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OGDEN, UTAH (Aug. 16, 2010) – For the first time since 2002, four Big Sky Conference football teams will begin the season ranked in The Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25.
The Sports Network released its Football Championship Preseason Top 25 on Monday, a poll that features The University of Montana, Eastern Washington, Weber State and Montana State.
Montana will start the 2010 season in the same spot it ended 2008 and 2009 – No. 2. The Grizzlies earned nine first-place votes and 2,899 points.
Defending Division I national champion Villanova opens the season No. 1. The Wildcats, who beat Montana 23-21 in the 2009 championship game, earned 104 of 126 first-place votes, and 3,112 points. Appalachian State, William & Mary and Southern Illinois rounded out the top five.
Media and sports information directors from across the nation vote in the weekly poll.
Eastern Washington and Weber State, which both earned at-large playoff bids in 2009, are ranked once again. Eastern Washington is 13th and Weber State is 19th. Montana State also cracked the poll, coming in at No. 24.
Northern Arizona just missed the poll, finishing with 286 points, third among teams outside the top 25.
The Big Sky’s four teams trailed only the Colonial Athletic Conference, which placed six teams in the top 16. CAA squads Richmond and Villanova have captured the previous two national championships.
Montana, under first-year coach Robin Pflugrad, is the 12-time defending Big Sky champs. The Grizzlies have combined for a 31-1 Big Sky record the last four seasons. Montana has qualified for the playoffs a record 17 consecutive seasons, playing for the national championship in 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2009. Montana won national championships in 1995 and 2001.
The Grizzlies are led by senior running back Chase Reynolds and senior quarterback Andrew Selle. Both are candidates for the Walter Payton Award, given annually by The Sports Network to the top offensive player in the FCS. Montana’s defense is led by junior cornerback Trumaine Johnson, a preseason candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in the FCS by the Sports Network.
Beau Baldwin’s Eastern Washington Eagles finished the 2009 season with a loss to Stephen F. Austin in the first-round of the playoffs. The Eagles have advanced to the playoffs four of the past six seasons. EWU is led on defense by linebacker J.C. Sherritt, who finished second in Buchanan voting in 2009. Junior running back Taiwan Jones is a preseason Payton candidate.
Weber State, coached by Ron McBride, has qualified for the playoffs each of the past two seasons. The Wildcats are led by senior quarterback Cameron Higgins, a preseason Payton candidate.
Montana State begins the season looking for its first playoff bid since 2006. Fourth-year coach Rob Ash’s Bobcats finished 7-4 in 2009. MSU senior offensive tackle Mike Person and senior defensive tackle Dan Ogden are both preseason All-Americans.
Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona open the 2010 season on Thursday, Sept. 2. The other seven Sky squads begin play on Saturday, Sept. 4.
The 2010 FCS playoff field expands to 20 teams, with eight teams playing first-round games on Saturday, Nov. 27. The Division I national championship game will be played on Jan. 7, 2011, in Frisco, Texas.
Sports Network/Fathead.com Preseason Top 25
1. Villanova (104) 14-1 3,112
2. Montana (9) 14-1 2,899
3. Appalachian State (8) 11-3 2,857
4. William & Mary (3) 11-3 2,631
5. Southern Illinois (1) 11-2 2,569
6. Richmond (1) 11-2 2,317
7. Elon 9-3 2,243
8. Stephen F. Austin 10-4 2,041
9. South Dakota State 8-4 1,863
10. New Hampshire 10-3 1,837
11. South Carolina State 10-2 1,607
12. McNeese State 9-3 1,475
13. Eastern Washington 8-4 1,422
14. Northern Iowa 7-4 1,269
15. James Madison 6-5 1,237
16. Delaware 6-5 879
17. Jacksonville State 8-3 833
18. Eastern Illinois 7-4 762
19. Weber State 7-5 716
20. Prairie View A&M 9-1 709
21. Liberty 8-3 633
22. Colgate 9-2 608
23. Penn 8-2 593
24. Montana State 7-4 584
25. Holy Cross 9-3 560