Football Ranked 21st by Sporting News
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona football team is
ranked 21st in the annual preseason poll published in The Sporting
News.
NAU is one of five Big Sky Conference schools listed in the poll
behind fifth-ranked Montana, No. 7 Weber State, No. 13 Eastern
Washington and No. 17 Montana State.
NAU led the FCS and ranked second in Division I overall in rushing
defense allowing just 59.8 yards per game. NAU held four opponents
to negative yards rushing and a fifth to just 21 on the game. For
the season, NAU allowed 658 yards on 307 carries (2.1 yards per
carry) with 99 plays for zero or negative yardage on the season,
including 72 for a loss on the season. It reset the NAU and Big Sky
Conference records for rushing defense and yards allowed in a
season.
NAU will play two Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams and an
always challenging Big Sky Conference slate that includes a home
game against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) runner-up
Montana. The Lumberjacks also face bowl-winning FBS opponents
Arizona (Las Vegas) and Ole Miss (Cotton). It will mark the second
time in four seasons NAU has faced two FBS schools in the same
season.
Sporting News FCS Preseason Poll
1. Richmond
2. Appalachian State
3. Villanova
4. Northern Iowa
5. Montana
2. Southern Illinois
7. Weber State
8. New Hampshire
9. Elon
10. James Madison
11. Central Arkansas
12. William & Mary
13. Eastern Washington
14. Maine
15. Cal Poly
16. Massachusetts
17. Montana State
18. Wofford
19. McNeese State
20. Georgia Southern
21. Northern Arizona
22. Colgate
23. Samford
24. Jacksonville State
25. South Carolina State
