The top seven teams in the latest Sports Network Top 25 poll remained the same this week, but the Montana Grizzlies, ranked No. 21 last week, are no longer in the poll. This ends a streak of 195 straight appearances in the poll, a stretch that dates back to Nov. 2, 1998, according to the Sports Network.
With a 2-3 record, the Grizzlies enter this weekend's game against the Northern Colorado Bears looking to avoid a three-game losing streak. The back-to-back losses came against fellow Big Sky Conference members: the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks and the Eastern Washington Eagles. The Lumberjacks moved up four spots this week to No. 18 (defeating Portland State, 24-10) and the Eagles stayed at No. 7 with its victory over the Grizzlies.
Montana is currently under investigation for a series of sexual assault cases involving the football team that have taken place over the last several years. In March, the school relieved head coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day of their duties. Though the school has not ever publicly mentioned why the two were dismissed, it is widely believed that the cases against the football team led to the decision.
The Montana State Bobcats remained at No. 2 and garnered six first-place votes after defeating Southern Utah, 24-17. Rounding out the other Big Sky teams in the poll are the Cal Poly Mustangs at No. 20, a three-spot jump up from last week.
Here is the complete top 25:
Rank | Team (First-place votes) | Rec. | Points | Prev. |
1. | North Dakota State Bison (156) | 4-0 | 4204 | 1 |
2. | Montana State Bobcats (6) | 5-0 | 3974 | 2 |
3. | Youngstown State Penguins (7) | 4-0 | 3857 | 3 |
4. | Old Dominion Monarchs | 5-0 | 3691 | 4 |
5. | James Madison Dukes | 3-1 | 3380 | 5 |
6. | Wofford Terriers | 4-0 | 3321 | 6 |
7. | Eastern Washington Eagles | 3-1 | 3157 | 7 |
8. | Georgia Southern Eagles | 3-1 | 2663 | 10 |
9. | Illinois State Redbirds | 5-0 | 2602 | 13 |
9. | Sam Houston State Bearkats | 2-2 | 2602 | 9 |
11. | Lehigh Mountain Hawks | 5-0 | 2120 | 15 |
12. | Towson Tigers | 2-2 | 2076 | 12 |
13. | Stony Brook Seawolves | 4-1 | 2036 | 18 |
14. | New Hampshire Wildcats | 3-2 | 1847 | 20 |
15. | Appalachian State Mountaineers | 3-2 | 1789 | 17 |
16. | Delaware Blue Hens | 4-1 | 1697 | 8 |
17. | Eastern Kentucky Colonels | 4-1 | 1479 | 19 |
18. | Northern Arizona Lumberjacks | 4-1 | 1234 | 22 |
19. | The Citadel Bulldogs | 3-2 | 1192 | 11 |
20. | Cal Poly Mustangs | 4-0 | 1172 | 23 |
21. | McNeese State Cowboys | 4-1 | 723 | 24 |
22. | Northern Iowa Panthers | 1-4 | 691 | 14 |
23. | South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 4-1 | 618 | 25 |
24. | Central Arkansas Bears | 3-2 | 602 | 16 |
25. | Harvard Crimson | 3-0 | 426 | NR |