UIW remains in Top 10 of Coaches Poll, Nicholls receiving votes

FRISCO, Texas – The Nicholls football team was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week by Stats Perform after going into Benson Stadium and defeating the at the time-No. 4/8 UIW Cardinals to take control of the Southland Conference standings.

Nicholls overcame a 10-0 deficit after one quarter to win a first-place showdown in the Southland and end UIW’s 15-game home winning streak. With 23 carries each, Collin Guggenheim collected 153 yards and four touchdowns, and Jaylon Spears 160 yards. Safety Devonte Mathews scored on a 58-yard fumble return and added a 50-yard interception return for coach Tim Rebowe’s program.

The win sets up a big Senior Day matchup next Saturday at home against one-loss Lamar. A win by Nicholls would clinch at least a share of the regular season title and secure the Southland’s automatic bid for the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2019.

NATIONAL POLLS

UIW fell to No. 10 in the lastest AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 Poll and down to No. 16 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, presented by FedEx Ground, while Nicholls is receiving votes in both polls.

Running backs Collin Guggenheim and Jaylon Spears combined for 313 yards rushing and the Colonel defense came away with three turnovers to lift the Nicholls football team to a 45-32 victory at then-No. 4/8 UIW Saturday at Benson Stadium last Saturday.

With the win, Nicholls (4-4) is the lone unbeaten team in the Southland Conference standings and sets up a big Senior Day matchup next Saturday at home against one-loss Lamar. A win by Nicholls would clinch at least a share of the regular season title and secure the Southland’s automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.

UIW (7-2) saw their 15-game home winning streak and nine-game Southland winning streak snapped with the loss. It is their first FCS regular season loss since falling to Southeastern last season. The Cardinals will seek an At-Large bid, something they earned a season ago.

South Dakota State, Furman, and Montana remain the top three teams in both polls.

Coaches Poll
1 South Dakota State (26) 9-0 650 1
2 Furman 8-1 612 2
3 Montana 8-1 603 3
4 Idaho 7-2 575 5
5 Montana State 7-2 533 8
6 South Dakota 7-2 492 12
7 North Carolina Central 8-1 491 9
8 Delaware 7-2 386 6
9 Florida A&M 8-1 378 T-13
10 UIW 7-2 368 4
11 Sacramento State 6-3 355 7
12 North Dakota 6-3 346 15
13 North Dakota State 6-3 324 10
14 Austin Peay 7-2 304 17
15 Southern Illinois 6-3 285 11
16 UT Martin 7-2 263 18
17 Chattanooga 7-3 258 T-13
18 Villanova 7-2 193 22
19 Harvard 7-1 191 19
20 Northern Iowa 6-3 161 23
21 Western Carolina 6-3 158 20
22 Holy Cross 6-3 129 21
23 Lafayette 7-2 91 16
24 Central Arkansas 6-3 79 25
25 Albany 7-3 67 NR

Others Receiving Votes: Youngstown St., 59; Mercer, 56; Illinois St., 16; Davidson, 9; Eastern Illinois, 5; Fordham, 3; Samford, 3; Tarleton, 3; William & Mary, 3; Nicholls, 1.

Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll

1 South Dakota State (56) 9-0 1,400 1
2 Furman 8-1 1,298 2
3 Montana 8-1 1,279 4
4 Idaho 7-2 1,265 3
5 Montana State 7-2 1,190 6
6 South Dakota 7-2 1,110 9
7 North Carolina Central 8-1 907 12
8 Delaware 7-2 870 5
9 Sacramento State 6-3 857 7
10 North Dakota 6-3 812 13
11 Southern Illinois 6-3 730 10
12 North Dakota State 6-3 655 11
T-13 Florida A&M 8-1 654 15
T-13 Villanova 7-2 654 17
15 Northern Iowa 6-3 615 18
16 UIW 7-2 566 8
17 Western Carolina 6-3 517 16
18 UAlbany 7-3 504 23
19 Chattanooga 7-3 490 14
20 Austin Peay 7-2 477 19
21 UT Martin 7-2 348 21
22 Youngstown State 6-3 342 22
23 Mercer 7-3 183 25
24 Harvard 7-1 112 NR
25 Lafayette 7-2 90 20

Others Receiving Votes: Central Arkansas 75; Tarleton State 47; Holy Cross 43; Elon 41; Richmond 23; Nicholls 15; William & Mary 13; Tennessee State 9