BY RALPH VENTRE
South Dakota State went on the road and proved itself worthy of the No. 1 National Ranking.
The Jackrabbits, who have topped Talking Pigskin’s Top 25 ballot since the preseason, defeated reigning NCAA FCS champion North Dakota State, 23-21, in Week 7 and have since replaced their Dakota Marker rival in the No. 1 spot on the official Stats Perform Division I FCS Top 25.
South Dakota State owns the No. 1 ranking in the national media poll for the first time since joining Division I in 2004.
Last week, I was one of only three voters (out of 54) to rank South Dakota State atop my ballot.
This week, fifty-one of 54 Stats Perform voters ranked the Jackrabbits at No. 1.
SDSU, which owns a 6-0 record against FCS opponents, has not lost since a season-opening 7-3 setback at Big Ten member Iowa.
With Montana suffering a 30-23 loss to Idaho, Jackson State has moved up into the No. 5 spot on the Talking Pigskin ballot. Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deion Sanders, affectionately known as Coach Prime, has lifted Walter Payton’s alma mater back onto the national stage.
Jackson State leads the entire NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in total defense, permitting only 180.8 yards per game. The JSU offense, which is led by Shedeur Sanders, ranks fifth amongst national leaders while accounting for 509.3 yards per outing.
Rhode Island has returned to the Talking Pigskin FCS Top 25 thanks to a quality Week 7 win over fellow CAA member Elon. The Rams own the No. 20 spot while Elon slipped from to No. 22.
Adding to the Southern Conference’s top-25 presence, Furman broke onto the Talking Pigskin ballot at No. 23. The Paladins have won four of their last five games following a Week 2 setback at ACC member Clemson. Three of the wins have come in road games (East Tennessee State, Charleston Southern, The Citadel).
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Ballot (Ralph Ventre – Week 7)
25. Missouri State (2-4)
24. Southeastern Louisiana (3-3)
23. Furman (5-2)
22. Elon (5-2)
21. UT Martin (4-2)
20. Rhode Island (3-2)
19. Richmond (4-2)
18. Fordham (6-1)
17. Samford (5-1)
16. North Dakota (4-2)
15. Southeast Missouri State (5-1)
14. Delaware (5-1)
13. Mercer (6-1)
12. Southern Illinois (5-2)
11. Incarnate Word (6-1)
10. William & Mary (5-1)
9. Montana (5-1)
8. Chattanooga (5-1)
7. Weber State (6-0)
6. Holy Cross (6-0)
5. Jackson State (6-0)
4. North Dakota State (5-2)
3. Sacramento State (6-0)
2. Montana State (6-1)
1. South Dakota State (6-1)
TALKING PIGSKIN 
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