Published on September 4, 2018 by Joey Mullins  
FB vs Shorter1

Following an impressive opening week, the Samford football team moved up to ninth in both the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and the STATS FCS Poll, both released Monday, Sept. 3.

In the preseason polls, Samford had been ranked 10th in the AFCA Coaches Poll and 11th in the STATS Poll. The Bulldogs moved up to ninth in both polls following a 66-9 season-opening victory over Shorter Thursday evening at Seibert Stadium.
 
Samford was one of three Southern Conference teams in both polls. Wofford was ranked seventh in the AFCA Coaches Poll and eighth in the STATS Poll. Furman came in at 21st in the AFCA Coaches Poll and 25th in the STATS Poll. Samford non-conference opponent Kennesaw State was ranked eighth by the coaches and seventh by STATS.
 
In addition to the SoCon teams ranked in the top 25, Western Carolina is also receiving votes in both polls. Chattanooga received votes in the STATS Poll.
 
The Bulldogs will play on the road for the first time this Saturday, when the team plays at ACC power Florida State. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 6:20 p.m. (CT), and the game can be seen live on the ACC Network.
 
AFCA COACHES POLL (Sept. 3)
Rank     School                                                  
1.          North Dakota St. (26)                         
2.          James Madison                                      
3.          South Dakota St.                                            
4.          Sam Houston St.                       
5.          Eastern Washington                   
6.          North Carolina A&T                      
7.          Wofford                                                 
8.          Kennesaw St.                                
9.          Samford                                           
10.        Nicholls                                            
11.        Villanova                                          
12.        Jacksonville St.                            
13.        Weber St.                                        
14.        McNeese                                         
15.        Elon                                                   
16.        Montana                                           
17.        Central Arkansas                         
18.        Northern Iowa                                
19.        Illinois St.                                        
20.        Northern Arizona                          
21.        Furman                                             
22.        New Hampshire                             
23.        Stony Brook                                   
24.        Austin Peay                                    
25.        Maine                                                
 
Others Receiving Votes: South Dakota, 46; Delaware, 40; Sacramento St., 27; UC Davis, 23; Yale, 22; San Diego, 20; Colgate, 18; Montana St., 11; Rhode Island, 11; Dayton, 9; Western Carolina, 9; Youngstown St., 5; Southeastern Louisiana, 4; Alabama St., 3; Charleston Southern, 3; Grambling St., 1.
 
STATS POLL (Sept. 3)
Rank    School
1.         North Dakota State
2.         James Madison
3.         South Dakota State
4.         Sam Houston State
5.         North Carolina A&T  
6.         Eastern Washington
7.         Kennesaw State 
8.         Wofford 
9.         Samford 
10.        Weber State
11.        Nicholls
12.        Villanova
13.        Jacksonville State
14.        Montana
15.        Elon
16.        McNeese
17.        Central Arkansas
18.        Northern Arizona
19.        Illinois State
20.        New Hampshire
21.        Northern Iowa
22.        Maine
23.        South Dakota
24.        Stony Brook
25.        Furman 
 
Others Receiving Votes: UC Davis 417, Delaware 361, Austin Peay 343, Rhode Island 178, Montana State 169, Yale 141, Sacramento State 136, San Diego 117, Grambling State 94, Southern Utah 67, Colgate 50, Richmond 44, Butler 42, Western Illinois 42, North Alabama 33, North Dakota 28, Tennessee State 22, Lehigh 21, Youngstown State 21, Prairie View A&M 16, Western Carolina 16, Southeastern Louisiana 10, Chattanooga 9, Monmouth 8, Southern Illinois 5, Howard 5, Idaho 4, Alabama State 3, Central Connecticut State 3, Fordham 2, Duquesne 1, Harvard 1

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.