Southeastern Receiving Votes in Initial FCS Coaches Poll

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana football team was among the teams receiving votes in the initial 2016 FCS Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday.

Southeastern was just outside of the top 25 and was one of four Southland Conference schools represented. Sam Houston State was ranked No. 2, while McNeese comes in at No. 9. The Lions and Stephen F. Austin were both among the teams receiving votes.

SLU has three opponents on the list in McNeese (Oct. 8 – Hammond), SFA (Oct. 15 – Nacogdoches, Texas) and No. 23 Southern Utah (Sept. 10 – Cedar City, Utah).

Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State was the unanimous selection for the No. 1 spot. The Bison are followed by SHSU, Jacksonville State, Richmond, Northern Iowa, Charleston Southern, Chattanooga, Illinois State, McNeese and William & Mary in the top 10.

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.

The Lions, who returned to the practice field Monday evening, will practice on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. Practices are open to Touchdown Club members only.

The 2016 season officially kicks off on Sept. 3, when the Lions travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma to face OSU at 2:30 p.m.

The Lions’ five-game home schedule opens on Sept. 24, when they welcome league rival Northwestern State for a 6 p.m. contest. Season tickets are available by contacting the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visiting LionSports.net and LionUp.com.

 

Preseason FCS Coaches Poll (August 8, 2016)

 

Team (First-place Votes) – Points – 2015 Final – 2015 Record

1. North Dakota State (25) – 625 – 1 – 13-2
2. Sam Houston State – 555 – 4 – 11-4
3. Jacksonville State – 547 – 2 – 13-2
4. Richmond – 539 – 3 – 10-4
5. Northern Iowa – 515 – 6 – 9-5
6. Charleston Southern – 455 – 7 – 10-3
7. Chattanooga – 433 – 8 – 9-4
8. Illinois State – 426 – 5 – 10-3
9. McNeese State – 377 – 9 – 10-1
10. William & Mary – 363 – 12 – 9-4
11. James Madison – 349 – 11 – 9-3
12. Portland State – 305 – 10 – 9-3
13. Montana – 264 – 14 – 8-5
14. South Dakota State – 263 – 16 – 8-4
15. The Citadel – 261 – 15 – 9-4
16. Colgate – 195 – 13 – 9-5
17. Eastern Washington – 187 – NR – 6-5
18. Northern Arizona – 129 – NR – 7-4
19. Harvard – 127 – 20 – 9-1
20. Fordham – 111 – 19 – 9-3
21. North Dakota – 104 – NR – 7-4
22. Villanova – 89 – NR – 6-5
23. Southern Utah – 85 – 18 – 8-4
24. Western Illinois – 81 – 22 – 7-6
25. North Carolina A&T – 79 – 21 – 10-2

Others Receiving Votes: Eastern Illinois 70, Eastern Kentucky 70, New Hampshire 60, Towson 56, Bethune-Cookman 51, South Carolina State 49, Youngstown State 40, Dartmouth 37, Montana State 31, Liberty 25, Jackson State 24, Southeastern Louisiana 17,Southeast Missouri State 17, Monmouth 16, Samford 16, Penn 10, North Carolina Central 8, Alcorn State 8, Stephen F. Austin 5,Duquesne 5, Weber State 5, Dayton 4, San Diego 3, Prairie View 3, South Dakota 3, Grambling 2, Wofford 2, Bryant 1.

 

Southeastern 2016 opponents in bold italics