SLU enters FCS playoffs ranked 17th, 23rd in latest polls

HAMMOND, La. – After winning the Southland Conference championship and earning a berth in the NCAA FCS Playoffs, the Southeastern Louisiana University football team was ranked in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 polls released Monday.

Southeastern (8-3) moved up six spots in the Stats Perform poll to No. 17. The Lions moved into the AFCA Coaches poll for the first time since Oct. 3, coming in at No. 23.

SLU will host No. 18/24 Idaho, which sits one spot behind the Lions in both polls, Saturday at 6 p.m. in a first-round contest in Strawberry Stadium. The winner will face No. 8/9 Samford, which earned the No. 6 seed in the 24-team bracket, in the second round Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. in Birmingham, Alabama.

Southeastern, one of two Southland teams in the rankings along with No. 5/7 UIW, enters the postseason on a five-game winning streak. SLU closed out the regular season with a 40-17 victory over Nicholls in the River Bell Classic to earn its third SLC title in program history.

The Lions will be making its fifth appearance in the postseason Saturday, having previously been a part of the field in 2013, 2014, 2019 and 2021. Saturday’s game will be televised on ESPN+ and can be heard on Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM.

Stats Perform FCS Top 25
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Prv.
1. South Dakota State (45) 10-1 1,340 1
2. Sacramento State (9) 11-0 1,296 2
3. Montana State 10-1 1,239 3
4. North Dakota State 9-2 1,192 4
5. UIW 10-1 1,050 5
6. William Carey 10-1 1,031 8
7. Holy Cross 11-0 1,008 6
8. Samford 10-1 981 9
9. Weber State 9-2 964 7
10. Jackson State 11-0 883 10
11. Furman 9-2 835 12
12. Elon 8-3 682 14
13. Richmond 8-3 623 11
14. Southeast Missouri 9-2 618 17
15. New Hampshire 8-3 561 18
16. Fordham 9-2 409 T21
17. Southeastern 8-3 401 23
18. Idaho 7-4 384 T21
19. Montana 7-4 373 13
20. North Dakota 7-4 342 16
21. Chattanooga 7-4 272 15
22. Mercer 7-4 271 19
23. Delaware 7-4 137 20
24. UC Davis 6-5 109 24
25. UT Martin 7-4 107 25

Others Receiving Votes: Eastern Kentucky 98, Saint Francis 92, Rhode Island 64, North Carolina Central 39, Florida A&M 34, Yale 32, Austin Peay 28, St. Thomas 20, Youngstown State 16.

AFCA Coaches FCS Top 25
Rk. School (First-place votes) Rec. Points Rk
1. South Dakota State (24) 10-1 696 1
2. Sacramento State (4) 11-0 673 2
3. Montana State 10-1 641 3
4. North Dakota State 9-2 603 4
5. Jackson State 11-0 556 5
6. Holy Cross 11-0 536 6
7. UIW 10-1 533 7
8. William & Mary 10-1 522 8
9. Samford 10-1 496 9
10. Weber State 9-2 463 10
11. Furman 9-2 387 13
12. Southeast Missouri 9-2 359 15
13. Fordham 9-2 355 14
14. Richmond 8-3 326 11
15. Elon 8-3 307 18
16. New Hampshire 8-3 246 20
17. Montana 7-4 212 12
18. Mercer 7-4 177 16
19. St. Thomas 10-1 163 21
20. Florida A&M 9-2 136 24
21. North Carolina Central 9-2 109 25
22. Chattanooga 7-4 95 17
23. Southeastern 8-3 63 NR
T24. Idaho 7-4 61 NR
T24. North Dakota 7-4 61 23

Others Receiving Votes: Delaware 60, St. Francis 43, Eastern Kentucky 40, Austin Peay 33, UT Martin 33, Yale 22, Princeton 19, Rhode Island 16, UC Davis 15, Davidson 13, Gardner-Webb 13, Merrimack 7, North Carolina A&T 7, Stephen F. Austin 2, Youngstown State 2.

TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets for the 2022-23 season. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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