TSN ranks EIU 14th in poll, EKU 20th

The Sports Network released its pre-season top 25 poll results today, with Eastern Illinois, the defending OVC champs, ranked first among OVC teams at #14 (865 points). Eastern Kentucky, picked by OVC coaches and sports info directors to win the conference, was the only other league team in the top 25, coming in at #20 (709 points).

Jacksonville State got some votes in the poll, earning 24 points. Murray State also snuck into the "others" category with 6 points, apparently on the strength of new head coach Matt Griffin's reputation alone.

Defending naional champion Appalachian State was ranked first in the poll, with 2,306 points. The Sports Network's poll is recognized by the NCAA as the official poll for I-AA football. Click here for a TSN story on the pre-season poll.

Here's a press release from EIU on the rankings, and one from EKU.