HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Having a bye the first week of the season did not have an effect on Sam Houston State's place atop The Sports Network's Football Championship Subdivision national rankings which were released Monday.
The Bearkats top the FCS media poll with 87 of the 164 first place votes and 3,985 points.
North Dakota State (65 first place votes and 3,947 points) is hot on the Kats' heels. The Bison hold down the No. 1 spot in the second major FCS national poll, the FCS National Coaches rankings. North Dakota State opened the 2012 season with a 52-0 victory over Robert Morris.
Other top ranked NCAA Division I FCS results included a 58-0 win by Georgia Southern over Jacksonville, Montana State's 33-6 victory over Chadron State, Old Dominion topping Duquesne 57-23.
The biggest jump in the rankings was made by Youngstown State. The Penguins dominated Pittsburgh (31-17).
McNeese State jumped into the rankings after the Cowboys defeated FBS-opponent Middle Tennessee State on the road Thursday night, 27-21.
The Sports Network poll is voted upon by media members and sports information directors across the nation. The FCS Coaches Poll features a voting panel of head coaches in the FCS under the cooperation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
Sam Houston tops the Sports Network poll followed by North Dakota State, Georgia Southern, Montana State, James Madison, Youngstown State, Old Dominion, Northern Iowa, Eastern Washington and Wofford.
Ranked 11-25 by the Sports Network, the oldest FCS poll, are Appalachian State, Montana, Towson, New Hampshire, Delaware, Lehigh, Stony Brook, Illinois State, SFA, Maine, Eastern Kentucky, McNeese, Indiana State, Jacksonville State and Central Arkansas.
The FCS Coaches poll lists North Dakota State one followed by Sam Houston, Georgia Southern, Montana State, Old Dominion, James Madison, Northern Iowa, Montana and Youngstown State in the top 10.
Sam Houston State opens its 2012 campaign Saturday at 6 p.m. when the Bearkats play host to the University of Incarnate Word at Bowers Stadium.
Tickets are available now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the Bearkat Athletic Ticket Office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
