GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Following the 24-23 loss at No. 5/7 Montana, North Dakota holds steady at No. 16 in the Stats Perform Poll and No. 17 in the AFCA Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The MVFC continues to have six teams represented in the Stats Perform Poll. North Dakota State (No. 1) and South Dakota State (No. 2) continue to hold the top two spots, followed by Illinois State (No. 6) and Southern Illinois (No. 13). South Dakota dropped to No. 16, while North Dakota remains No. 16.

In the AFCA Coaches' Top 25, the league continues to have seven teams ranked. The Bison (No. 1), Jackrabbits (No. 2) and Redbirds (No. 4) all remain in the top five. The Salukis sit just outside the top-10 and are No. 11, trailed by the Fighting Hawks holding steady at No. 17. The Coyotes slipped one spot to No. 21, while the Penguins moved up one spot to No. 24.

No. 16/17 North Dakota will host Valparaiso on Saturday. The game will be televised on Midco Sports and carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
 
STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 (Sept. 15)
1. North Dakota State (3-0), 1,396 points (52 of 56 first-place votes)
2. South Dakota State (3-0), 1,341
3. Tarleton State (4-0), 1,277
4. Montana State (1-2), 1,210
5. Montana (2-0), 1,175
6. Illinois State (2-1), 1,051
7. Rhode Island (3-0), 1,037
8. Idaho (2-1), 968
9. UC Davis (1-1), 873
10. Lehigh (3-0), 846
11. Villanova (1-1), 694
12. Tennessee Tech (3-0), 679
13. Southern Illinois (2-1), 624
14. Abilene Christian (1-2), 606
15. South Dakota (1-2), 542
16. North Dakota (1-2), 540
17. Northern Arizona (2-1), 511
18. Austin Peay (2-1), 377
19. Incarnate Word (1-2), 374
20. Jackson State (2-1), 364
21. Monmouth (2-1), 321
22. West Georgia (3-0), 253
23. Lamar (2-1), 204
24. Sacramento State (1-2), 203
25. New Hampshire (2-1), 191

Others Receiving Votes: Presbyterian, 83; Mercer, 63; Harvard, 54; Youngstown State, 47; Southeast Missouri, 43; Gardner-Webb, 41; Richmond, 33; UT Martin, 28; Stephen F. Austin, 22; Eastern Kentucky, 21; Nicholls, 18; ETSU, 13; Southeastern Louisiana, 13; Tennessee State, 13; South Carolina State, 11; Stony Brook, 10; Bryant, 9; Elon, 9.

AFCA FCS Coaches TOP 25 (Sept. 15)
1. North Dakota State (25)
2. South Dakota State (1)
3. Tarleton State
4. Illinois State
5. Montana
6t. Montana State
6t. Rhode Island
8. Idaho
9. UC Davis
10. Lehigh
11. Southern Illinois
12t. Tennessee Tech
12t. Villanova
14. Incarnate Word
15. Abilene Christian
16. Jackson State
17. North Dakota
18. Monmouth
19. Northern Arizona
20. Austin Peay
21. South Dakota
22. Sacramento State
23. New Hampshire
24. Youngstown State
25. Mercer

Others Receiving Votes: West Georgia, 63; Lamar, 43; Presbyterian, 40; Southeastern Louisiana, 28; Bryant, 21; Furman, 16; Lafayette, 11; Dartmouth, 9; Harvard, 9; Stephen F. Austin, 6; Elon, 5; Nicholls, 5; Northern Iowa, 5; Gardner-Webb, 3; South Carolina St., 3; East Tennessee St., 2; Richmond, 2; Southeast Missouri St., 2; Central Arkansas, 1.