South Dakota State Ranked in the Top Five for the First Time in School History
Over the past decade or so, South Dakota State has achieved some lofty firsts in program history.
From the first NCAA Division I season in 2004, to the first FCS Playoff appearance in 2009, to the first post season victory in 2012, to the first playoff road victory in 2013, the Jackrabbits have been building quite the body of work.
But now, for the first time, South Dakota State is one of the five best teams in the nation.
The Jackrabbits are fifth in this week's STATS FCS Top 25, right on the heels of two other Missouri Valley Football Conference teams, North Dakota State and Illinois State. The #3 Bison open league play at the #5 Jackrabbits this Saturday night in Brookings.
Half of the Top Ten this week are teams from the MVC.
The Top Five ranking isn't just the highest in SDSU's Division I history, it's actually the highest they've been in the polls ever, after qualifying for the post season just once in Division II (1979).
STATS FCS Top 25
1 | Jacksonville State | 3-1 | 3814 (89) | 1 | |
2 | Coastal Carolina | 4-0 | 3705 (40) | 2 | |
3 | North Dakota State | 2-1 | 3594 (16) | 3 | |
4 | Illinois State | 2-1 | 3356 (2) | 4 | |
5 | South Dakota State | 3-0 | 3242 (6) | 6 | |
6 | James Madison | 4-0 | 3187 (4) | 9 | |
7 | UNI | 2-1 | 3075 (1) | 7 | |
8 | Chattanooga | 3-1 | 2776 | 8 | |
9 | Eastern Washington | 2-2 | 2532 | 11 | |
10 | Youngstown State | 2-1 | 2071 | 13 | |
11 | Montana State | 2-1 | 2053 | 15 | |
12 | Sam Houston State | 1-2 | 1986 | 12 | |
13 | Montana | 2-2 | 1897 | 14 | |
14 | Villanova | 2-2 | 1836 | 5 | |
15 | Fordham | 3-1 | 1713 | 16 | |
16 | Portland State | 3-0 | 1604 | 17 | |
17 | Eastern Kentucky | 2-1 | 1269 | 18 | |
18 | Liberty | 2-2 | 1251 | 10 | |
19 | Richmond | 2-1 | 1117 | 19 | |
20 | New Hampshire | 2-2 | 872 | 21 | |
21 | Indiana State | 2-1 | 774 | 22 | |
22 | Southeastern Louisiana | 2-1 | 719 | 23 | |
23 | McNeese State | 3-0 | 688 | 25 | |
24 | Harvard | 2-0 | 640 | 24 | |
25 | William & Mary | 2-1 | NR | NR |