GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Following the 35-17 victory over RV/No. 20 Youngstown State, North Dakota climbed to No. 9 in the Stats Perform Poll and No. 11 in the AFCA Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The MVFC has six teams represented in the Stats Perform Poll. North Dakota State (No. 1) and South Dakota State (No. 2) continue to have the top spots, while North Dakota (No. 9) and Illinois State (No. 10) are also in the top-10. Southern Illinois is just outside the top-10 at No. 12, while South Dakota rounds out the poll for the conference at No. 22.

In the AFCA Coaches' Top 25, the league continues to have six teams ranked. The Bison (No. 1) and Jackrabbits (No. 2) remain at the top, trailed by the Redbirds (No. 9). The Fighting Hawks (No. 11) and Salukis (No. 12) are just outside the top-10. The Penguins (No. 25) are the final team from the MVFC in the poll.
 
No. 9/11 North Dakota will visit No. 12/12 Southern Illinois at 2 p.m. (CT) this Saturday. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
 
STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 (Oct. 13)
1. North Dakota State (6-0), 1,399 points (55 of 56 first-place votes)
2. South Dakota State (6-0), 1,340 (1)
3. Tarleton State (7-0), 1,265
4. Montana (6-0), 1,222
5. Montana State (5-2), 1,206
6. UC Davis (5-1), 1,086
7. Lehigh (7-0), 1,023
8. Tennessee Tech (6-0), 954
9. North Dakota (4-2), 869
10. Illinois State (4-2), 866
11. Monmouth (5-1), 846
12. Southern Illinois (4-2), 812
13. Abilene Christian (4-3), 560
14. Jackson State (5-1), 557
15. Villanova (4-2), 521
16. Rhode Island (5-2), 512
17. Lamar (5-1), 454
18. Harvard (4-0), 435
19. Northern Arizona (4-3), 376
20. Mercer (5-1), 359
21. Presbyterian (6-0), 299
22. South Dakota (4-3), 257
23. Austin Peay (4-3), 224
24. Idaho (2-4), 183
25. Stephen F. Austin (4-2), 152

Others Receiving Votes: West Georgia, 126; Southeastern Louisiana, 96; Gardner-Webb, 54; Sacramento State, 28; Brown, 25; Youngstown State, 23; Western Carolina, 23; North Carolina Central, 18; Northern Colorado, 9; Eastern Kentucky, 5; Lafayette, 5.

AFCA FCS Coaches TOP 25 (Oct. 13)
1. North Dakota State (26)
2. South Dakota State
3. Tarleton State
4. Montana
5. Montana State
6. UC Davis
7. Lehigh
8. Tennessee Tech
9. Illinois State
10. Monmouth
11. North Dakota
12. Southern Illinois
13. Jackson State
14. Villanova
15. Rhode Island
16. Mercer
17. Abilene Christian
18. Lamar
19. Presbyterian
20. Harvard
21. Northern Arizona
22. Southeastern Louisiana
23. West Georgia
24. Austin Peay
25. Youngstown State

Others Receiving Votes: Gardner-Webb, 37; South Dakota, 34; Stephen F. Austin, 34; Lafayette, 28; Western Carolina, 19; North Carolina Central, 14; Idaho, 10; Sacramento State, 10; UT Rio Grande Valley, 10; Brown, 8; Dartmouth, 7; Penn, 7; Alabama State, 5; Central Arkansas, 4; Elon, 3; Furman, 3; East Tennessee State, 1; Eastern Kentucky, 1.