 11; Sacramento St., 9; Colgate, 8; South Dakota, 6; San Diego, 5; Richmond, 4; Western Illinois, 3; Western Carolina, 2; Lehigh, 1.
The AFCA is beginning administration of the FCS Coaches Poll for the first time in addition to its polls for NCAA Division II and Division III. The FCS poll was previously administered by the Southern Conference.
Last season's national runner-up, James Madison, starts the season at No. 2 followed by South Dakota State third, Sam Houston State fourth and Kennesaw State rounding out the top five.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference has five teams ranked in the preseason coaches poll. Northern Iowa is 12th, Illinois State 20th and Youngstown State 24th.
| 2018 AFCA FCS Coaches Preseason Poll | ||||
| Team (First-Place Votes) | W-L | Pts | Prev | |
| 1. | North Dakota St. (23) | 14-1 | 647 | 1 |
| 2. | James Madison (3) | 14-1 | 623 | 2 |
| 3. | South Dakota St. | 11-3 | 579 | 4 |
| 4. | Sam Houston St. | 12-2 | 557 | 3 |
| 5. | Kennesaw St. | 12-2 | 543 | 9 |
| 6. | Jacksonville St. | 10-3 | 530 | 10 |
| 7. | Eastern Washington | 7-4 | 454 | 22 |
| 8. | Weber St. | 11-3 | 446 | 5 |
| 9. | New Hampshire | 9-5 | 430 | 15 |
| 10. | Samford | 8-4 | 393 | 17 |
| 11. | Wofford | 10-3 | 340 | 7 |
| 12. | Northern Iowa | 8-5 | 338 | 19 |
| 13. | Elon | 8-4 | 319 | 21 |
| 14. | North Carolina A&T | 12-0 | 292 | 6 |
| 15. | Central Arkansas | 10-2 | 269 | 8 |
| 16. | Delaware | 7-4 | 257 | NR |
| 17. | Nicholls St. | 8-4 | 241 | 23 |
| 18. | McNeese St. | 9-2 | 187 | 18 |
| 19. | Villanova | 5-6 | 165 | NR |
| 20. | Illinois St. | 6-5 | 144 | NR |
| 21. | Furman | 8-5 | 128 | 20 |
| 22. | Stony Brook | 10-3 | 120 | 11 |
| 23. | Austin Peay | 8-4 | 119 | NR |
| 24. | Youngstown St. | 6-5 | 88 | NR |
| 25. | Montana | 7-4 | 67 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Idaho, 41; Northern Arizona, 36; Yale, 22; Grambling St., 14; Monmouth (N.J.), 12; Southern Utah, 11; Sacramento St., 9; Colgate, 8; South Dakota, 6; San Diego, 5; Richmond, 4; Western Illinois, 3; Western Carolina, 2; Lehigh, 1.
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