UND has moved up in the FCS polls after Saturday’s 1-point win over Illinois State.
The Fighting Hawks rose one spot to 12th in the STATS Perform Poll, and gained three notches to 14th in the American Football Coaches Association Poll.
South Dakota State remains atop both polls, while NDSU inched up to 8th in the STATS Poll, and 7th in the Coaches’ Poll.
UND opens the FCS playoffs at home Saturday at 12:00 Noon against Sacramento State, rated 15th in the STATS Poll and 16th in the Coaches’ Poll. Both teams are 7-4. The winner will play at South Dakota the following weekend.
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STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 (Nov. 20)
1. South Dakota State (11-0, 8-0 MVFC), 1,400 points (56 of 56 first-place votes)
2. Montana (10-1, 7-1 Big Sky), 1,344
3. South Dakota (9-2, 7-1 MVFC), 1,280
4. Idaho (8-3, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,191
5. Montana State (8-3, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,088
6. Villanova (9-2, 7-1 CAA), 1,052
7. Furman (9-2, 7-1 SoCon), 1,000
8. North Dakota State (8-3, 5-3 MVFC), 995
9. Albany (9-3, 7-1 CAA), 963
10. Florida A&M (10-1, 8-0 SWAC), 828
11. Delaware (8-3, 6-2 CAA), 802
12. North Dakota (7-4, 5-3 MVFC), 754
13. Austin Peay (9-2, 6-0 UAC), 751
14. Southern Illinois (7-4, 4-4 MVFC), 588
15. Sacramento State (7-4, 4-4 Big Sky), 574
16. North Carolina Central (9-2, 4-1 MEAC), 547
17. Mercer (8-3, 6-2 SoCon), 427
18. Chattanooga (7-4, 6-2 Southern), 410
19. Incarnate Word (8-2, 6-1 Southland), 396
20. Lafayette (9-2, 5-1 Patriot), 268
21. Youngstown State (7-4, 5-3 MVFC), 266
22. Richmond (8-3, 7-1 CAA), 263
23. Western Carolina (7-4, 5-3 SoCon), 230
24. UT Martin (8-3, 5-1 Big South-OVC), 194
25. UC Davis (7-4, 5-3 Big Sky), 179
Others Receiving Votes: Tarleton, 83; Northern Iowa, 73; Nicholls, 59; Gardner-Webb, 47; Drake, 38; Holy Cross, 38; Central Arkansas, 29; Eastern Illinois, 16; Duquesne, 11; Harvard, 11; Yale, 5.
AFCA FCS Coaches TOP 25 (Nov. 20)
1. South Dakota State (24)
2. Montana
3. South Dakota
4. Idaho
5. Florida A&M
6. Furman
7. North Dakota State
8. Montana State
9. Villanova
10. Austin Peay
11. Incarnate Word
12. Delaware
13. North Carolina Central
14. North Dakota
15. Albany
16. Sacramento State
17. Southern Illinois
18. Lafayette
19. Chattanooga
20. Mercer
21. UT Martin
22. Holy Cross
23. Youngstown State
24. Eastern Illinois
25. Richmond
Others Receiving Votes: Western Carolina, 46; UC Davis, 45; Harvard, 42; Central Arkansas, 32; Nicholls, 23; Illinois St., 13; Yale, 13; Gardner-Webb, 12; Tarleton, 11; Drake, 5; William & Mary, 5; Rhode Island, 4; Duquesne, 3; Bryant, 1; Samford, 1.