SLU, Nicholls nationally ranked heading into Thursday’s River Bell Classic, Southland Championship showdown

HAMMOND, La. – The 29th River Bell Classic will feature a pair of nationally-ranked teams for the first time, as both Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls are listed in both the STATS FCS and AFCA Coaches Top 25’s, which were released on Monday.

Southeastern (7-3, 6-2 Southland), which is ranked No. 21 in the STATS poll and 22nd in the coaches’ poll, and Nicholls (7-4, 6-2 Southland), No. 23 in both polls, are in a three-way tie atop the Southland Conference standings with Central Arkansas heading into the final week.

The winner of Thursday’s 6 p.m. game in Strawberry Stadium will clinch at least a share of the Southland Conference championship and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs. Regardless of the result of UCA’s game at UIW on Friday, both the Lions and Colonels have the tie-breaker over the Bears by virtue of each defeating them earlier this season.

Central Arkansas is currently ranked No. 11 in both polls. Sam Houston State is receiving votes in the STATS FCS Top 25.

Up Next
No. 21/22 Southeastern will host No. 23 Nicholls in the 29th River Bell Classic on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. The game will be televised on Cox Sports Television and on ESPN+ outside of the CST area. The contest can be heard on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU-FM (90.9), Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM WFPR), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Lions Game Day Experience and TuneIn Radio apps.

Thursday will also be Senior Day at Strawberry Stadium. The Lions will be honored prior to Thursday’s contest.

The SLU-Nicholls game will also feature Military Appreciation Day. All military personnel will receive two free tickets with a valid ID.

STATS FCS Top 25
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Prv.
1. North Dakota State (156) 11-0 3,900 1
2. James Madison 10-1 3,743 2
3. Montana 9-2 3,558 5
4. Sacramento State 8-3 3,220 6
5. South Dakota State 8-3 3,193 8
6. Weber State 8-3 3,067 3
7. Illinois State 8-3 3,056 7
8. Montana State 8-3 2,625 10
9. Northern Iowa 7-4 2,619 4
10. Villanova 8-3 2,144 13
11. Central Arkansas 8-3 1,945 14
12. Florida A&M 9-1 1,923 12
13. Southeast Missouri 8-3 1,799 15
14. Wofford 7-3 1,711 21
15. Monmouth 9-2 1,656 17
16. Kennesaw State 9-2 1,529 16
17. Furman 7-4 1,456 9
18. Central Connecticut State 10-1 1,306 19
19. Towson 7-4 1,165 20
20. Austin Peay 8-3 1,025 22
21. Southeastern Louisiana 7-3 899 23
22. Dartmouth 8-1 819 11
23. Nicholls 7-4 626 24
24. Yale 8-1 315 NR
25. North Carolina A&T 7-3 305 25
Others receiving votes: Southern Illinois 282, North Dakota 269, Albany 185, Princeton 92, San Diego 82, UT Martin 38, Alcorn State 37, Sam Houston State 25, Maine 22, Eastern Washington 20, The Citadel 14, New Hampshire 10, South Carolina State 8, UC Davis 8, Chattanooga 4.

AFCA FCS Coaches Poll
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Prv.
1. North Dakota State (26) 11-0 650 1
2. James Madison 10-1 624 2
3. Montana 9-2 598 4
4. Sacramento State 8-3 562 6
5. South Dakota State 8-3 523 9
6. Illinois State 8-3 510 8
7. Weber State 8-3 496 3
8. Montana State 8-3 441 10
9. Kennesaw State 9-2 385 11
10. Northern Iowa 7-4 379 5
11. Central Arkansas 8-3 373 13
12. Monmouth 9-2 347 15
13. Florida A&M 9-1 336 14
14. Villanova 8-3 322 16
15. Furman 7-4 277 7
16. Southeast Missouri State 8-3 265 17
17. Wofford 7-3 259 20
18. Central Connecticut State 10-1 234 18
19. Austin Peay 8-3 183 23
20. Towson 7-4 151 21
21. Dartmouth 8-1 144 12
22. Southeastern Louisiana 7-3 126 23
23. Nicholls 7-4 80 24
24. North Carolina A&T 7-3 48 25
T25. Southern Illinois 7-4 35 NR
T25. Yale 8-1 35 NR
Others receiving votes: Princeton 26, North Dakota 14, Albany 12, San Diego 11, UT Martin 2, Eastern Washington 1, South Carolina State 1.