Griz picked 12th in FCS coaches’ poll
8/5/2015 5:13:00 PM | Football
The Montana Grizzlies will open the 2015 season ranked 12th in the nation according to the FCS coaches' poll. Montana's Aug. 29 home opener opponent, North Dakota State, enters the season ranked first.
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The Griz, who finished 2014 ranked 11th (9-5 overall and 6-2 in the Big Sky), collected 278 points in the rankings. Montana State received 296 points to end up in 11th in the voting.
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Montana is one of four Big Sky Conference teams kicking off the season in the top 25, with two more conference foes receiving votes.
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Ahead of the Griz in the rankings are Eastern Washington (5) and Montana State (11), while Idaho State comes in at 24. Cal Poly and Northern Arizona received 42 and 34 votes, respectively.
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Seven of Montana's 11 opponents in 2015 are featured in today's poll, with NDSU, Cal Poly, Liberty (14), and NAU featuring in a tough Aug./Sept. schedule.
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UM then follows up a tough opening month with Idaho State, EWU, and Montana State to finish the regular season schedule.
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The Griz have been ranked No. 17 by Athlon, No. 15 by The Sporting News, and No. 16 by Lindy's so far this pre-season.
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RANKÂ SCHOOLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2014 RECORDÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â POINTSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2014 FINAL
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â North Dakota State (24)Â Â Â Â Â 15-1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 600Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1
2         Illinois State                          13-2                           551                2
3         Villanova                               11-3                           512                7
4         Sam Houston State               11-5                           511                6
5         Coastal Carolina                   12-2                           502                5
6         Eastern Washington            11-3                           481                4
7         New Hampshire                   12-2                           445                3
8         Chattanooga                         10-4                           409                8
9         Jacksonville State                 10-2                           396                9
10      Northern Iowa                      9-5                             381                10
11      Montana State                      8-5                             296                20
12      Montana                                9-5                             278                11
13      James Madison                     9-3                             272                19
14      Liberty                                   9-5                             256                17
15      South Dakota State              9-5                             215                13
16      Youngstown State                7-5                             205                25
17      Eastern Kentucky                9-4                             171                21
18      Richmond                              9-5                             170                16
19      Southeastern Louisiana       9-4                             164                12
20      Indiana State                        8-6                             106                18
21      Fordham                               11-3                           103                14
22      Harvard                                 10-0                           99                  15
23      McNeese State                      6-5                             91                  NR
24      Idaho State                           8-4                             82                  NR
25      Eastern Illinois                     5-7                             73                  NR
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