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By ISU Sports Information
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the second time this week, the Illinois State football team was recognized as one of the best 25 teams in the FCS headed into the season when the Redbirds were ranked No. 18 in the 2017 FCS preseason coaches poll. ISU was also ranked No. 20 in the STATS FCS Preseason Top 25 announced Monday.
Illinois State advanced to the FCS playoffs for the third-consecutive season in 2016, marking the first such streak in program history. The Redbirds return 14 starters in 2017, including eight on defense, as they look to extend the playoff streak to four seasons in a row. ISU is led by head coach Brock Spack, who begins his ninth season at the helm of the program (62-35) and has guided the ‘Birds to eight winning seasons and four total playoff appearances in his tenure.
Coming off a 2016 season in which it went 14-1 and was crowned national champion, James Madison was selected first overall in the 2017 FCS preseason coaches poll. North Dakota State (12-2) was slated to finish second, receiving a pair of first-place votes, while Sam Houston State (12-1) was voted third, totaling three first-place votes. Eastern Washington and Jacksonville State round out the top five, followed by the final team receiving a first-place vote, South Dakota State, at No. 6.
Last year’s FCS runner-up Youngstown State was also a top-10 selection at No. 8, while Illinois State (No. 18) and Northern Iowa (No. 20) both cracked the preseason top 25 after finishing 2016 unranked. The 2017 preseason poll features teams from nine conferences, with the Missouri Valley Football Conference leading the way with five schools. The Big Sky, CAA and the Southern Conference each boast four schools in the preseason poll.
Illinois State opens the 2017 season at Hancock Stadium Saturday, Sept. 2, against Butler at 6:30 p.m.