Sports Network Top 25 Poll - Week 4

[Ibanez]

1. North Dakota State Bison
2. Eastern Washington Eagles
3. Towson Tigers
4. Sam Houston State Bearkats
5. Northern Iowa Panthers
6. South Dakota State Jackrabbits
7. Montana Grizzlies
8. Eastern Illinois Panthers
9. McNeese State Cowboys
10. New Hampshire Wildcats
11. Montana State Bobcats
12. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
13. Central Arkansas Bears
14. James Madison Dukes
15. Georgia Southern Eagles
16. Fordham Rams
17. Wofford Terriers
18. Cal Poly Mustangs
19. Villanova Wildcats
20. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
21. Lehigh Mountain Hawks
22. Richmond Spiders
23. Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks
24. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
25. Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs


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[AZGrizFan]

1. North Dakota State Bison
2. Eastern Washington Eagles
3. Towson Tigers
4. Sam Houston State Bearkats
5. Northern Iowa Panthers
6. South Dakota State Jackrabbits - couple slots high
7. Montana Grizzlies
8. Eastern Illinois Panthers - more than a couple slots high
9. McNeese State Cowboys - too low
10. New Hampshire Wildcats
11. Montana State Bobcats - WAY too high
12. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
13. Central Arkansas Bears - does anybody really thing 3 of the top 13 teams in the country are in the Southland?
14. James Madison Dukes - too low
15. Georgia Southern Eagles
16. Fordham Rams
17. Wofford Terriers
18. Cal Poly Mustangs - probably too high
19. Villanova Wildcats - too low
20. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats - too high
21. Lehigh Mountain Hawks
22. Richmond Spiders - too low
23. Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks
24. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks - WTF?
25. Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

[Ibanez]

1. North Dakota State Bison
2. Eastern Washington Eagles
3. Towson Tigers
4. Sam Houston State Bearkats
5. Northern Iowa Panthers
6. South Dakota State Jackrabbits - couple slots high
7. Montana Grizzlies
8. Eastern Illinois Panthers - more than a couple slots high
9. McNeese State Cowboys - too low
10. New Hampshire Wildcats
11. Montana State Bobcats - WAY too high
12. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
13. Central Arkansas Bears - does anybody really thing 3 of the top 13 teams in the country are in the Southland?
14. James Madison Dukes - too low
15. Georgia Southern Eagles
16. Fordham Rams
17. Wofford Terriers
18. Cal Poly Mustangs - probably too high
19. Villanova Wildcats - too low
20. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats - too high
21. Lehigh Mountain Hawks
22. Richmond Spiders - too low
23. Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks
24. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks - WTF?
25. Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

I thought the same about JMU and NAU. At least this poll is a bit more balanced. I think Weeks 5 and 6 will change it dramatically.

[Mvemjsunpx]

1. North Dakota State Bison
2. Eastern Washington Eagles
3. Towson Tigers
4. Sam Houston State Bearkats
5. Northern Iowa Panthers
6. South Dakota State Jackrabbits - couple slots high
7. Montana Grizzlies
8. Eastern Illinois Panthers - more than a couple slots high
9. McNeese State Cowboys - too low
10. New Hampshire Wildcats
11. Montana State Bobcats - WAY too high
12. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
13. Central Arkansas Bears - does anybody really thing 3 of the top 13 teams in the country are in the Southland?
14. James Madison Dukes - too low
15. Georgia Southern Eagles
16. Fordham Rams
17. Wofford Terriers
18. Cal Poly Mustangs - probably too high
19. Villanova Wildcats - too low
20. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats - too high
21. Lehigh Mountain Hawks
22. Richmond Spiders - too low
23. Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks
24. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks - WTF?
25. Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

I thought the same about JMU and NAU. At least this poll is a bit more balanced. I think Weeks 5 and 6 will change it dramatically.

JMU too low? They barely beat SFPA.

[JohnStOnge]

13. Central Arkansas Bears - does anybody really thing 3 of the top 13 teams in the country are in the Southland?

I think the only reason for thinking that implausible is that Central Arkansas has struggled. They lost to Tennessee Martin by virtue of getting a last second field goal attempt blocked then barely got by Southwest Missouri State.

But going into the season I don't think anybody would've thought it unreasonable to say Sam Houston State and Central Arkansas would be in the top 13. And I don't think it'd be unreasonable to think McNeese State is in the top 13 by virtue of its performance so far.

There's no intrinsic reason why the Southland shouldn't have 3 of the top 13 teams in some years. Honestly I think the only reason that didn't happen last year is that McNeese State ran into serious injury problems. And SFA always has potential to be in the top 13 as well.

Put it this way: I don't think it'd be a shock to see any individual team from Sam Houston State, Central Arkansas, Stephen F. Austin, or McNeese State end up in the top 13. And there's no real reason why it couldn't work out so that all of them had that during a single season. It'd be somewhat difficult because they all have to play each other. But just the idea of all four of those programs happening to have up years at the same time and all be among the 13 best teams in the country? Sure. It could happen.

By the way: Southeastern Louisiana is good too. I watched them play TCU and they were right there with TCU on both lines of scrimmage. They are strong, very strong, in that area. You could safely bet that South Dakota State's coaches wouldn't want to see them again after being outgained 506 to 345 in total yards but winning a close game because Southeastern Louisiana had six turovers. South Dakota State finished with 158 yards rushing but 75 came in one play. For the most part they couldn't run the ball.

Then Southeastern went on the road again the next week and beat Samford without their starting QB. And he's huge. He's the Oregon transfer that I've seen play and he is a dominant player at the FCS level.

I don't know what the injury to their starting QB is but if he's back for conference play It wouldn't shock me to see Southeastern win the Southland this year. I'm not saying they're the favorite. But it wouldn't shock me.