Three Southland Teams Land in Preseason Coaches’ Top 15
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Three Southland teams ranked in the top 15 in the 2014 Preseason Football Championship Subdivision Coaches' Poll, which was announced Monday. Defending champion Southeastern Louisiana is the highest-ranked league team, coming in at No. 3, while McNeese State is ranked No. 9 and Sam Houston State is No. 14.
Preseason conference favorite Southeastern Louisiana is coming off a perfect 7-0 record in league play and claimed its first conference title while advancing to the quarterfinals of the FCS postseason. The Lions return 15 starters, including reigning conference player of the year and Walter Payton Award candidate quarterback Bryan Bennett.
The Cowboys, who were slated second in both preseason Southland polls, were tabbed ninth in the coaches poll after finishing 10-3 overall and 6-1 in Southland play in 2013. McNeese returns 16 starters, including preseason all-America Antoine Everett.
Sam Houston State made its third consecutive postseason appearance in 2013 after posting a 9-5 overall record. The Bearkats, who will be under the direction of new head coach K.C. Keeler, return 14 starters and 53 letterwinners.
Central Arkansas is the only Southland program to receive votes, collecting seven total points. The Bears tied for third last season in the conference with the Bearkats with a 4-3 league mark.
Three-time national champion North Dakota State begins the season in the top spot for the third consecutive year. Eastern Washington is slated second followed by Southeastern Louisiana, New Hampshire and Montana to complete the top five. Sam Houston and Eastern Washington open the 2014 college football season Saturday, Aug. 23 at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Preseason FCS Coaches Poll (August 4, 2014)
|
Team (First-Place Votes) |
2013 Record |
Points |
2013 Final |
|
1. |
North Dakota State (18) |
15-0 |
636 |
1 |
|
2. |
Eastern Washington (6) |
12-3 |
615 |
3 |
|
3. |
Southeastern Louisiana (1) |
11-3 |
542 |
6 |
|
4. |
New Hampshire |
10-5 |
510 |
5 |
|
5. |
Montana |
10-3 |
505 |
8 |
|
6. |
Coastal Carolina |
12-3 |
447 |
7 |
|
7. |
Towson (1) |
13-3 |
438 |
2 |
|
8. |
Jacksonville State |
12-2 |
425 |
12 |
|
9. |
McNeese State |
10-3 |
424 |
9 |
|
10. |
South Dakota State |
9-5 |
332 |
14 |
|
11. |
Eastern Illinois |
12-2 |
314 |
4 |
|
12. |
Fordham |
12-2 |
305 |
10 |
|
13. |
Villanova |
6-5 |
287 |
NR |
|
14. |
Sam Houston State |
9-5 |
277 |
13 |
|
15. |
Northern Iowa |
7-5 |
263 |
NR |
|
16. |
Chattanooga |
8-4 |
238 |
25 |
|
17. |
Tennessee State |
10-4 |
237 |
17 |
|
18. |
Furman |
8-6 |
188 |
21 |
|
19. |
Montana State |
7-5 |
170 |
20 |
|
20. |
Maine |
10-3 |
169 |
11 |
|
21. |
Youngstown State |
8-4 |
162 |
19 |
|
22. |
William & Mary |
7-5 |
159 |
NR |
|
23. |
Bethune-Cookman |
10-3 |
136 |
16 |
|
24. |
Richmond |
6-6 |
118 |
NR |
|
25. |
Northern Arizona |
9-3 |
116 |
15 |
Others receiving votes: Samford 95, Southern Illinois 59, Harvard 42, Charleston Southern 39, James Madison 30, Princeton 24, Southern Utah 20, Alcorn State 16, Liberty 16, Delaware 15, South Carolina State 15, Cal Poly 14, Missouri State 12, Sacred Heart 10, Wofford 8,
Central Arkansas 7, Alabama State 6, Lehigh 6, Eastern Kentucky 4, Holy Cross 1, Illinois State 1, Jacksonville 1