GRAND FORKS, N.D. – After spending last week outside the polls, North Dakota returned to the latest Stats Perform Rankings announced on Monday morning, moving into the No. 22 slot after defeating then-ranked No. 7 Missouri State, 48-31, on Saturday. The Fighting Hawks are not ranked in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 but are receiving votes in that poll.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference has five programs represented in the Stats Perform poll. North Dakota State continues to hold the top spot with 45 first-place votes, trailed by South Dakota State in second with three first-place votes. Southern Illinois is just outside the top-15 and is 17th, followed by Missouri State in the 20-spot. North Dakota rounds out the MVFC in the poll and is 22nd. South Dakota is also receiving votes in the poll.

North Dakota will return to MVFC action this weekend at Youngstown State. The Fighting Hawks and Penguins will square off at 5 p.m. (CT) in Youngstown. The game will air on Midco Sports Two and will be carried on the Home of Economy Radio Network.
 
STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 (Oct. 3)
1. North Dakota State (4-1, 2-0 Missouri Valley), 1,338 points (45 first-place votes)
2. South Dakota State (4-1, 2-0 Missouri Valley), 1,276 (3)
3. Montana (5-0, 2-0 Big Sky), 1,256 (6)
4. Montana State (4-1, 2-0 Big Sky), 1,163
5. Sacramento State (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 1,146
6. Delaware (5-0, 3-0 CAA), 1,067
7. Weber State (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 1,001
8. Jackson State (4-0, 2-0 SWAC), 919
9. Holy Cross (5-0, 1-0 Patriot), 899
10. UIW (4-1, 1-1 Southland), 839
11. Chattanooga (4-1, 2-0 Southern), 823  
12. Mercer (4-1, 2-0 Southern), 674
13. Samford (4-1, 2-0 Southern), 506
14. Elon (4-1, 2-0 CAA), 501
15. Villanova (3-2, 1-1 CAA), 494
16. William & Mary (4-1, 1-1 CAA), 480
17. Southern Illinois (3-2, 2-0 Missouri Valley), 447
18. UT Martin (3-2, 2-0 Ohio Valley), 442
19. Southeastern Louisiana (3-2, 1-0 Southland), 395
20. Missouri State (2-3, 0-2 Missouri Valley), 376 
21. Southeast Missouri (4-1, 1-0 Ohio Valley), 324
22. North Dakota (3-2, 2-1 Missouri Valley), 277
23. Richmond (3-2, 1-1 CAA), 189
24. Eastern Washington (1-3, 0-1 Big Sky), 165 
25. Eastern Kentucky (3-2, 3-1 ASUN-WAC), 148

Dropped Out: Austin Peay (22)

Others Receiving Votes: Rhode Island (3-2, 1-1 CAA) 89, Fordham (4-1, 1-0 Patriot) 75, Austin Peay (4-2, 4-1 ASUN-WAC) 74, Idaho (3-2, 2-0 Big Sky) 43, New Hampshire (3-2, 3-0 CAA) 22, UC Davis (1-4, 0-2 Big Sky) 22, Monmouth (3-2, 1-1 CAA) 20, Furman (3-2, 1-1 Southern) 15, Stephen F. Austin (2-3, 1-0 ASUN-WAC) 15, Abilene Christian (4-1, 3-0 ASUN-WAC) 9, Campbell (2-2, 0-0 Big South) 5, North Carolina Central (4-1, 0-0 MEAC) 4, South Dakota (1-3, 0-1 Missouri Valley) 2.