Wofford Remains In Top 15 In FCS Rankings

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Richmond maintained its No. 1 ranking this week in the FCS Coaches Poll after the Spiders edged Delaware 16-15, in its first conference game of the season. Kevin Grayson blocked Delaware’s field goal attempt with 38 seconds left to secure Richmond’s second victory of the season.

The defending national champions, who received 26 first-place votes and 674 points overall, have won 11 straight games.

Coming off its 38-17 victory against Lehigh, Villanova (2-0) moved up one spot to No. 2.

Rounding out the top five were Montana (2-0), Northern Iowa (1-1) and William & Mary (2-0). Montana jumped one spot from last week after defeating UC Davis on the road, 17-10. Northern Iowa moved up a spot after its 66-7 victory over South Dakota. William & Mary jumped two spots after defeating Central Connecticut State 33-14.

James Madison (0-1), coming off its season opener, a three-point loss at Maryland in overtime, dropped one spot to No. 6. The Dukes are followed by New Hampshire (2-0), Southern Illinois (0-1), Appalachian State (0-2) and McNeese State (2-0) to finish out the top 10.

New Hampshire moved up two spots after winning on the road at Ball State, 23-16. McNeese State jumped six spots to No. 10 and received the other first-place vote after its 40-35 victory at No. 9 Appalachian State.

Ten conferences are represented in the poll this week. The Colonial Athletic Association leads the way for the third straight week with seven teams, including three of the top 5, and five of the top 10. Richmond comes in at No. 1, Villanova at No. 2, William & Mary at No. 5, James Madison at No. 6, New Hampshire at No. 7, Massachusetts at No. 17 and Maine at No. 19.

Also represented are the Big Sky, Missouri Valley, Southern and Southland Conferences, each with three teams. The Ohio Valley Conference has two teams, while the Big South, Great West, Ivy, and Mid-Eastern Athletic each have one.

The FCS Coaches Poll is based exclusively on a voting panel of head coaches in the FCS under the cooperation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and is administered by the Southern Conference.

2009 FCS Coaches Poll – Week 2 (September 14, 2009)

Team (No. 1 Votes) 2009 Record Points Previous Ranking
1. Richmond (26) 2-0 674 1

2. Villanova 2-0 637 3

3. Montana 2-0 598 4

4. Northern Iowa 1-1 588 5

5. William & Mary 2-0 535 7

6. James Madison 0-1 517 6

7. New Hampshire 2-0 507 9

8. Southern Illinois 0-1 480 8

9. Appalachian State 0-2 445 2

10. McNeese State (1) 2-0 421 16

11. Elon 2-0 403 11

12. Weber State 0-2 373 10

13. Central Arkansas 0-1 350 12

14. Cal Poly 1-0 344 13

15. Wofford 1-1 308 14

16. South Carolina State 2-0 260 15

17. Massachusetts 1-1 235 18

18. Texas State 1-0 194 21

19. Maine 2-0 159 20

20. Eastern Washington 1-1 140 17

21. South Dakota State 1-0 134 25

22. Jacksonville State 0-2 115 21

23. Eastern Kentucky 0-1 66 23

24. Liberty 1-1 57 24

25. Harvard 0-0 46 22

Others receiving votes (points in parentheses): Holy Cross (39), Florida A&M (26), Eastern Illinois (21), Montana State (16), Furman (15), Hofstra (13), Grambling State (11), Northern Arizona (11), Alabama A&M (8), Western Illinois (8), Southeastern Louisiana (7), Delaware (5), Youngstown State (4), Colgate (2), Gardner-Webb (1), Prairie View A&M (1), Tennessee State (1).