BY RALPH VENTRE
South Dakota State remained atop Talking Pigskin’s Division I FCS Top 25 ballot after surviving on last-second field goal at Northern Iowa in Week 10.
The Jackrabbits, whose lone loss was a 7-3 setback at Big Ten member Iowa, have earned Talking Pigskin’s National No. 1 ranking every weekly ballot submitted to Stats Perform since the preseason.
Meanwhile, Sacramento State leapt over Montana State to claim the No. 2 ranking based upon an undefeated overall body of work. Scoring 42.8 points per game (third-highest in FCS), Sac State has eclipsed the 30-point mark in all nine wins while averaging 259.0 yards on the ground per game (fifth-most in FCS).
The Hornets, who posted a 33-30 road victory over Weber State in Week 10, are 9-0 overall with two Big Sky Conference games remaining on the regular season schedule. Unfortunately, neither of those contests will be a head-to-head matchup with the 8-and-1 Bobcats.
When it comes to the bottom of the ballot, Princeton became the first Ivy League team to crack the Talking Pigskin rankings this season. The Tigers, who moved to 8-0 overall in Week 10, slide in at No. 25 overall.
Saint Francis, which made its season debut at No. 25 last week, moved up one spot to No. 24 following its seventh Division I FCS win. The Red Flash, who have already secured an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs, have won seven games in a row since a 31-21 setback at CAA member Richmond in Week 2.
SMALL SCHOOL DRAFT WATCH
Princeton senior receiver Andrei Iosivas has played his way onto the NFL Draft radar as evidenced by his recent invitation to the East West Shrine Bowl. The 6-foot-3 pass catcher has made at least three receptions in all eight of Princeton’s victories this season.
Iosivas, who hails from Hawai’i, has logged 55 catches for 826 yards and six touchdowns in eight games. His 103.2 receiving yards per game average ranks fourth overall on the NCAA FCS leaderboard.
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Ballot
(Ralph Ventre – Week 10)
25. Princeton (8-0)
24. Saint Francis (7-2)
23. Southeastern Louisiana (6-3)
22. Montana (6-3)
21. New Hampshire (6-3)
20. Idaho (6-3)
19. Rhode Island (6-3)
18. Delaware (7-2)
17. North Dakota (6-3)
16. Mercer (7-2)
15. Fordham (7-2)
14. Southeast Missouri State (7-2)
13. Richmond (7-2)
12. Chattanooga (7-2)
11. Furman (7-2)
10. Weber State (7-2)
9. Samford (8-1)
8. Incarnate Word (9-1)
7. William & Mary (8-1)
6. Holy Cross (9-0)
5. Jackson State (9-0)
4. North Dakota State (7-2)
3. Montana State (8-1)
2. Sacramento State (9-0)
1. South Dakota State (8-1)
TALKING PIGSKIN 
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