GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Following the 22-21 victory over Illinois State, North Dakota has moved up to No. 12 in the latest Stats Perform Poll and No. 14 in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25.

Six teams from the MVFC are in the most recent Stats Perform Poll. South Dakota State continues to hold the top spot at No. 1, while South Dakota has jumped up to No. 3. North Dakota State is also in the top-10 at No. 8, while North Dakota (No. 12) and Southern Illinois (No. 14) are in the top-15. Youngstown State rounds out the conference in the poll at No. 21.

The same six teams from the conference also rank in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Jackrabbits are No. 1, trailed by the Coyotes at No. 3 and the Bison at No. 7. The Fighting Hawks moved up to No. 14, while the Salukis climbed to No. 17 and the Penguins entered the poll at No. 23.

No. 12/14 North Dakota will host No. 15/16 Sacramento State in the first round of the FCS playoffs inside the Alerus Center at Noon this Saturday. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Home of Economy Radio Network.

STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 (Nov. 20)
1. South Dakota State (11-0, 8-0 MVFC), 1,400 points (56 of 56 first-place votes)
2. Montana (10-1, 7-1 Big Sky), 1,344
3. South Dakota (9-2, 7-1 MVFC), 1,280
4. Idaho (8-3, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,191
5. Montana State (8-3, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,088
6. Villanova (9-2, 7-1 CAA), 1,052
7. Furman (9-2, 7-1 SoCon), 1,000
8. North Dakota State (8-3, 5-3 MVFC), 995
9. Albany (9-3, 7-1 CAA), 963
10. Florida A&M (10-1, 8-0 SWAC), 828
11. Delaware (8-3, 6-2 CAA), 802
12. North Dakota (7-4, 5-3 MVFC), 754 
13. Austin Peay (9-2, 6-0 UAC), 751
14. Southern Illinois (7-4, 4-4 MVFC), 588 
15. Sacramento State (7-4, 4-4 Big Sky), 574
16. North Carolina Central (9-2, 4-1 MEAC), 547
17. Mercer (8-3, 6-2 SoCon), 427
18. Chattanooga (7-4, 6-2 Southern), 410
19. Incarnate Word (8-2, 6-1 Southland), 396
20. Lafayette (9-2, 5-1 Patriot), 268
21. Youngstown State (7-4, 5-3 MVFC), 266
22. Richmond (8-3, 7-1 CAA), 263
23. Western Carolina (7-4, 5-3 SoCon), 230 
24. UT Martin (8-3, 5-1 Big South-OVC), 194   
25. UC Davis (7-4, 5-3 Big Sky), 179

Others Receiving Votes: Tarleton, 83; Northern Iowa, 73; Nicholls, 59; Gardner-Webb, 47; Drake, 38; Holy Cross, 38; Central Arkansas, 29; Eastern Illinois, 16; Duquesne, 11; Harvard, 11; Yale, 5.
 
AFCA FCS Coaches TOP 25 (Nov. 20)
1. South Dakota State (24)
2. Montana
3. South Dakota
4. Idaho
5. Florida A&M
6. Furman
7. North Dakota State
8. Montana State
9. Villanova
10. Austin Peay
11. Incarnate Word
12. Delaware
13. North Carolina Central
14. North Dakota
15. Albany
16. Sacramento State
17. Southern Illinois
18. Lafayette
19. Chattanooga
20. Mercer
21. UT Martin
22. Holy Cross
23. Youngstown State
24. Eastern Illinois
25. Richmond

Others Receiving Votes: Western Carolina, 46; UC Davis, 45; Harvard, 42; Central Arkansas, 32; Nicholls, 23; Illinois St., 13; Yale, 13; Gardner-Webb, 12; Tarleton, 11; Drake, 5; William & Mary, 5; Rhode Island, 4; Duquesne, 3; Bryant, 1; Samford, 1.