GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota dropped to No. 11 in the Stats Perform poll and No. 15 in the AFCA Coaches' poll after suffering its first Missouri Valley Football Conference loss of the season Saturday, falling 24-17 to (RV/NR) Northern Iowa.

The Fighting Hawks are now 5-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play under second-year head coach Eric Schmidt.

North Dakota, who is joined by five other MVFC teams in this week's polls, returns home to face the No. 1 team in both – South Dakota State. Kickoff against the Jackrabbits is set for 1 p.m. CT and will be televised on Midco Sports and streamed on Midco Sports Plus and ESPN+.

For more information on North Dakota football, follow @UNDfootball on social media or visit FightingHawks.com.

STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 (Oct. 12; Week Seven)
1. South Dakota State (5-1), 1,420 (52)
2. Tarleton State (5-0), 1,371 (5)
3. Stephen F. Austin (6-0), 1,202
4. Lehigh (6-0), 1,201
5. Montana State (5-1), 1,195
6. Youngstown State (4-2), 1,088
7. Montana (5-2), 1,052
8. Northern Arizona (5-2), 1,026
9. South Dakota (5-2), 986
10. Lamar (5-1), 890
11. North Dakota (5-2), 800
12. Austin Peay (5-2), 755
13. Illinois State (4-2), 722
14. UC Davis (4-2), 670
15. Tennessee Tech (5-1), 644
16. Campbell (5-1), 596
17. Harvard (4-0), 529
18. Mercer (5-2), 402
19. Northern Iowa (3-2), 380
20. ETSU (5-2), 312
21. Idaho State (4-2), 253
22. Colgate (4-2), 251
23. Monmouth (4-2), 121
24. Morgan State (5-1), 116
25. Yale (3-1), 104

Others Receiving Votes (on two or more ballots): Stony Brook (4-2): 102; Richmond (5-2): 68; Jackson State (5-1): 39; South Carolina State (5-2): 24; West Florida (3-2): 24; Cal Poly (4-3): 22; Southern Illinois (3-4): 17; Abilene Christian (3-4): 14; North Alabama (4-2): 10; Grambling State (4-2): 8; Southeastern Louisiana (3-3): 6; Weber State (4-3): 6; Princeton (3-1): 2

AFCA FCS COACHES TOP 25 (Oct. 12, Week Seven)
1. South Dakota State (5-1), 647 (23)
2. Tarleton State (6-0), 626 (3)
3. Stephen F. Austin (6-0), 588
4. Lehigh (6-0), 558
5. Montana State (5-1), 539
6. Youngstown State (5-2), 517
7. Montana (5-2), 461
8. Lamar (5-1), 458
9. South Dakota (5-2), 407
10. Northern Arizona (5-2), 398
11. Austin Peay (5-2), 397
12. UC Davis (4-2), 396
13. Illinois State (4-2), 333
14. Tennessee Tech (5-1), 319
15. North Dakota (5-2), 293
16. Mercer (5-2), 253
17. Harvard (4-0), 242
18. Campbell (5-1), 227
19. Colgate (4-2), 153
20. Monmouth (N.J.) (4-2), 125
21. Idaho State (4-1), 106
22. Richmond (5-1), 96
23. Yale (3-1), 61
24. East Tennessee State (5-2), 49
25. Northern Iowa (3-2), 38
 
Others Receiving Votes: Jackson St., 32; West Florida, 25; Morgan St., 24; South Carolina St., 18; Stony Brook, 18; ACU, 11; Southern Illinois, 11; Cal Poly, 7; Charleston Southern, 4; Delaware St., 4; North Alabama, 4; Southeastern Louisiana, 2; Wofford, 2; Central Connecticut St., 1.
 
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