Southeastern enters Southland play ranked 14th, 15th in FCS national polls

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University football team moved up in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25, which were released on Monday.

The idle Lions (2-1) moved up two spots in the Stats Perform poll from 16th to 14th. In the coaches’ poll, SLU climbed from 16th to 15th.

Southeastern enters the week ranked among the FCS top 10 nationally in third-down percentage (57.1, 2nd), completion percentage (74.3, 2nd), first downs (92, 9th), passing offense (411.7 ypg, 3rd), red zone offense (100.0, 1st), scoring offense (49.0 ppg, 3rd), tackles for loss allowed (2.0 per game, 1st), team passing efficiency (8th, 107.40) and total offense (554.7 ypg, 3rd). The Lions have scored 40 or more points in seven straight contests.

Senior quarterback and reigning Walter Payton Award winner Cole Kelley ranks in the top 10 nationally in every passing category. Playing behind a dominant offensive line and spreading the ball to a plethora of talented weapons, Kelley has thrown for 1,202 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions on 99-for-133 passing (74.4 completion percentage).

SLU is one of two Southland schools ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, as UIW made its 2021 debut in the poll at No. 24. Nicholls is receiving votes. UIW and Nicholls are both among those receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Top 24.

Southeastern opens Southland Conference play on Saturday with a noon game at McNeese. The game will be televised on Cox Sports Television and ESPN+, while also being heard in the Hammond area on Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM, as well as online at www.kajun107.net.

Stats Perform FCS Top 25
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Prv.
1. Sam Houston (32) 3-0 1,208 1
2. South Dakota State (10) 3-0 1,195 2
3. James Madison (5) 3-0 1,162 3
4. Montana (3) 3-0 1,089 4
5. North Dakota State 3-0 1,070 5
6. Eastern Washington 4-0 964 6
7. Southern Illinois 3-1 909 7
8. UC Davis 4-0 859 12
9. Delaware 2-1 842 8
10. North Dakota 2-1 785 10
11. Montana State 3-1 757 13
12. Villanova 3-1 692 11
13. ETSU 4-0 637 15
14. Southeastern 2-1 574 16
15. Northern Iowa 2-1 528 17
16. Missouri State 2-1 527 18
17. Jacksonville State 2-2 352 9
18. VMI 3-1 338 22
19. Weber State 1-3 319 14
20. Kennesaw State 2-1 225 23
21. Rhode Island 3-0 184 NR
22. Richmond 2-2 130 24
23. UT Martin 3-1 124 NR
24. UIW 3-1 120 NR
25. New Hampshire 3-1 116 21

Others Receiving Votes: Austin Peay 86, Alabama A&M 85, Holy Cross 74, Stephen F. Austin 71, Monmouth 35, Central Arkansas 33, Nicholls 33, Murray State 26, Jackson State 22, Chattanooga 20, Duquesne 13, Mercer 11, Princeton 11, Samford 7, South Dakota 6, Eastern Kentucky 4.

AFCS FCS Coaches Top 25
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Prv.
1. Sam Houston (26) 3-0 698 1
2. James Madison (1) 3-0 658 2
3. South Dakota State (1) 3-0 652 3
4. Montana 3-0 614 4
5. North Dakota State 3-0 589 5
6. Eastern Washington 4-0 567 6
7. Southern Illinois 3-1 494 8
8. UC Davis 4-0 479 10
9. Villanova 3-1 426 7
10. Delaware 2-1 425 11
11. North Dakota 2-1 400 13
12. Montana State 3-1 387 12
13. Northern Iowa 2-1 365 14
14. ETSU 4-0 354 17
15. Southeastern 2-1 317 16
16. Missouri State 2-1 275 18
17. Jacksonville State 2-2 224 9
18. Weber State 1-3 158 15
19. Chattanooga 1-2 143 23
20. Kennesaw State 2-1 127 T24
21 Richmond 2-2 115 21
22. VMI 3-1 102 NR
23. Rhode Island 3-0 87 NR
T24. Holy Cross 3-1 67 NR
T24. UT Martin 3-1 67 NR

Others receiving votes: Central Arkansas 47, New Hampshire 44, Alabama A&M 41, Stephen F. Austin 36, Austin Peay 20, Eastern Kentucky 18, Mercer 17, Nicholls 15, Harvard 12, Monmouth 12, UIW 10, Gardner-Webb 9, Jackson State 8, Charleston Southern 5, Duquesne 5, Illinois State 5, Murray State 5, North Carolina A&T 4, Northern Arizona 3, Northern Colorado 3, Florida A&M 1.