SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI and ETSU are ranked in the final editions of the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches Spring Top 25 Poll. The Keydets finished 12
th in both polls, while the Bucs finished No. 21 in the Stats Perform poll and No. 24 in the AFCA rankings.
VMI went 6-2 in spring 2021, earning the program's first Southern Conference title since 1977 and making its first-ever FCS playoff appearance. The spring 2021 season was the Keydets’ first winning campaign since 1981 and they earned their first national ranking since joining the FCS ranks in 1982. VMI has been ranked in every AFCA Top 25 poll this spring, with a high of No. 10 on March 30.
ETSU finished inside the national rankings of both polls for the first time since 2018. The Bucs finished with a 4-2 record, narrowly missing the FCS Playoffs as the Blue & Gold was the first team out. ETSU concluded the regular season ranked No. 22 in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, reaching as high as No. 20 in the rankings. The Bucs also jumped as high as 10th in the FCS Playoff Committee rankings before a slip up in the regular-season finale at Mercer. Along the way, the Bucs took down No. 10 VMI in Lexington, Virginia, by the final score of 24-20. Each of ETSU’s six contests this season was decided by one possession.
Samford received votes in both final polls and Mercer received a vote in the AFCA poll.
For Stats Perform’s full release,
click here.
For the AFCA’s full release,
click here.
Stats Perform FCS Top 25
1. Sam Houston (40)
2. South Dakota State
3. James Madison
4. Delaware
5. North Dakota State
6. North Dakota
7. Jacksonville State
8. Southern Illinois
9. Weber State
10. Eastern Washington
11. Monmouth
12. VMI
13. Missouri State
14. UC Davis
15. Richmond
16. Villanova
17. Kennesaw State
t18. Murray State
t18. Rhode Island
20. Southeastern Louisiana
21. ETSU
22. Sacred Heart
23. Austin Peay
24. Alabama A&M
25. Nicholls
Others receiving votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Holy Cross 64, Northern Iowa 59, Davidson 31, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 30, Southern 19,
Samford 16, Maine 12, Duquesne 8, UIW 3
AFCA FCS Coaches Spring Top 25
1. Sam Houston (21)
2. South Dakota State
3. James Madison
4. Delaware
5. North Dakota State
6. North Dakota
7. Jacksonville State
8. Weber State
9. Southern Illinois
10. Monmouth
11. Eastern Washington
12. VMI
13. Missouri State
14. Richmond
15. Kennesaw State
16. UC Davis
17. Murray State
18. Villanova
19. Alabama A&M
20. Southern
21. Southeastern Louisiana
22. Sacred Heart
23. Nicholls
24. ETSU
25. Holy Cross
Others receiving votes: Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 47; Davidson, 36; Northern Iowa, 25; Austin Peay, 19; Duquesne, 13; Charleston Southern, 10;
Samford, 8; UIW, 7; Southeast Missouri St., 6; Northern Arizona, 5; Tarleton St., 3;
Mercer, 1.