(Editor's note: Big Sky Conference media release)
FARMINGTON, Utah -- Five Big Sky Conference football teams are ranked in the STATS FCS Preseason Top 25 poll that was released Monday by the organization.
The league placed three teams in the top 10 and had a total of seven teams that received votes.
Eastern Washington led the way for the Big Sky as it was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll with 3,594 points and three first-place votes. The Eagles are hot off an NCAA Division I Football Championship game appearance and a 12-3 overall record.
UC Davis was right behind the Eagles with a fifth-place preseason ranking. The Aggies earned 3,210 points. UCD recorded a 10-3 overall record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
Weber State collected 2,827 points to rank eighth in the preseason poll. The Wildcats finished the 2018 season with a 10-3 record, advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs, and shared the Big Sky title with the Eagles and Aggies.
Montana State was voted 14th with 1,866 points. The Bobcats picked up a win in the first round of the playoffs last season, as it registered an 8-5 overall record.
Montana rounded out the top 25 with 413 points. The Griz finished 6-5 a year ago.
Northern Arizona and Idaho State both received votes in the preseason poll.
Ten conferences placed teams in the preseason rankings, led by the Big Sky, CAA, and Missouri Valley conferences with five each.
The Top 25 will be released every Monday during the regular season, except for Sunday, Nov. 24, prior to the selection of the 24-team FCS playoff field. A final Top 25 will follow the FCS championship game, which will be held Jan. 11 in Frisco, Texas.
STATS FCS Preseason Top 25
1. North Dakota State (15-0), 3,971 points (142 first-place votes); Final 2018 Ranking: 1
2. James Madison (9-4), 3,635 (14); Final 2018 Ranking: 9
3. South Dakota State (10-3), 3,631 (1); Final 2018 Ranking: 3
4. Eastern Washington (12-3), 3,594 (3); Final 2018 Ranking: 2
5. UC Davis (10-3), 3,210; Final 2018 Ranking: 7
6. Jacksonville State (9-4), 3,004; Final 2018 Ranking: 10
7. Maine (10-4), 2,891; Final 2018 Ranking: 4
8. Weber State (10-3), 2,827; Final 2018 Ranking: 6
9. Wofford (10-3), 2,522; Final 2018 Ranking: 13
10. Kennesaw State (11-2), 2,361; Final 2018 Ranking: 5
11. Towson (7-5), 2,330; Final 2018 Ranking: 20
12. Nicholls (9-4), 2,156; Final 2018 Ranking: 14
13. Colgate (10-2), 1,892; Final 2018 Ranking: 8
14. Montana State (8-5), 1,866; Final 2018 Ranking: 17
15. Illinois State (6-5), 1,432; Final 2018 Ranking: NR
16. Indiana State (7-4), 1,192; Final 2018 Ranking: NR
17. Southeast Missouri (9-4), 1,166; Final 2018 Ranking: 15
18. Northern Iowa (7-6), 1,136; Final 2018 Ranking: 23
19. Furman (6-4), 1,074; Final 2018 Ranking: NR
20. North Carolina A&T (10-2), 885; Final 2018 Ranking: 12
21. Elon (6-5), 870; Final 2018 Ranking: 19
22. Delaware (7-5), 798; Final 2018 Ranking: 24
23. Sam Houston State (6-5), 564; Final 2018 Ranking: NR
24. Princeton (10-0), 432; Final 2018 Ranking: 11
25. Montana (6-5), 413; Final 2018 Ranking: NR
Others Receiving Votes: ETSU (8-4) 323, Stony Brook (7-5) 257, Duquesne (9-4) 235, San Diego (9-3) 209, Eastern Kentucky (7-4) 175, Dartmouth (9-1) 149, Central Arkansas (6-5) 125, McNeese (6-5) 110, Monmouth (8-3) 110, IUW (6-5) 108, Alcorn State (9-4) 85, Yale (5-5) 52, New Hampshire (4-7) 42, Chattanooga (6-5) 38, South Dakota (4-7) 27, Northern Arizona (4-6) 16, Lamar (7-5) 14, Villanova (5-6) 14, Richmond (4-7) 8, The Citadel (5-6) 7, Mercer (5-6) 7, Rhode Island (6-5) 7, Abilene Christian (6-5) 6, Southeastern Louisiana (4-7) 6, 5, Idaho State (6-5) 5, Youngstown State (4-7) 4, Southern (7-4) 3, Samford (6-5) 2, North Dakota (6-5) 1, Sacred Heart (7-4) 1, Wagner (4-7) 1, Western Illinois (5-6) 1
