PHILADELPIA - The Illinois State football team moved to 3-0 on the season for the first time since 1991, thanks to a thrilling come-from-behind victory in double overtime against longtime in-state rival Eastern Illinois Saturday. That moved the Redbirds up two spots in the FCS Coaches Poll and they stayed put in The Sports Network FCS Top 25 Poll to rank No. 15 on both lists Monday.
The Redbirds moved up two spots to No. 15 in the FCS Coaches Poll and received 276 points, following a strong effort against the Panthers. They remained at No. 15 in The Sports Network FCS Top 25 Poll, with 1,883 points.
Once again, the Missouri Valley Football Conference was well represented in both polls, with five teams ranked in each listing. Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) National Champion North Dakota State maintained its No. 1 ranking in both polls, after an off week. Youngstown State (No. 4), Northern Iowa (No. 8), Illinois State and Indiana State (No. 22) give the league five representatives in The Sports Network FCS Top 25 Poll, and the Sycamores moved back into the FCS Coaches Poll ranking at No. 25 after just missing out last week.
The Redbirds return to the field Saturday, Sept. 22, when they travel to Macomb, Ill., to face off against in-state rival Western Illinois in the MVFC opener for both schools. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m., with the game being broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago with Kurt Pegler and former Redbird All-American Boomer Grigsby on the call.
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