5/21– Reigning National Champion Appalachian State landed the top spot garnering 76 first place votes in the fifth annual preseason AnyGivenSaturday.com (AGS) Poll of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) released today. The AGS Poll has been the first released national poll each year since it’s inception in 2004.

Following the Mountaineers in the top ten were (in order): James Madison, Richmond, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Massachusetts, Montana, McNeese State, Eastern Washington and Wofford. The full results are listed below.

Four other teams received first place votes including James Madison (2), North Dakota State (2), Cal Poly (1) and Richmond (1).

A total of 21 squads received more than the five votes required to receive mention outside of the top 25.

The Colonial Athletic Association, FCS’s largest league and the Southern Conference lead the way with six teams each in the Top 25; the Gateway Football Conference had five, the Big Sky and Ohio Valley Conferences had two each, and the Great West Football Conference, the Ivy and Patriot Leagues, and the Southland Conference were each represented with one squad.

The pollsters also named Cal Poly as the biggest rising team from 2007 and Delaware as the biggest falling team.

In comparison to other polls, the AGS Poll had as many or more of it’s preseason top 25 on it’s final regular season poll than either of the other two polls (coaches and media) had on their’s since their inception four years ago. The AGS Poll also had as many or more of it’s preseason top 25 on it’s final regular season poll make the playoffs than either of the other two polls the past four years.

AGS is the world’s largest online community devoted to all of the FCS. The AGS Poll was created in 2004 to give distinguished members of the AGS community a place to voice their opinion, vote for the top 25 FCS programs in the nation, and provide the media and coaches of FCS a valuable resource to gauge general sentiment.

In order to ensure that the poll is accurate and fair, a committee of AGS veteran members has established guidelines for voter eligibility and accountability. The AGS Poll will be announced weekly throughout the season on Mondays and a final poll will be announced shortly after the National Championship game.

5/21/2008 Any Given Saturday Poll Preseason Top 25
(First place votes in parenthesis)

1. Appalachian State (76)
2. James Madison (2)
3. Richmond (1)
4. North Dakota State (2)
5. Northern Iowa
6. Massachusetts
7. Montana
8. McNeese State
9. Eastern Washington
10. Wofford
11. Delaware
12. Southern Illinois
13. Cal Poly (1)
14. Youngstown State
15. Elon
16. Georgia Southern
17. Villanova
18. South Dakota State
19. Eastern Illinois
20. New Hampshire
21. The Citadel
22. Eastern Kentucky
23. Fordham
24. Yale
25. Furman

Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Harvard (33), Sam Houston State (31), Delaware State (29), Northern Arizona (27), Central Arkansas (24), Montana State (24), Jackson State (23), South Carolina State (22), Jacksonville State (18), Grambling State (16), Liberty (16), Holy Cross (14), Western Illinois (13), Albany (12), Hofstra (12), Dayton (10), Hampton (10), Nicholls State (7), Coastal Carolina (5), Colgate (5), Norfolk State (5).

BIGGEST RISING TEAM FROM 2007: Cal Poly
BIGGEST FALLING TEAM FROM 2007: Delaware

* * *

2008 Any Given Saturday Poll Top 25
9/4/2008

(First place votes in parenthesis)

Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. Appalachian St. (86) 0-1 3384 1
2. Richmond (30) 1-0 3201 3
3. North Dakota St. (22) 1-0 3161 4
4. Massachusetts 1-0 2662 6
5. Northern Iowa 0-1 2568 5
6. Cal Poly (2) 1-0 2508 13
7. McNeese St. 0-1 2477 8
8. Montana 0-0 2431 7
9. James Madison 0-1 2419 2
10. Delaware 0-1 2396 11
11. Eastern Washington 0-1 2210 9
12. Wofford 1-0 1944 10
13. Southern Illinois 0-0 1774 12
14. Youngstown St. 0-1 1370 14
15. Georgia Southern 0-1 1206 16
16. New Hampshire 0-0 1091 20
17. Villanova 0-1 1075 17
18. Elon 0-1 926 15
19. The Citadel 1-0 899 21
20. Western Illinois 0-1 879 NR
21. South Dakota St. 0-1 748 18
22. Eastern Illinois 0-1 675 19
23. Furman 1-0 452 25
24. Central Arkansas 1-0 366 NR
25. Eastern Kentucky 0-1 316 22

Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Fordham (62), Harvard (48), Yale (46), Montana St. (39), Sam Houston St. (35), Northern Arizona (33), UC Davis (23), Liberty (22), Hampton (21), South Carolina St. (18), Albany (13), Delaware St. (12), Jacksonville St. (12), Holy Cross (9), North Dakota (9), Hofstra (7), Weber St. (7), Illinois St. (6), Nicholls St. (6), Norfolk St. (6), Stony Brook (5)

Dropped out: Fordham, Yale.

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: Cal Poly
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Elon

* * *

2008 Any Given Saturday Poll Top 25
9/8/2008

(First place votes in parenthesis)

Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. Appalachian St. (69) 1-1 2280 1
2. North Dakota St. (15) 2-0 2134 3
3. Richmond (7) 1-1 1982 2
4. Montana (1) 1-0 1920 8
5. Northern Iowa 1-1 1750 5
6. McNeese St. (1) 1-1 1729 7
7. Massachusetts 2-0 1714 4
8. James Madison 1-1 1680 9
9. Delaware 0-1 1532 10
10. Cal Poly 1-1 1430 6
11. Eastern Wash. 0-2 1419 11
12. Wofford 2-0 1332 12
13. Southern Ill. 1-0 1175 13
14. New Hampshire 1-0 1122 16
15. South Dakota St. 1-1 931 21
16. Georgia Southern 1-1 793 15
17. Villanova 0-1 746 17
18. Elon 1-1 721 18
19. Western Ill. 1-1 696 20
20. The Citadel 1-1 488 19
21. Central Ark. 2-0 481 24
22. Eastern Ill. 0-2 297 22
23. Fordham 1-0 293 NR
24. Furman 1-1 225 23
25. Youngstown St. 0-2 167 14

Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Yale (28), Harvard (25), Sam Houston St. (25), Northern Arizona (24), Eastern Kentucky (21), Holy Cross (17), Liberty (17), Montana St. (12), South Carolina St. (12), Hampton (11), Jacksonville St. (11), Delaware St. (9), UC Davis (8), Albany (7), North Dakota (6).

Dropped out: Eastern Kentucky

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: Montana
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Youngstown St.

* * *

2008 Any Given Saturday Poll Top 25
9/15/2008
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. Appalachian State (101) 1-1 3193 1
2. Richmond (13) 2-1 2980 3
3. North Dakota State (5) 2-1 2803 2
4. Montana (5) 2-0 2752 4
5. James Madison (3) 2-1 2715 8
6. McNeese State (1) 1-1 2388 6
7. Northern Iowa 1-1 2362 5
8. Delaware 1-1 2257 9
9. Cal Poly (1) 1-1 2050 10
10. Eastern Washington 0-2 1873 11
11. Wofford 2-0 1860 12
12. Massachusetts 2-1 1855 7
13. New Hampshire (1) 2-0 1709 14
14. South Dakota State 2-1 1628 15
15. Southern Illinois 1-1 1280 13
16. Villanova 1-1 1140 17
17. Elon 2-1 1133 18
18. Georgia Southern 2-1 1086 16
19. Central Arkansas 3-0 820 21
20. The Citadel 1-1 755 20
21. Western Illinois 1-2 626 19
22. Furman 2-1 591 24
23. Eastern Illinois 1-2 590 22
24. Harvard 0-0 200 NR
25. Liberty 3-0 173 NR

Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Youngstown State (54), Yale (36), Northern Arizona (35), Sam Houston State (28), Eastern Kentucky (20), UC Davis (19), Hampton (18), Albany (17), Montana State (17), South Carolina State (17), Holy Cross (15), Fordham (11), Jacksonville State (11), Tennessee State (10), North Dakota (7), Dayton (6), Delaware State (6), William & Mary (6), Prairie View A&M (5), Weber State (5)

Dropped out: Fordham, Youngstown State

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: James Madison
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Massachusetts

* * *

2008 Any Given Saturday Poll Top 25
9/22/2008
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. Richmond (68) 3-1 3172 2
2. James Madison (45) 3-1 3135 5
3. Montana (10) 3-0 2911 4
4. Appalachian State 1-2 2753 1
5. Northern Iowa (6) 2-1 2717 7
6. McNeese State (1) 1-1 2544 6
7. Cal Poly 2-1 2284 9
8. Eastern Washington 1-2 2079 10
9. New Hampshire (1) 3-0 2001 13
10. North Dakota State 2-2 1913 3
11. Wofford 2-1 1796 11
12. Elon 3-1 1611 17
13. Massachusetts 2-1 1458 12
14. Delaware 1-2 1439 8
15. Southern Illinois 1-1 1420 15
16. Furman 3-1 1362 22
17. Villanova 2-1 1323 16
18. South Dakota State 2-2 1087 14
19. Central Arkansas 4-0 1035 19
20. The Citadel 2-1 870 20
21. Western Illinois 2-2 642 21
22. Eastern Illinois 2-2 553 23
23. Georgia Southern 2-2 461 18
24. Youngstown State 2-2 406 NR
25. Harvard 1-0 263 24
Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Liberty (53), Tennessee St. (51), Yale (37), Northern Arizona (30), Jacksonville St. (18), Sam Houston St. (17), Hampton (16), William & Mary (15), Univ. North Dakota (14), Montana St. (12), Albany (10), Dayton (8), Fordham (8), Weber St. (7), Prairie View A&M (6), UC Davis (5).

Dropped out: Liberty

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: James Madison
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: North Dakota St.

* * *

9/29

Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. James Madison (106) 4-1 3027 2
2. Appalachian State 2-2 2711 4
3. Montana (7) 4-0 2709 3
4. McNeese State (3) 2-1 2579 6
5. Cal Poly 2-1 2245 7
6. Richmond 3-2 2229 1
7. New Hampshire (3) 4-0 2166 9
8. Eastern Washington 2-2 1936 8
9. Wofford 3-1 1885 11
10. Northern Iowa 2-2 1827 5
11. Southern Illinois (1) 2-1 1796 15
12. Villanova (1) 3-1 1791 17
13. North Dakota State 2-2 1675 10
14. Elon 4-1 1531 12
15. Furman (1) 4-1 1437 16
16. Delaware 2-2 1376 14
17. Massachusetts 2-1 1250 13
18. The Citadel 3-1 979 20
19. South Dakota State 3-2 947 18
20. Central Arkansas 4-1 692 19
21. Western Illinois 2-2 631 21
22. Liberty 4-0 599 NR
23. Jacksonville State 3-1 356 NR
24. Northern Arizona 3-1 271 NR
25. Sam Houston State 2-1 159 NR

Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Georgia Southern (34), Hampton (28), Eastern Illinois (22), Montana State (22), Tennessee State (18), Prairie View A&M (17), William & Mary (16), Lafayette (13), Youngstown State (13), Weber State (12), Brown (7), San Diego (5), Tennessee-Martin (5).

Dropped out: Eastern Illinois, Georgia Southern, Youngstown State, Harvard.

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: Villanova
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Richmond

* * *

10/6
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. James Madison (109) 5-1 2891 1
2. Appalachian State 3-2 2689 2
3. McNeese State (3) 3-1 2550 4
4. Richmond 4-2 2337 6
5. Cal Poly 3-1 2331 5
6. New Hampshire (3) 4-0 2239 7
7. Wofford 3-1 2003 9
8. Northern Iowa 3-2 1982 10
9. Villanova (1) 4-1 1975 12
10. Elon 5-1 1909 14
11. North Dakota State 3-2 1846 13
12. Montana 4-1 1685 3
13. Massachusetts 3-2 1566 17
14. Southern Illinois 2-2 1228 11
15. Central Arkansas 4-1 949 20
16. Liberty 5-0 888 22
17. Western Illinois 3-2 809 21
18. Furman 4-2 794 15
19. Eastern Washington 2-3 761 8
20. Northern Arizona 4-1 658 24
21. Jacksonville State 4-1 600 23
22. Delaware 2-3 552 16
23. South Dakota State 3-3 531 19
24. Weber State 4-2 506 NR
25. The Citadel 3-2 413 18
Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Sam Houston State (53), Hampton (47), Georgia Southern (39), Tennessee State (30), Montana State (25), Eastern Illinois (11), San Diego (8), South Carolina State (7), Harvard (6), Cornell (5).

Dropped out: Sam Houston State.

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: Weber State
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Montana

* * *

10/13/08

Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. James Madison (111) 6-1 2823 1
2. Appalachian State 4-2 2674 2
3. Cal Poly 3-1 2411 5
4. Wofford 4-1 2296 7
5. Northern Iowa 4-2 2195 8
6. Elon (1) 6-1 2172 10
7. Villanova (1) 4-1 2168 9
8. Richmond 4-3 1906 4
9. Montana 5-1 1890 12
10. Massachusetts 4-2 1715 13
11. McNeese State 3-2 1633 3
12. Southern Illinois 3-2 1490 14
13. New Hampshire 4-1 1406 6
14. Central Arkansas 5-1 1252 15
15. Western Illinois 4-2 1195 17
16. Liberty 6-0 1180 16
17. Furman 5-2 1055 18
18. Weber State 5-2 1017 24
19. Northern Arizona 5-1 981 20
20. North Dakota State 3-3 727 11
21. South Dakota State 3-3 629 23
22. Hampton 4-1 255 NR
23. Georgia Southern 3-3 215 NR
T24. Tennessee State 5-1 191 NR
T24. William & Mary 3-2 191 NR

Dropped out: Eastern Washington, Jacksonville State, Delaware, The Citadel.

Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Harvard (47), Jacksonville State (43), The Citadel (41), San Diego (33), South Carolina State (32), Texas State (24), Sam Houston State (18), Eastern Washington (13), Lafayette (10), Tennessee-Martin (7), Montana State (6), Yale (6), Dayton (5), Delaware (5).

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: James Madison
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: McNeese State

* * *

10/20

1. James Madison (102) 2622
2. Appalachian St. 2475
3. Cal Poly (1) 2280
4. Wofford 2173
5. Elon (1) 2081
6. Villanova (1) 2075
7. Northern Iowa 2072
8. Richmond 1874
9. Montana 1814
10. McNeese St. 1586
11. Southern Illinois 1525
12. New Hampshire 1375
13. Central Arkansas 1279
14. Western Illinois 1262
15. Weber St. 1130
16. Furman 1122
17. Northern Arizona 1076
18. Massachusetts 949
19. William & Mary 555
20. Hampton 510
21. Tennessee St. 438
22. Liberty 338
23. Jacksonville St. 282
24. Lafayette 268
25. Harvard 262

Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): South Carolina St. (32), San Diego (26), North Dakota St. (23), Georgia Southern (22), South Dakota St. (22), Tennessee-Martin (18), Maine (8), Eastern Washington (5), Grambling St. (5).

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: Richmond
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Liberty

* * *

10/27

1. James Madison (96) 2543
2. Appalachian St. 2403
3. Wofford (3) 2270
4. Cal Poly (2) 2233
5. Northern Iowa 2004
6. Richmond 1950
7. Montana 1877
8. Villanova 1796
9. Southern Illinois 1617
10. New Hampshire 1560
11. Weber St. (1) 1552
12. Elon 1460
13. Central Arkansas 1419
14. Western Illinois 1335
15. Massachusetts 1084
16. William & Mary 912
17. Furman 779
18. Lafayette 644
19. McNeese St. 618
20. Liberty 614
21. Northern Arizona 558
22. Harvard 427
23. South Carolina St. 395
24. Tennessee-Martin 239
25. South Dakota St. 151

Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): North Dakota St. (33), Georgia Southern (31), Texas St. (27), Maine (26), Tennessee St. (20), Hampton (15), Jacksonville St. (11), Colgate (9), Prairie View A&M (6).

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: Wofford
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Elon

* * *

11/3

1. James Madison (90) 2585
2. Appalachian St. (13) 2499
3. Cal Poly 2320
4. Northern Iowa 2157
5. Montana 2073
6. Richmond 2002
7. Villanova 1989
8. Southern Illinois 1774
9. Weber St. (1) 1765
10. New Hampshire 1698
11. Wofford 1641
12. Elon 1515
13. Massachusetts 1350
14. William & Mary 1193
15. Furman 1062
16. Central Arkansas 823
17. Western Illinois 813
18. McNeese St. 744
19. South Carolina St. 668
20. Harvard 657
21. Tennessee-Martin 452
22. Maine 310
23. South Dakota St. 279
24. Colgate 230
25. Tennessee St. 210
Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Northern Arizona (53), Georgia Southern (37), Lafayette (36), Liberty (32), North Dakota St. (32), Jacksonville St. (18), Northwestern St. (15), Albany (5), Brown (5), Eastern Kentucky (5), Prairie View A&M (5).

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: Appalachian St.
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Wofford

* * *

11/10

1. James Madison (83) 2362
2. Appalachian St. (11) 2282
3. Cal Poly 2116
4. Northern Iowa 1968
5. Montana 1901
6. Villanova 1892
7. Richmond 1828
8. Weber St. (1) 1715
9. Southern Illinois 1650
10. Wofford 1534
11. Elon 1442
12. William & Mary 1254
13. New Hampshire 1163
14. Furman 1090
15. Central Arkansas 966
16. McNeese St. 781
17. South Carolina St. 745
18. Maine 716
19. Harvard 650
20. Massachusetts 560
21. South Dakota St. 383
22. Tennessee-Martin 362
23. Colgate 336
24. Tennessee St. 322
25. Western Illinois 236
Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Lafayette (47), Liberty (36), Jacksonville St. (21), North Dakota St. (17), Eastern Kentucky (10), Albany (8), Holy Cross (8), Prairie View A&M (8), Grambling St. (6), Montana St. (5).

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: Maine
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Massachusetts

* * *

11/17

1. James Madison (83) 2290
2. Appalachian St. (8) 2207
3. Cal Poly 2057
4. Northern Iowa 1918
5. Montana 1857
6. Villanova 1828
7. Richmond 1765
8. Weber St. (1) 1698
9. Southern Illinois 1635
10. Wofford 1528
11. New Hampshire 1330
12. Elon 1150
13. Central Arkansas 1111
14. Maine 950
15. William & Mary 931
16. McNeese St. 930
17. South Carolina St. 885
18. Harvard 750
19. Tennessee-Martin 529
20. Furman 441
21. Colgate 437
22. Western Illinois 277
23. Jacksonville St. 254
24. Liberty 248
25. South Dakota St. 165
Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Eastern Kentucky (35), North Dakota St. (34), Massachusetts (24), Holy Cross (23), Albany (18), Prairie View A&M (16), Tennessee St. (16), Montana St. (14), Texas St. (14), Grambling St. (7), Georgia Southern (5).

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: New Hampshire
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Furman

* * *

11/24

1. James Madison (73) 2017
2. Appalachian St. (7) 1947
3. Cal Poly (1) 1745
4. Northern Iowa 1709
5. Montana 1700
6. Villanova 1638
7. Richmond 1581
8. Southern Illinois 1457
9. Wofford 1408
10. New Hampshire 1296
11. Central Arkansas 1157
12. Weber St. 1109
13. South Carolina St. 991
14. Harvard 829
15. Colgate 700
16. William & Mary 679
17. Liberty 658
18. Maine 642
19. Elon 549
20. Eastern Kentucky 513
21. Jacksonville St. 371
22. McNeese St. 352
23. South Dakota St. 306
24. Texas St. 238
25. Massachusetts 143
Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Tennessee-Martin (38), Albany (26), Furman (26), Prairie View A&M (25), Grambling St. (24), Western Illinois (7), Florida A&M (6), North Dakota St. (6), Holy Cross (5).

MOST SIGNIFICANT WIN OF THE WEEK: Liberty
MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF THE WEEK: Elon

* * *

12/22

1. Richmond (56) 1400
2. Montana 1328
3. Northern Iowa 1266
4. James Madison 1255
5. Appalachian St. 1155
6. Villanova 1115
7. Weber St. 1036
8. New Hampshire 1023
9. Cal Poly 915
9. Wofford 915
11. Southern Illinois 818
12. South Carolina St. 692
13. Central Arkansas 691
14. Maine 514
15. Harvard 479
16. William & Mary 468
17. Eastern Kentucky 441
18. Colgate 402
19. Liberty 399
20. Elon 375
21. Texas St. 319
22. McNeese St. 226
23. Jacksonville St. 192
24. South Dakota St. 183
25. Furman 89

Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Tennessee-Martin (28), Grambling St. (22), Massachusetts (21), Albany (17), Prairie View A&M (11), Western Illinois (9), Holy Cross (7), Brown (5), Florida A&M (5).

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