Sam Houston is ranked No. 1 in FCS

[FriscoOrBust]

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Unbeaten Sam Houston State hopes to follow a similar path of last year's FCS national champion, Eastern Washington.

Sam Houston State heads into the playoffs with its first-ever No. 1 ranking in The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25. The Southland Conference champion improved to 11-0 on Saturday, then collected 125 of the 140 first-place votes and 3,473 points from the poll's national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries on Sunday.

A year ago, Eastern Washington claimed its first No. 1 ranking at the end of the regular season, then went on to capture its first FCS national title in the 20-team playoffs.

Sam Houston State is the FCS' only unbeaten team. Behind second-year head coach Willie Fritz, the Bearkats rank first in the nation in scoring defense (12.6 ppg) and second in scoring offense (39.5 ppg).

"I think we deserve it," Fritz said about the No. 1 ranking. "We won our conference very convincingly."

Sam Houston State completed its regular season with a 36-14 triumph over Texas State as redshirt sophomore running back Tim Flanders rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a Southland Conference-record 22 TDs this season.

The Bearkats moved up from No. 2 after then-No. 1 Montana State fell on Saturday.

The Bearkats are awaiting Sunday's announcement of the NCAA Division I playoff pairings.

Northern Iowa (9-2), the Missouri Valley Football Conference co-champion, moved up to two spots to No. 2 after its 23-20 overtime win at Illinois State. The Panthers received two first-place votes and 3,155 points.

Southern Conference champion Georgia Southern (9-2) remained No. 3 in the FCS despite losing to the No. 3 team in the Bowl Subdivision, the University of Alabama, 45-21. The Eagles received six first-place votes.

Three voters gave first-place votes to No. 4 North Dakota State (10-1), which shared the Missouri Valley title with Northern Iowa and won the head-to-head meeting last month. That victory gave the Bison the conference's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.

Montana (9-2), up two spots to No. 5, also shared a conference title, in the Big Sky with Montana State. But Saturday's 36-10 rout of Montana State earned the Grizzlies the automatic bid in that conference.

Patriot League champion Lehigh (10-1), whose only loss was in overtime to New Hampshire back in the second week of the season, received four first-place votes to remain at No. 6. The Mountain Hawks beat rival Lafayette, 37-13, on Saturday.

Rounding out the Top 10 were No. 7 Montana State (9-2); No. 8 Towson (9-2), the CAA Football champion; No. 9 Appalachian State (8-3); and No. 10 Old Dominion (9-2).

New Hampshire (8-3), one of six CAA teams in the rankings, moved up to No. 11. The Wildcats were followed by No. 12 Wofford (8-3); No. 13 Maine (8-3); No. 14 Delaware (7-4); No. 15 Central Arkansas (8-3); No. 16 Harvard (9-1), the Ivy League champion; No. 17 James Madison (7-4); No. 18 Illinois State (7-4); No. 19 Norfolk State (9-2), which won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title; and No. 20 Jackson State (9-2).

Tennessee Tech (7-3), which captured the Ohio Valley Conference's automatic bid, checked in at No. 21, followed by No. 22 Stony Brook (8-3), the Big South Conference champion which had never appeared in the rankings previously; No. 23 North Dakota (8-3), which shared the final Great West Football Conference title; No. 24 Liberty (7-4); and No. 25 Jacksonville State (7-4).

After losing games on Saturday, South Dakota, Furman and Portland State fell out of the Top 25.

The Sports Network and Fathead.com will release a final Top 25 following the FCS championship game, which will be held Jan. 7 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.




















11/20 06

[93henfan]

No. 14 Delaware (7-4); No. 15 Central Arkansas (8-3); No. 16 Harvard (9-1), the Ivy League champion; No. 17 James Madison (7-4)

[The Kicker]

No. 14 Delaware (7-4); No. 15 Central Arkansas (8-3); No. 16 Harvard (9-1), the Ivy League champion; No. 17 James Madison (7-4)

Maybe you can get an invite to a bowl game since you won't be in the playoffs

[T-Dog]

Hey Delaware, it's playoff time.

[JohnStOnge]

The problem with evaluating Sam Houston State is they haven't played anybody. In recent years I've often said that to look at a Southland team as having a shot to go deep into the playoffs one would have to see them really dominate the Southland because the Southland has become a weaker than average auto bid league. But it doesn't guarantee it.

The last time a Southland team dominated the league like Sam Houston did this year McNeese did it in 2007. And McNeese was blown out at home by Eastern Washington in the first round. The Cowboys did have some serious injury problems going into the tournament but the injury problems can't entirely account for how bad the whipping McNeese got from Eastern Washington was.

The only information we have on Sam Houston vs. teams from other FCS auto bid conferences was the season opening 20 - 6 win over Western Illinois. By Missouri Valley standards Western Illinois is a very bad team and Sam Houston was not overwhelmingly dominant against them. The 20 points Sam Houston scored against the Leathernecks was the fewest points Western Illinois gave up to anybody this season. The 6 points was the fewest Western Illinois scored against any FCS this season, but two MVC teams held them to 7 and another held them to 10.

One thing Sam Houston has going for it is that the CAA appears to be a little down this year. So if they match up with teams from that league in the playoffs they may not be having to play teams like some teams from that league have been in past Southland/CAA matchups. But I"m still guessing Sam Houston would be a middle of the pack team in the Missouri Valley or CAA. We shall see.

[Aho Old Guy]

But will that #1 ranking be good enough for the #1 seed ?

I've given them the benefit of the doubt (for their undefeated regular season) but could easily see them as a #2 or #3 mixed in with NDSU and GaSo.

And the bad news, BearKat fans, is undefeated national champs are very few and far between.

[UD1Hens]

Ok, I feel like UD will be the 1st team out, I am totally admitting this but here's my question:

Why is Illinois State getting the last at-large? They have 4 FCS losses, 0-2 vs FCS playoff teams, and don't have a single quality win.

Bad loss: 33-26 to Eastern Illinois (2-9 overall, 1-7 in the OVC)
Best win: 17-14 at home against Indiana State (6-5)

UD has 2 bad losses to URI and UMass. They are 2-1 vs FCS playoff teams (won @ CAA champs #8Towson and home vs #10 ODU, lost @ Maine) and finished 4 spots ahead of ISU in the final rankings.

They have one more D1 win...that is all.

[BlueHen86]

Ok, I feel like UD will be the 1st team out, I am totally admitting this but here's my question:

Why is Illinois State getting the last at-large? They have 4 FCS losses, 0-2 vs FCS playoff teams, and don't have a single quality win.

Bad loss: 33-26 to Eastern Illinois (2-9 overall, 1-7 in the OVC)
Best win: 17-14 at home against Indiana State (6-5)

UD has 2 bad losses to URI and UMass. They are 2-1 vs FCS playoff teams (won @ CAA champs #8Towson and home vs #10 ODU, lost @ Maine) and finished 4 spots ahead of ISU in the final rankings.

They have one more D1 win...that is all.

The Hens problem is that they have a bad win - West Chester. If they had played, and beaten, any FCS team instead of West Chester I think they would be in. The West Chester series can't end soon enough AFAIC.

[93henfan]

Yep, the Hens would be favored over probably half the playoff field in a neutral venue, but West Chester has finally bitten us in the arse. Eating up two games with an FBS and a D2 and leaving your team to go 7-2 versus the CAA and one OOC is a tall order.

It's a shame that two teams we're better than (Towson and ODU) will be moving on, as will two teams who the pollsters think we're better than (UCA and JMU), but such is life.

That's OK. We're in good company with the 2010 Montana squad!

[AZGrizFan]

Yep, the Hens would be favored over probably half the playoff field in a neutral venue, but West Chester has finally bitten us in the arse. Eating up two games with an FBS and a D2 and leaving your team to go 7-2 versus the CAA and one OOC is a tall order.

It's a shame that two teams we're better than (Towson and ODU) will be moving on, as will two teams who the pollsters think we're better than (UCA and JMU), but such is life.

That's OK. We're in good company with the 2010 Montana squad!

That scheduling model absolutely blows. Fortunately the Griz worked through it THIS year.

[polsongrizz]

The problem with evaluating Sam Houston State is they haven't played anybody.

This

[Ivytalk]

Ok, I feel like UD will be the 1st team out, I am totally admitting this but here's my question:

Why is Illinois State getting the last at-large? They have 4 FCS losses, 0-2 vs FCS playoff teams, and don't have a single quality win.

Bad loss: 33-26 to Eastern Illinois (2-9 overall, 1-7 in the OVC)
Best win: 17-14 at home against Indiana State (6-5)

UD has 2 bad losses to URI and UMass. They are 2-1 vs FCS playoff teams (won @ CAA champs #8Towson and home vs #10 ODU, lost @ Maine) and finished 4 spots ahead of ISU in the final rankings.
They have one more D1 win...that is all.

The Hens problem is that they have a bad win - West Chester. If they had played, and beaten, any FCS team instead of West Chester I think they would be in. The West Chester series can't end soon enough AFAIC.

agreed! One more year...

[Screamin_Eagle174]

No. 14 Delaware (7-4); No. 15 Central Arkansas (8-3); No. 16 Harvard (9-1), the Ivy League champion; No. 17 James Madison (7-4)

Overrated.

[Darell1976]

#23 and Co-Champs!!! What a great achievement since we were 3-8 at this time last year.

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

Yep, the Hens would be favored over probably half the playoff field in a neutral venue, but West Chester has finally bitten us in the arse. Eating up two games with an FBS and a D2 and leaving your team to go 7-2 versus the CAA and one OOC is a tall order.

It's a shame that two teams we're better than (Towson and ODU) will be moving on, as will two teams who the pollsters think we're better than (UCA and JMU), but such is life.

That's OK. We're in good company with the 2010 Montana squad!

It is a bitter pill to swallow taking that one straight to the pill sack. You guys have exactly the same scenario as we did last year, sucky club to belong too, but welcome none the less.

[panther-state]

#23 and Co-Champs!!! What a great achievement since we were 3-8 at this time last year.

Who you playing in the first round?

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

Even if I have to eat a little crow later, I'd much rather play Sam Houston than either of the seeds on the other side of the bracket. (I know there is a lot of football to play for us to even meet them so don't get your panties in a bunch. )

[grizcountry420]

Even if I have to eat a little crow later, I'd much rather play Sam Houston than either of the seeds on the other side of the bracket. (I know there is a lot of football to play for us to even meet them so don't get your panties in a bunch. )

+1

[JohnStOnge]

Even if I have to eat a little crow later, I'd much rather play Sam Houston than either of the seeds on the other side of the bracket. (I know there is a lot of football to play for us to even meet them so don't get your panties in a bunch. )

If I had to bet I'd bet you won't have to eat crow and would also bet Montana never sees Sam Houston because the winner of the Montana State/New Hampshire game will knock them off. I've said this all season: I think Sam Houston State would be a middle of the pack team in one of the tougher FCS conferences. That's sad to say because I'm a Southland fan but I honestly believe that's what it's come to. I think the Southland was even weaker than usual overall this year and I think Sam Houston's record, defensive stats, etc., are significantly impacted by that.

If you go by Sagarin's conference strength ratings the Southland is eight among the 10 auto bid conferences this year. Paradoxically Sam Houston State is rated as 4th among FCS teams. But nobody they played is rated in Sagarin's top 25 . Central Arkansas is 23rd in terms of the average of power ratings and polls at http://www.masseyratings.com/cf/compare1aa.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, but what you're looking at is still pretty much an untested team that was not all that impressive against Western Illinois in its one nonconference game against a team from an autobid league.

[Darell1976]

#23 and Co-Champs!!! What a great achievement since we were 3-8 at this time last year.

Who you playing in the first round?

We have a bye.

[lakesbison]

darrel is mentally retarded, he just has to be. go away.

[Silenoz]

Even if I have to eat a little crow later, I'd much rather play Sam Houston than either of the seeds on the other side of the bracket. (I know there is a lot of football to play for us to even meet them so don't get your panties in a bunch. )

If I had to bet I'd bet you won't have to eat crow and would also bet Montana never sees Sam Houston because the winner of the Montana State/New Hampshire game will knock them off. I've said this all season: I think Sam Houston State would be a middle of the pack team in one of the tougher FCS conferences. That's sad to say because I'm a Southland fan but I honestly believe that's what it's come to. I think the Southland was even weaker than usual overall this year and I think Sam Houston's record, defensive stats, etc., are significantly impacted by that.

If you go by Sagarin's conference strength ratings the Southland is eight among the 10 auto bid conferences this year. Paradoxically Sam Houston State is rated as 4th among FCS teams. But nobody they played is rated in Sagarin's top 25 . Central Arkansas is 23rd in terms of the average of power ratings and polls at http://www.masseyratings.com/cf/compare1aa.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, but what you're looking at is still pretty much an untested team that was not all that impressive against Western Illinois in its one nonconference game against a team from an autobid league.

Yeah, no disrespect to SHSU, but I'm at the "fool me x times" point with Southland teams in the playoffs...

2010 - Villanova 54 SFA 24
2009 - Montana 51 SFA 0
2009 - New Hampshire 49 McNeese 13
2008 - Montana 31 Texas State 13
2007 - Eastern Washington 44 #2 McNeese 15
2006 - Montana 31 McNeese 6
2005 - Northern Iowa 40 Texas State 37
2004 - Montana 34 Sam Houston 13
2004 - Montana 56 NW State 7
2003 - Northern Arizona 35 #1 McNeese 3
2002 - W. Kentucky 34 #1 McNeese 14
2002 - Montana 45 NW State 14

Probably missing a few, and TxSt did put on a good run in 2005

[Darell1976]

darrel is mentally retarded, he just has to be. go away.

[Aho Old Guy]

If I had to bet I'd bet you won't have to eat crow and would also bet Montana never sees Sam Houston because the winner of the Montana State/New Hampshire game will knock them off. I've said this all season: I think Sam Houston State would be a middle of the pack team in one of the tougher FCS conferences. That's sad to say because I'm a Southland fan but I honestly believe that's what it's come to. I think the Southland was even weaker than usual overall this year and I think Sam Houston's record, defensive stats, etc., are significantly impacted by that.

If you go by Sagarin's conference strength ratings the Southland is eight among the 10 auto bid conferences this year. Paradoxically Sam Houston State is rated as 4th among FCS teams. But nobody they played is rated in Sagarin's top 25 . Central Arkansas is 23rd in terms of the average of power ratings and polls at http://www.masseyratings.com/cf/compare1aa.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, but what you're looking at is still pretty much an untested team that was not all that impressive against Western Illinois in its one nonconference game against a team from an autobid league.

Yeah, no disrespect to SHSU, but I'm at the "fool me x times" point with Southland teams in the playoffs...

2010 - Villanova 54 SFA 24
2009 - Montana 51 SFA 0
2009 - New Hampshire 49 McNeese 13
2008 - Montana 31 Texas State 13
2007 - Eastern Washington 44 #2 McNeese 15
2006 - Montana 31 McNeese 6
2005 - Northern Iowa 40 Texas State 37
2004 - Montana 34 Sam Houston 13
2004 - Montana 56 NW State 7
2003 - Northern Arizona 35 #1 McNeese 3
2002 - W. Kentucky 34 #1 McNeese 14
2002 - Montana 45 NW State 14

Probably missing a few, and TxSt did put on a good run in 2005

Anytime you want to send 'em east of the Mississippi we'll be glad to take them off your hands ...

[Silenoz]

I dunno, you know App's history


Circle of fail*

Southland > App State > CAA > Montana > Southland


*gross-generalization that as of last year is becoming less accurate