North Dakota State returned to its familiar perch as the No. 1 team in the Sports Network FCS Top 25 poll Monday, after powering its way to 34 unanswered points in a 34-14 win at Iowa State on opening weekend. They are joined by four other MVFC teams in the Sports Network Top 25.
NDSU spent 20 consecutive weeks atop the Sports Network rankings before slipping to second in the 2014 preseason poll. But after rolling up 506 yards of total offense and holding their Big 12 opponent to just 57 yards in the second half, the Bison are back at No. 1 for the 29th time in 36 weeks.
North Dakota State got 93 of the 156 first-place votes ahead of No. 2 Eastern Washington, which had the remaining 63 first-place votes. Southeastern Louisiana was third, Sept. 20 opponent Montana was fourth, and Coastal Carolina was fifth.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference had four teams in the Sports Network Top 25. Northern Iowa checked in at No. 8, South Dakota State was 12th, and Youngstown State was 23rd.
North Dakota State remained No. 1 in the FCS Coaches Poll for the 21st straight week. The Bison had 24 of the 26 first-place votes ahead of Eastern Washington, Southeastern Louisiana, Coastal Carolina and Montana. South Dakota State was 11th, Northern Iowa 12th, Youngstown State 21st and Southern Illinois 25th.
