UNI football jumps to second in polls

The University of Northern Iowa football team is on the rise. The Panthers scored a 34-23 win over Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas, on Saturday, improving to second in both the Football Championship Series Coaches and The Sports Network/Fathead.com top 25 polls.

It's the highest ranking for UNI since 2009, and have been ranked in the top 25 for 83 straight polls, dating back to 2004. The Panthers are behind Georgia Southern in both polls, but did receive first-place votes in both. The Panthers earned four first-place votes in the FCS coaches poll and 16 from TSN/Fathead.com voters.

UNI hosts Western Illinois for its home opener Saturday, Sept. 24, starting at 4:05 p.m.

Below is the press release from UNI sports information department:

In each of the national rankings announced on Monday, the University of Northern Iowa football team has climbed to the No. 2 spot in the country.

The Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25 Poll has the Panthers at No. 2 behind Georgia Southern, the nation's new No. 1 team. UNI received 16 first-place votes to move up from the No. 4 spot it held last week.

In the FCS Coaches Poll, UNI moved up to No. 2 after being tied with Appalachian State at No. 3 last week. The Panthers received four of a possible 28 first-place votes. Georgia Southern also earned the No. 1 billing in the FCS Coaches Poll.

The rankings are the highest for UNI since it reached No. 2 in The Sports Network poll on Oct. 12, 2009. The Panthers have now been ranked in the top-25 in 83 consecutive polls – a streak that dates back to the 2004 season.

 UNI will return to action with its home opener on Sept. 24 against Western Illinois. Kickoff is slated for 4:05 p.m.

Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank

1. Georgia Southern Eagles (102) 2-0 3,622 2

2. Northern Iowa Panthers (16) 1-1 3,329 4

3. Appalachian St. Mountaineers(10) 1-1 3,282 3

4. William & Mary Tribe (5) 1-1 3,048 5

5. Montana State Bobcats (2) 1-1 2,985 6

6. Richmond Spiders (9) 2-0 2,874 9

7. Delaware Blue Hens (1) 1-1 2,688 8

8. North Dakota State Bison (1) 2-0 2,553 11

9. Wofford Terriers 1-1 2,489 7

10. Eastern Washington Eagles (2) 0-2 2,218 1

11. New Hampshire Wildcats 1-1 2,202 13

12. Montana Grizzlies 1-1 1,913 15

13. James Madison Dukes 1-1 1,373 19

14. Chattanooga Mocs 1-1 1,349 23

15. Southern Illinois Salukis 1-1 1,289 17

16. Lehigh Mountain Hawks 1-1 1,222 14

17. Jacksonville State Gamecocks 1-1 1,147 10

18. Central Arkansas Bears 1-1 1,096 18

19. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 1-1 971 16

20. Sacramento State Hornets 1-1 959 11

21. Massachusetts Minutemen 1-0 897 21

22. Liberty Flames 1-1 714 24

23. McNeese State Cowboys 0-1 614 22

24. South Dakota Coyotes 1-1 603 NR

25. South Carolina State Bulldogs 1-1 555 NR

Others receiving votes: Southern Utah 289, Eastern Kentucky 224, Penn 199, Murray State 180, Sam Houston State 158, Villanova 128, Towson 116, Jackson State 106, Hampton 100, Youngstown State 98, Bethune-Cookman 62, Western Illinois 50, South Dakota State 45, Harvard 43, Old Dominion 34, Rhode Island 34, Grambling State 26, Maine 22, Morehead State 21, Stony Brook 19, Elon 16, Holy Cross 14, Brown 12, Yale 12, Coastal Carolina 11, Duquesne 10, Delaware State 10, Eastern Illinois 7, Indiana State 7, Georgetown 7, UC Davis 6, Portland State 6, The Citadel 6, Northern Arizona 5, Weber State 4, UT Martin 4, Central Connecticut State 4, Bucknell 3, Furman 3, Florida A&M 2, San Diego 2, Jacksonville 1, Dayton 1, Samford 1.

Team (No. 1 Votes) Record Points Last Week

1. Georgia Southern (23) 2-0 695 2

2. Northern Iowa (4) 1-1 631 T3

3. Appalachian State 1-1 621 T3

4. Montana State 1-1 588 6

5. William & Mary 1-1 582 5

6. North Dakota State 2-0 532 8

7. Delaware 1-1 510 7

8. Wofford 1-1 486 9

9. Richmond 1-1 482 11

10. Eastern Washington (1) 0-2 457 1

11. Montana 1-1 398 13

12. New Hampshire 1-1 353 16

13. Stephen F. Austin 1-1 272 12

14. James Madison 1-1 272 17

15. Southern Illinois 1-1 268 15

16. Jacksonville State 1-1 243 10

17. Chattanooga 1-1 221 25

18. Central Arkansas 1-1 207 20

19. Lehigh 1-1 200 14

20. Liberty 1-1 181 21

21. South Carolina State 1-1 160 23

22. McNeese State 0-1 120 22

23. South Dakota 1-1 96 NR

24. Sacramento State 1-1 92 18

25. Massachusetts 1-0 68 NR

Others receiving votes: Pennsylvania (41), Murray State (29), Youngstown State (29), Villanova (22), Southern Utah (22), Eastern Kentucky (28), Bethune-Cookman (18), Eastern Illinois (18), Indiana State (18), Jackson State (14), Sam Houston State (14), Harvard (9), Coastal Carolina (9), Western Illinois (9), Illinois State (7), UC Davis (6), Butler (6), Towson (6), South Dakota State (5), Dayton (5), Cal Poly (4), Hampton (2), Jacksonville (2), Weber State (2), Furman (1), Central Connecticut State (1).