UNI Football Cracks Top 15 in AFCA FCS 2018 Preseason

PDF OF POLL

WACO, Texas – UNI football earned a top-15 ranking in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason FCS Coaches' Poll released today.

No. 12 UNI will match up with three teams in the top 25 and host two of those teams in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers will open the season on the road with No. 25 Montana.

The poll leader will be at the UNI-Dome 1 p.m. Oct. 6. UNI will turn around and host No. 3 South Dakota State for Homecoming 4 p.m. Oct. 20.

2018 American Football Coaches Association Preseason FCS Coaches' Poll
                                                                           2017                 2017
Rank   School (1st votes)                        Rec.    Pts.     Rank*      Season Opener
     1.     North Dakota St. (23)                   14-1     647      1                Sept. 1 vs. Cal Poly
     2.     James Madison (3)                       14-1     623      2                Sept. 1 at NC State
     3.     South Dakota St.                           11-3     579      4                Sept. 1 at Iowa St.
     4.     Sam Houston St.                           12-2     557      3                Sept. 8 vs. Prairie View A&M
     5.     Kennesaw St.                                 12-2     543      9                Aug. 30 at Georgia St.
     6.     Jacksonville St.                             10-3     530      10             Aug. 25 vs. No. 14 North Carolina A&T
     7.     Eastern Washington                    7-4       454      22             Sept. 1 vs. Central Washington
     8.     Weber St.                                         11-3     446      5                Aug. 30 at Utah
     9.     New Hampshire                              9-5       430      15             Aug. 30 at Maine
    10.   Samford                                            8-4       393      17             Aug. 30 vs. Shorter
    11.   Wofford                                             10-3     340      7                Sept. 1 vs. The Citadel
    12. Northern Iowa                                 8-5       338      19             Sept. 1 at No. 25 Montana
    13.   Elon                                                    8-4       319      21             Sept. 1 at South Florida
    14.   North Carolina A&T                       12-0     292      6                Aug. 25 vs. No. 6 Jacksonville St.
    15.   Central Arkansas                          10-2     269      8                Sept. 1 at Tulsa
    16.   Delaware                                           7-4       257      NR            Aug. 30 vs. Rhode Island
    17.   Nicholls St.                                      8-4       241      23             Sept. 1 at Kansas
    18.   McNeese St.                                   9-2       187      18             Sept. 1 at Northern Colorado
    19.   Villanova                                           5-6       165      NR            Sept. 1 at Temple
    20.   Illinois St.                                         6-5       144      NR            Sept. 1 vs. Saint Xavier
    21.   Furman                                              8-5       128      20             Sept. 1 at Clemson
    22.   Stony Brook                                    10-3     120      11             Sept. 1 at Air Force
    23.   Austin Peay                                     8-4       119      NR            Sept. 1 at Georgia
    24.   Youngstown St.                             6-5       88         NR            Sept. 1 vs. Butler
    25.   Montana                                            7-4       67         NR            Sept. 1 vs. No. 11 Northern Iowa

*– Ranking in final FCS Coaches Poll of 2017

Others Receiving Votes: Idaho, 41; Northern Arizona, 36; Yale, 22; Grambling St., 14; Monmouth (N.J.), 12; Southern Utah, 11; Sacramento St., 9; Colgate, 8; South Dakota, 6; San Diego, 5; Richmond, 4; Western Illinois, 3; Western Carolina, 2; Lehigh, 1.

UNI FOOTBALL PREVIEW

The Panthers will be building off last year's squad, which earned an 8-5 record and defeated three top-10 foes on its way to the program's 19th FCS playoff berth. The Panthers also succeeded on the postseason award's stage, after seven different players earned All-American honors, which was the most since 2007.

The team opens with Montana and Iowa on the road, Sept. 1 and Sept. 15. UNI opens the home season on Hall of Fame weekend in the UNI-Dome 4 p.m. Sept. 22.

ACROSS THE FCS

North Dakota State ended the 2017 season winning their sixth FCS national title in seven years. The Bison begin 2018 the same way they ended last year, at No. 1. North Dakota State becomes the first team ranked No. 1 in the first-ever AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The AFCA begins administration of the FCS poll for the first time, which had been run by the Southern Conference. The AFCA also administers coaches' polls in Division II and Division III.

Last season's national runner-up, James Madison, starts the season at No. 2. The Dukes are followed by South Dakota State at No. 3, Sam Houston State at No. 4 and Kennesaw State rounding out the Top 5.

There are two top-25 matchups in the first week of action with No. 6 Jacksonville State and No. 14 North Carolina A&T starting the year off on August 25 in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff. The second matchup comes a week later Sept. 1 when No. 12 UNI travels to No. 25 Montana.

UNI FOOTBALL TICKET INFORMATION

Fans can still purchase 2018 season tickets for as low as $79 for the year.
A $99 mobile pass will get you all five games with four of the games in Tier 3 and one game in Tier 2 sections.
Mini packs are available for $69 and include the home opener on Sept. 22, North Dakota State Oct. 6 and Missouri State Nov. 17.

Click here to purchase tickets.

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