GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman is ranked seventh in this week's AFCA FCS Top 25 Poll, it was announced today.

The Paladins (3-1, 0-0 SoCon) remained seventh from a week ago after disposing of Southern Conference rival and previously 21st-ranked Mercer, 38-14, on Saturday.

Furman leads a contingent of three SoCon teams in this week's poll, joined by Western Carolina (21st) and Chattanooga (22nd).

Reigning national champion South Dakota State is No. 1, followed by North Dakota State and Montana State.  William & Mary fourth, and Holy Cross fifth. Idaho jumped from 10th to sixth in this week's poll following a 36-27 win over previously fourth-ranked Sacramento State.

Idle this week, Furman will return to action on Oct. 7 when it plays host to The Citadel at Paladin Stadium in a 2:00 p.m. contest.

The Paladins were a consensus first place pick in a pair of Southern Conference preseason polls conducted by league coaches and media.

American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll – September 25, 2023
 

Rank	School (1st votes)	Rec.	Pts.	Prev.	Week 4	Next Game
1	South Dakota St. (26)	3-0	650	1	Idle	Sept. 30 vs. No. 11 North Dakota
2	North Dakota St.	3-0	624	2	Idle	Sept. 30 vs. South Dakota
3	Montana St.	3-1	593	3	D. No. 8 Weber St., 40-0	Sept. 30 vs. Portland St.
4	William & Mary	4-0	558	5	D. Maine, 28-3	Sept. 30 at Elon
5	Holy Cross	3-1	528	6	D. Colgate, 47-7	Sept. 30 vs. No. 24 Harvard
6	Idaho	3-1	505	10	D. No. 4 Sacramento St., 36-27	Sept. 30 at No. 25 Eastern Washington
7	Furman	3-1	477	7	D. No. 21 Mercer, 38-14	Oct. 7 vs. The Citadel
8	UIW	3-1	456	9	D. North American, 63-3	Oct. 7 vs. Southeastern Louisiana
9	Sacramento St.	3-1	453	4	Lost to No. 10 Idaho, 36-27	Sept. 30 vs. Northern Arizona
10	Southern Illinois	3-0	409	13	Idle	Sept. 30 vs. Missouri St.
11	North Dakota	2-1	373	14	Idle	Sept. 30 at No. 1 South Dakota St.
12	Delaware	3-1	364	16	D. No. 12 New Hampshire, 29-25	Oct. 7 vs. Duquesne
13	North Carolina Central	3-1	282	19	D. Mississippi Valley St., 45-3	Sept. 30 vs. Campbell
14	Weber St.	2-2	254	8	Lost to No. 3 Montana St., 40-0	Sept. 30 at Northern Colorado
15	Fordham	3-1	241	22	D. Stonehill, 44-0	Sept. 30 at Georgetown
16	Montana	3-1	237	11	Lost to Northern Arizona, 28-14	Sept. 30 vs. Idaho St.
17	New Hampshire	2-2	223	12	Lost to No. 16 Delaware, 29-25	Sept. 30 vs. Towson
18	Florida A&M	3-1	177	23	D. Alabama St., 23-10	Sept. 30 at Mississippi Valley St.
19	Youngstown St.	2-1	149	24	Idle	Sept. 30 at Northern Iowa
20	UC Davis	2-2	123	15	Lost to Eastern Washington, 27-24	Sept. 30 at Cal Poly
21	Western Carolina	3-1	119	NR	D. Charleston Southern, 77-21	Sept. 30 at The Citadel
22	Chattanooga	3-1	110	NR	D. No. 17 Samford, 47-24	Sept. 30 at Wofford
23	Villanova	3-1	109	NR	D. No. 18 Rhode Island, 35-9	Sept. 30 at Albany
24	Harvard	2-0	81	25	D. Brown, 34-31	Sept. 30 at No. 5 Holy Cross
25	Eastern Washington	2-2	70	NR	D. No. 15 UC Davis, 27-24	Sept. 30 vs. No. 6 Idaho

 
Dropped Out: Samford (17), Rhode Island (18), Southeast Missouri St. (20), Mercer (21)
 
Others Receiving Votes: Mercer, 49; Rhode Island, 45; Illinois St., 42; Southeast Missouri St., 41; Central Arkansas, 26; Austin Peay, 16; Eastern Kentucky, 16; Northern Iowa, 15; Samford, 8; Hampton, 7; Eastern Illinois, 6; Jackson St., 5; Richmond, 5; UT Martin, 3; Pennsylvania, 1.