MONTANA STATE MOVES TO NO. 3 IN AFCA FCS COACHES POLL, PRESENTED BY HUDL
WACO, TEX.– The Montana State defense allowed Utah Tech just 41 yards of offense through three quarters and didn’t give up a first down until the fourth quarter, allowing the Bobcats to cruise to a 31-7 victory. The win moves Montana State up one spot to No. 3 in this week’s AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl. The Bobcats are 2-0 on the season after a week zero upset of New Mexico on August 24, 35-31.
South Dakota State remains No. 1 with 17 first place votes. The Jackrabbits lost to Big 12-member Oklahoma State, 44-20. No. 2 North Dakota State gave another Big 12 member a scare, losing to Colorado, 31-26. Montana dropped one spot to No. 4 despite beating Missouri State, 29-24. Villanova moved into the top five after upending then-No. 23 Youngstown State, 24-17.
There are two top 25 matchups this coming week with the biggest game being No. 1 South Dakota State playing host to No. 11 UIW. The Cardinals are 1-0 after beating Northern Colorado, 28-7. The final matchup has No. 4 Montana traveling to No. 20 North Dakota.
AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – September 3, 2024
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Week 1 | Next Game |
| 1 | South Dakota St. (17) | 0-1 | 630 | 1 | Lost to Oklahoma St., 44-20 | Sept. 7 vs. No. 11 UIW |
| 2 | North Dakota St. (5) | 0-1 | 624 | 2 | Lost to Colorado, 31-26 | Sept. 7 vs. Tennessee St. |
| 3 | Montana St. (4) | 2-0 | 589 | 4 | D. Utah Tech, 31-7 | Sept. 7 vs. Maine |
| 4 | Montana | 1-0 | 572 | 3 | D. Missouri St., 29-24 | Sept. 7 at No. 20 North Dakota |
| 5 | Villanova | 1-0 | 527 | 6 | D. No. 23 Youngstown St., 24-17 | Sept. 7 at Colgate |
| 6 | South Dakota | 1-0 | 493 | 5 | D. Northern St., 45-3 | Sept. 7 at Wisconsin |
| 7 | Idaho | 0-1 | 489 | 7 | Lost to Oregon, 24-14 | Sept. 7 at Wyoming |
| 8 | Sacramento St. | 0-1 | 397 | 10 | Lost to San Jose St., 42-24 | Sept. 7 at Fresno St. |
| 9 | Central Arkansas | 0-1 | 359 | 13 | Lost to Arkansas St., 34-31 | Sept. 7 at Lindenwood |
| 10 | Chattanooga | 0-1 | 342 | 8 | Lost to Tennessee, 69-3 | Sept. 7 at Georgia St. |
| 11 | UIW | 1-0 | 340 | 15 | D. Northern Colorado, 28-7 | Sept. 7 at No. 1 South Dakota St. |
| 12 | Southern Illinois | 0-1 | 331 | 11 | Lost to BYU, 41-13 | Sept. 7 at Austin Peay |
| 13 | UAlbany | 1-0 | 302 | 14 | D. LIU, 27-21 | Sept. 7 at West Virginia |
| 14 | William & Mary | 1-0 | 300 | 16 | D. VMI, 41-7 | Sept. 7 at Coastal Carolina |
| 15 | Richmond | 0-1 | 289 | 12 | Lost to Virginia, 34-13 | Sept. 7 vs. Wofford |
| 16 | Furman | 0-1 | 270 | 9 | Lost to Ole Miss, 76-0 | Sept. 7 vs. Charleston Southern |
| 17 | Western Carolina | 0-1 | 221 | 19 | Lost to NC State, 38-21 | Sept. 7 vs. Campbell |
| 18 | UC Davis | 0-1 | 197 | 17 | Lost to California, 31-13 | Sept. 7 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce |
| 19 | Lafayette | 0-1 | 156 | 18 | Lost to Buffalo, 30-13 | Sept. 7 at Monmouth (N.J.) |
| 20 | North Dakota | 0-1 | 152 | 22 | Lost to Iowa St., 21-3 | Sept. 7 vs. No. 4 Montana |
| 21 | Tarleton St. | 1-1 | 109 | 21 | Lost to Baylor, 45-3 | Sept. 7 at Houston Christian |
| 22 | Illinois St. | 0-1 | 95 | 20 | Lost to Iowa, 40-0 | Sept. 7 at North Alabama |
| 23 | Youngstown St. | 0-1 | 88 | 23 | Lost to No. 6 Villanova, 24-17 | Sept. 7 vs. Valparaiso |
| 24 | Florida A&M | 2-0 | 82 | 25 | D. South Carolina St., 22-18 | Sept. 7 at Miami (Fla.) |
| 25 | Nicholls | 0-1 | 74 | 24 | Lost to Louisiana Tech, 25-17 | Sept. 7 at LSU |
Dropped Out: None
Others Receiving Votes: Northern Iowa, 55; ACU, 43; Mercer, 41; Eastern Washington, 40; North Carolina Central, 33; Eastern Illinois, 30; Rhode Island, 26; Southeast Missouri St., 20; Weber St., 17; Delaware St., 14; Harvard, 14; Missouri St., 14; Princeton, 14; Elon, 13; McNeese, 13; Stephen F. Austin, 12; UT Martin, 11; Wagner, 10; Northern Arizona, 5; Wofford, 5; Indiana St., 3; Yale, 3; Tennessee St., 2; Alabama A&M, 1; Murray St., 1; North Carolina A&T, 1; Samford, 1.
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