Coaches poll gives Nicholls first national football ranking in a decade
Colonels ranked No. 23, one spot behind Grambling, in Coaches Top 25 poll
THIBODAUX, La. – For the first time since 2007, the Nicholls State University football team cracked the national rankings as the Colonels came in at No. 23 in the FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll.
Nicholls totaled 76 votes in the poll to move up five spots. The Colonels also received an increase in votes in the STATS FCS Poll, finishing with 251 to rank just outside of the top 25 at No. 28. Nicholls has been receiving votes in both since the initial preseason polls were released.
The Colonels are coming off a 44-13 victory over Prairie View A&M. Nicholls is 2-1 on the season with wins over the Panthers and McNeese, which is also receiving votes in both polls. The lone loss this season was a 24-14 setback at FBS Texas A&M.
The ranking is the first for the program in 10 years. Nicholls last held a spot in the top 25 in the media poll on Oct. 29, 2007 as the Colonels were ranked No. 25. That team featured two future NFL Draft picks – defensive backs Kareem Moore and Lardarius Webb.
The Colonels will hit the road for their next two games, starting this Saturday (Sept. 23) at defending league champion, No. 3 Sam Houston State. Kickoff in Huntsville, Texas is scheduled for 6 p.m.
| RANK | TEAM | POINTS | PREVIOUS RANKING | RECORD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Madison (25) | 649 | 1 | 3-0 |
| 2 | North Dakota State (1) | 625 | 2 | 2-0 |
| 3 | Sam Houston State | 591 | 3 | 2-0 |
| 4 | South Dakota State | 575 | 4 | 3-0 |
| 5 | Youngstown State | 530 | 5 | 2-1 |
| 6 | Richmond | 506 | T-6 | 2-1 |
| 7 | Jacksonville State | 497 | T-6 | 1-1 |
| 8 | Villanova | 476 | 8 | 2-1 |
| 9 | Wofford | 432 | 9 | 2-0 |
| 10 | The Citadel | 372 | 13 | 3-0 |
| 11 | Eastern Washington | 369 | 12 | 1-2 |
| 12 | Illinois State | 334 | 14 | 2-0 |
| 13 | Central Arkansas | 309 | 16 | 2-1 |
| 14 | South Dakota | 288 | 23 | 3-0 |
| 15 | North Carolina A&T | 256 | 20 | 3-0 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 213 | 11 | 2-1 |
| 17 | Samford | 211 | 17 | 2-1 |
| 18 | Weber State | 196 | 21 | 2-1 |
| 19 | North Dakota | 168 | 10 | 1-2 |
| 20 | Tennessee State | 166 | 24 | 3-0 |
| 21 | Western Illinois | 162 | 22 | 2-0 |
| 22 | Grambling State | 104 | 25 | 2-1 |
| 23 | Nicholls State | 76 | RV | 2-1 |
| 24 | Northern Iowa | 56 | 18 | 1-2 |
| 25 | Holy Cross | 49 | NR | 2-1 |
Others receiving votes: Southern Utah (44), Chattanooga (35), Charleston Southern (35), UT Martin (20), William & Mary (20), Montana (20), Towson (13), Kennesaw State (11), McNeese State (10), Mercer (9), Idaho State (6), Yale (4), Stony Brook (3), Saint Francis (3), Albany (2), Howard (2), Montana State (2), Princeton (1).
Jamie Bustos
