FCS Rankings 2014: Week 11 Coaches Poll Standings Revealed
For the first time in over two full years, North Dakota State lost a football game. The Bison were defeated 23-3 by Northern Iowa on Saturday and, as a result, fell out of No. 1 in the latest coaches poll for the first time all season.
Taking over the top spot in place of NDSU was the only 10-0 FCS team in the country in Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers earned 20 first-place votes over New Hampshire and Jacksonville State, who garnered four and two, respectively.
Just weeks ahead of the FCS playoffs, it appears the Chants have a great shot of earning the No. 1 seed. Before Week 12 gets underway, here's a look at the latest FCS rankings. Full rankings and others receiving votes can be found at NCAA.com.
| 1 | Coastal Carolina (20) | 10-0 |
| 2 | New Hampshire (4) | 8-1 |
| 3 | Jacksonville State (2) | 8-1 |
| 4 | North Dakota State | 9-1 |
| 5 | Eastern Washington | 9-2 |
| 6 | Villanova | 8-2 |
| 7 | Illinois State | 8-1 |
| 8 | Fordham | 9-1 |
| 9 | Chattanooga | 7-3 |
| 10 | Southeastern Louisiana | 7-3 |
| 11 | McNeese State | 6-3 |
| 12 | UNI | 6-4 |
| 13 | Montana State | 7-3 |
| 14 | Richmond | 7-3 |
| 15 | Montana | 6-4 |
| 16 | Youngstown State | 7-3 |
| 17 | Harvard | 8-0 |
| 18 | Bethune-Cookman | 8-2 |
| 19 | South Dakota State | 6-4 |
| 20 | Eastern Kentucky | 8-2 |
| 21 | Bryant | 8-1 |
| 22 | Southern Illinois | 6-4 |
| 23 | William & Mary | 6-4 |
| 24 | Stephen F. Austin | 7-3 |
| 25 | Indiana State | 6-4 |
Analysis
Despite dropping a 33-game winning streak against UNI, North Dakota State still maintains a Top Five ranking. The outcome was a stunner across the FCS landscape because the Panthers, who moved to 6-4 on the season, had lost three straight to NDSU prior to the game.
FCS Football's official account noted the outcome of the crucial contest:
The Bison still have a shot at going into the playoffs as a high seed thanks to a huge early win against Iowa State and an otherwise great season. However, with the loss coming late in the season, they only have a short window to make up ground.
Coastal Carolina reaps the benefits of North Dakota State falling as it moves into the No. 1 spot for the first time in school history. Starting the season at No. 6 in the poll, the Chants have slowly climbed up thanks to their unblemished record.
Not only was this the first time Coastal moved into the top spot, but it was also a first for the Big South Conference. The Big South's official account noted the news for the conference:
Prior to the poll being released, the Chants had a good idea they would be taking over at No. 1 following their win and subsequent loss by NDSU. Linebacker Quinn Backus spoke about the great start for the team, per Ryan Young of The (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) Sun News:
"It's a great honor. It's a great honor, I can't lie to you. It just shows that [if] you continue to work hard and believe in your coaches, anything is possible. And we're going to continue to work hard and not let this be a stopping point. We're just going to build off of it and be ready to go for next week.
"
Just behind Coastal stands New Hampshire and Jacksonville State, two teams with only one loss. Rounding out the Top Five is Eastern Washington, who remained in the Top Five for the second straight week.
Leading up to the playoffs, only Monmouth (5-4) and Liberty (7-3) stand in between Coastal and potentially the top seed. With both games at home for the Chants, that possibility looks very realistic.
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