GRAND FORKS, N.D. – After the 41-24 win over San Diego last weekend, North Dakota moved up to No. 8 in the latest AFCA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll and sits No. 9 in the Stats Perform Poll.

The MVFC has six teams represented in the Stats Perform Poll. South Dakota State is No. 1, trailed by North Dakota State at No. 2 and South Dakota at No. 5. North Dakota is now No. 9, followed by Southern Illinois at No. 17 and Illinois State at No. 18.

In the AFCA Coaches’ Top 25, the league has seven teams ranked. The Jackrabbits continue to hold the top spot, followed by the Bison. The Coyotes are also in the top five at No. 5, while the Fighting Hawks remain in the top 10 at No. 8. The Redbirds (No. 15), the Salukis (No. 17) and Panthers (No. 19) round out the poll for the MVFC.

No. 9/8 North Dakota will host Murray State in MVFC action at 1 p.m. this Saturday. The game will be televised on Midco Sports and carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.

STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 (Sept. 23)
1. South Dakota State (3-1, 0–0 MVFC), 1,379 points (40 of 56 first-place votes)
2. North Dakota State (3-1, 0-0 MVFC), 1,308 (5)
3. Montana State (4-0, 0-0 Big Sky), 1,295 (6)
4. Idaho (3-1, 0-0 Big Sky), 1,272 (5)
5. South Dakota (2-1, 0-0 MVFC), 1,137
6. Villanova (3-1, 1-0 CAA), 1,070
7. Central Arkansas (3-1, 1-0 UAC), 1,008
8. Montana (3-1, 0-0 Big Sky), 993
9. North Dakota (3-1, 0-0 MVFC), 959
10. Sacramento State (2-2, 0-0 Big Sky), 912
11. William & Mary (3-1, 0-0 CAA), 798
12. Mercer (4-0, 2-0 SoCon), 699
13. Southeast Missouri (3-1, 1-0 Big South-OVC), 691
14. UC Davis (3-1, 0-0 Big Sky), 681
15. Incarnate Word (2-2, 0-0 Southland), 574
16. Tarleton State (3-1, 1-0 UAC), 568
17. Southern Illinois (2-2, 0-0 MVFC), 549
18. Illinois State (3-1, 0-0 MVFC), 524
19. Lamar (3-1, 0-0 Southland), 284
20. Abilene Christian (2-2, 1-0 UAC), 276
21. UAlbany (1-2, 0-0 CAA), 198
22. Rhode Island (3-1, 1-0 CAA), 128
23. Wofford (2-1, 0-0 SoCon), 103
24. New Hampshire (3-1, 1-0 CAA), 101
25. Weber State (2-2, 1-0 Big Sky), 94

Others Receiving Votes: Chattanooga (0-3, 0-1 SoCon) 80; ETSU (2-2, 0-0 SoCon) 75; Northern Iowa (2-2, 0-0 MVFC) 73; Richmond (2-2, 0-0 CAA) 72; Lafayette (2-2, 0-0 Patriot) 51; Western Carolina (1-3, 0-0 SoCon) 47; Florida A&M (2-2, 0-0 SWAC) 43; North Carolina Central (2-2, 0-0 MEAC) 28; Columbia (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) 21; Harvard (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) 19; McNeese (3-2, 1-0 Southland) 18; Duquesne (2-2, 0-0 NEC) 12; Nicholls (1-3, 0-0 Southland) 12; Lehigh (3-1, 0-0 Patriot) 10; Stony Brook (3-1, 1-0 CAA) 9; Monmouth (2-2, 1-0 CAA) 4; Yale (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) 3.

AFCA FCS Coaches TOP 25 (Sept. 23)
1. South Dakota State (22)
2. North Dakota State (1)
3. Montana State (2)
4. Idaho (1)
5. South Dakota
6. Villanova
7. Central Arkansas
8. North Dakota
9. Montana
10. Sacramento State
11. UC Davis
12. William & Mary
13. Mercer
14. Southeast Missouri State
15. Illinois State
16. Tarleton State
17. Southern Illinois
18. Incarnate Word
19. Northern Iowa
20. New Hampshire
21. Florida A&M
22. Abilene Christian
23t. UAlbany
23t. Richmond
25. Lamar

Others Receiving Votes: Rhode Island, 54; Lafayette, 49; Chattanooga, 46; Weber St., 28; McNeese, 23; Eastern Illinois, 20; Missouri St., 20; Harvard, 19; Lehigh, 19; Stony Brook, 16; Wofford, 14; Monmouth (N.J.), 10; Youngstown St., 10; Duquesne, 9; North Carolina Central, 9; Stephen F. Austin, 9; Nicholls, 7; Butler, 6; East Tennessee St., 6; Indiana St., 5; Northern Arizona, 4; Southern, 4; Dartmouth, 3; Yale, 3; Central Connecticut St., 2; Jackson St., 1; Murray St., 1; Western Carolina, 1.