GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman has climbed one spot to No. 2 in this week's AFCA FCS Top 25 Poll, which was released this morning.

The last time the Paladins (7-1, 5-0 SoCon), winners of six straight games, including Saturday's 16-8 triumph over East Tennessee State, were ranked as high was No. 1 on Oct. 31, 2005, following a 45-6 win over Elon.

Reigning national champion South Dakota State remains No. 1 in this week's poll, followed Furman, Montana, Incarnate Word, and Idaho, which rounds out the top five. 

Also joining Furman in the Top 25 are Southern Conference members Chattanooga (T13th) and Western Carolina (20th). Mercer is 26th based on poll points. 

The Paladins hit the road to take on Chattanooga (7-2, 6-1 SoCon) this Saturday, with league championship and the conference's automatic bid to the playoffs on the line for both teams.

Kickoff at Finley Stadium is set for 1:30 p.m.

American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll – October 30, 2023
 
Rank   School (1st votes)               Rec.     Pts.    Prev.      Week 9                                           Next Game
1.         South Dakota St. (25)              8-0      625           1      D. No. 9 South Dakota, 37-3Nov. 4 vs. No. 10 North Dakota St.
2.         Furman                                     7-1      577           3      D. East Tennessee St., 16-8 Nov. 4 at No. 13t Chattanooga
3.         Montana                                   7-1      544           5      D. Northern Colorado, 40-0 Nov. 4 vs. No. 7 Sacramento St.
4.         UIW                                           7-1      533           4      D. Lamar, 17-7                    Nov. 4 vs. Nicholls
5.         Idaho                                        6-2      515           8      D. No. 2 Montana St., 24-21 Nov. 4 at Northern Colorado
6.         Delaware                                  7-1      507           6      D. Towson, 51-13                     Nov. 4 vs. Elon
7.         Sacramento St.                        6-2      471           7      D. Idaho St., 51-16    Nov. 4 at No. 3 Montana
8.         Montana St.                              6-2      458           2      Lost to No. 8 Idaho, 24-21 Nov. 4 vs. Northern Arizona
9.         North Carolina Central             7-1      407         10      D. South Carolina St., 62-28 Nov. 4 vs. Norfolk St.
10.       North Dakota St.                      6-2      398         11      D. Murray St., 38-6 Nov. 4 at No. 1 South Dakota St.
11.       Southern Illinois                       6-2      380         12      D. Western Illinois, 63-0 Nov. 4 vs. No. 12 South Dakota
12.       South Dakota                           6-2      330           9      Lost to No. 1 South Dakota St., 37-3 Nov. 4 at No. 11 Southern Illinois
13t.      Chattanooga                            7-2      296         15      D. VMI, 24-23            Nov. 4 vs. No. 2 Furman
13t.      Florida A&M                             7-1      296         14      D. Prairie View A&M, 45-7 Nov. 4 at Alabama A&M
15.       North Dakota                            5-3      260         17      D. Indiana St., 36-33 OT  Nov. 4 at Murray St.
16.       Lafayette                                  7-1      241         19      D. Georgetown (D.C.), 35-25 Nov. 4 vs. Colgate
17.       Austin Peay                              6-2      218         20      D. North Alabama, 49-39 Nov. 4 at Eastern Kentucky
18.       UT Martin                                 6-2      179         13      Lost to Gardner-Webb, 38-34 Nov. 4 at Tennessee Tech
19.       Harvard                                     6-1      137         23      D. Dartmouth, 17-9            Nov. 4 at Columbia
20.       Western Carolina                     5-3      124         16      Lost to Mercer, 45-38           Nov. 4 at Wofford
21.       Holy Cross                                5-3      120         22      D. Fordham, 49-47                  Nov. 4 at Lehigh
22.       Villanova                                   6-2      107       NR      D. Stony Brook, 48-13 Nov. 4 at New Hampshire
23.       Northern Iowa                          5-3      105       NR      D. Illinois St., 24-21 Nov. 4 vs. Western Illinois
24.       William & Mary                         5-3        83         24      D. Monmouth (N.J.), 31-28    Nov. 4 at Albany
25.       Central Arkansas                     5-3        73         18      Lost to Tarleton, 25-23 Nov. 4 at North Alabama
 
Dropped Out: New Hampshire (20t), UC Davis (25)
 
Others Receiving Votes: Mercer, 50; Youngstown St., 44; Fordham, 27; Albany, 23; Illinois St., 7; New Hampshire, 5; Eastern Illinois, 3; Princeton, 2; Davidson, 1; Samford, 1.