GREENVILLE, S.C. -- 2023 Southern Conference outright champion Furman, winners of eight straight, remains No. 2 in this week's AFCA FCS Top 25 Poll, eleased this morning.

The Paladins (9-1, 7-0 SoCon) trail only reigning FCS national champion South Dakota State in this week's poll. Montana (3rd), Montana State (4th), and South Dakota (5th) round out the top five.

Three other SoCon teams are also ranked in the Top 25: Chattanooga (16th), Western Carolina (18th), and Mercer (24th):

Furman, which clinched the outright 2023 SoCon championship — the 15th in program history — with its 37-3 win over VMI on Saturday, has matched the school standard for consecutive SoCon wins (13).  The Paladins, who have also won a program record eight straight league games, tee it up in the regular season finale this Saturday at Wofford.  Kickoff at Gibbs Stadium is set for noon.

American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll – November 13, 2023
 
Rank   School (1st votes)               Rec.     Pts.    Prev.      Week 11                                         Next Game
1.         South Dakota St. (26)            10-0      650           1      D. Youngstown St., 34-0      Nov. 18 vs. Missouri St.
2.         Furman                                     9-1      615           2      D. VMI, 37-3                       Nov. 18 at Wofford
3.         Montana                                   9-1      603           3      D. Portland St., 34-10 Nov. 18 vs. No. 4 Montana St.
4.         Montana St.                              8-2      563           5      D. Eastern Washington, 57-14 Nov. 18 at No. 3 Montana
5.         South Dakota                           8-2      529           6      D. No. 12 North Dakota, 14-10 Nov. 18 at Western Illinois
6.         Delaware                                  8-2      491           8      D. Campbell, 45-7 Nov. 18 vs. No. 15 Villanova
7.         Florida A&M                             9-1      446           9      D. Lincoln (Calif.), 28-0 Nov. 18 at Bethune-Cookman
8.         Idaho                                        7-3      405           4      Lost to Weber St., 31-29 Nov. 18 vs. Idaho St.
9.         North Dakota St.                      7-3      396         13      D. No. 15 Southern Illinois, 34-10 Nov. 18 at Northern Iowa
10.       Sacramento St.                        7-3      390         11      D. Cal Poly, 41-30            Nov. 18 at UC Davis
11.       UIW                                           7-2      385         10      vs. Northwestern St. (canceled) Nov. 18 at Houston Christian
12.       Austin Peay                              8-2      364         14      D. Utah Tech, 30-17 Nov. 18 vs. No. 20t Central Arkansas
13.       UT Martin                                 8-2      333         16      D. Southeast Missouri St., 41-14 Nov. 18 at Samford
14.       North Carolina Central             8-2      285           7      Lost to Howard, 50-20 Nov. 18 vs. Delaware St.
15.       Villanova                                   8-2      277         18      D. Towson, 33-10   Nov. 18 at No. 6 Delaware
16.       Chattanooga                            7-3      244         17      Idle                                     Nov. 18 at Alabama
17.       North Dakota                            6-4      227         12      Lost to No. 6 South Dakota, 14-10 Nov. 18 vs. Illinois St.
18.       Western Carolina                     7-3      206         21      D. East Tennessee St., 58-7    Nov. 18 at VMI
19.       Harvard                                     8-1      195         19      D. Pennsylvania, 25-23 3OT   Nov. 18 at Yale
20t.      Central Arkansas                     7-3      135         24      D. Eastern Kentucky, 27-24 Nov. 18 at No. 12 Austin Peay
20t.      Southern Illinois                       6-4      135         15      Lost to No. 13 North Dakota St., 34-10    Nov. 18 vs. Indiana St.
22.       Lafayette                                  8-2      133         23      D. Fordham, 24-16               Nov. 18 at Lehigh
23.       Albany                                      8-3      131         25      D. Stony Brook, 38-20 Nov. 18 vs. Monmouth (N.J.)
24.       Mercer                                      8-3      108       NR      D. Samford, 28-21 Regular Season Complete
25.       Holy Cross                                6-4        40         22      Lost to Army, 17-14 Nov. 18 vs. Georgetown (D.C.)
 
Dropped Out: Northern Iowa (20)
 
Others Receiving Votes: Eastern Illinois, 34; Northern Iowa, 33; Tarleton, 29; Illinois St., 23; Youngstown St., 23; William & Mary, 9; Nicholls, 4; Rhode Island, 4; UC Davis, 4; Richmond, 1.