University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panthers Ranked No. 5 in Final FCS Coaches Poll
1/10/2012 1:00:00 AM | Football
The University of Northern Iowa football team came in at No. 5 in the final FCS Coaches Poll of the 2011 football season. UNI has now finished the year in the Top 25 in 10 of the last 11 seasons, and the Panthers have taken home a top-five ranking in six of the last 11 seasons.
UNI has been ranked in the Top 25 in 94 consecutive polls, dating back to Nov. 15, 2004. Southern Illinois holds the league record by being ranked in 98 straight polls (that figure does not include pre-season polls). The Salukis' streak ran from September 2003 through October 2010.
The Panthers' longest streak in the polls is 96-straight from September 1990 until October 1997 - the second-best in league history.
North Dakota State, Sam Houston State, Georgia Southern and Montana took the top four spots in front of UNI, and Lehigh, Montana State, Maine, Towson and Old Dominion filled out the rest of the Top 10.
UNI claimed the No. 6 spot in the final Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 Poll released on Monday. The Panthers entered the FCS playoffs ranked No. 2 in The Sports Network poll and No. 3 in the coaches' poll before advancing to the quarterfinal round.
UNI's Final Rankings (2001-2011)
Highest rank between Sports Network and coaches polls.
Year Ranking
2001 4
2002 NR
2003 5
2004 25
2005 2
2006 17
2007 4
2008 4
2009 18
2010 18
2011 5