Nicholls 20th, Southeastern 21st in final regular season AFCA Coaches FCS Top 25

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana football team was ranked 21st in the final AFCA Coaches FCS Top 25 of the 2020-21 regular season, which was released on Tuesday.

SLU (4-3) remained in the poll throughout the season. The Lions closed out the spring campaign with a 55-48 shootout loss at No. 14 Southern Illinois in what amounted to a play-in game for a berth in the NCAA FCS playoffs. Southeastern was one of the last four out of the 16-team field, while the Salukis were one of the last two in.

The Lions were ranked 20th in the final Stats Perform FCS Top 25 released on Monday. SLU was one of three Southland teams listed in the AFCA Coaches FCS Top 25. League champion Sam Houston is the No. 2 seed in the playoff field and ranked fourth nationally, while Nicholls is No. 20. UIW is among those teams receiving votes.

AFCA Coaches FCS Top 25
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Prv.
1. James Madison (18) 5-0 545 1
2. South Dakota State (3) 5-1 516 4
3. Weber State 5-0 513 2
4. Sam Houston (3) 6-0 460 5
5. Delaware 5-0 441 7
6. North Dakota 4-1 430 6
7. North Dakota State 6-2 408 3
8. Eastern Washington 5-1 401 8
9. Jacksonville State 9-2 397 9
10. Monmouth 3-0 325 13
11. VMI 6-1 317 12
12. UC Davis 3-2 287 14
13. Richmond 3-1 281 10
14. Southern Illinois 5-3 260 17
15. Kennesaw State 4-1 243 16
16. Villanova 2-2 228 11
17. Missouri State 5-4 201 18
18. Murray State 5-2 154 19
19. Southern (1) 5-1 141 21
20. Nicholls 4-3 122 20
21. Southeastern Louisiana 4-3 121 15
22. Alabama A&M 4-0 81 T25
23. East Tennessee State 4-2 76 24
24. Northern Iowa 3-4 57 23
25. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4-0 32 NR

Others receiving votes: UIW 24, Austin Peay 23, Holy Cross 15, Sacred Heart 14, Duquesne 8, Mercer 5, Northern Arizona 5, Tarleton State 5, Charleston Southern 4, Samford 4, Davidson 3, South Carolina State 3.