Pulling ahead

The weekly top 25 polls are out, and the I-AA world appears to be jumping on a blue-and-orange bandwagon. The UT-Martin Skyhawks have pulled ahead of the defending league champion Eastern Illinois Panthers in all three polls we follow here at the OVC Football Blog. Both teams improved their standing from last week, with Martin even getting alittle seperation in two polls.

After a 10-6 win at Samford, the 6-1 Skyhawks are ranked #12, up four spots from #16, by the media in The Sports Network poll, the official poll recognized by the NCAA. They're also 12th in the College Sporting News' poll of coaches, climbing all the way from #17. (the poll's not listed on the page at I-AA.org just yet, but it is online in a thread at AnyGivenSaturday.com). The fan poll at AGS has Martin at #14, up from #17.

After beating Murray State 20-10, Eastern Illinois is at #14 in both the TSN and CSN polls. The fans at AGS have them at #15.

Two other league teams attracted attention from pollsters in the "others receiving votes" categories. Tennessee State picked up nine points in the TSN poll, for an effective #40 ranking, thanks to a 38-31 win at Jacksonville State. Eastern Kentucky was effectively #37 in the CSN coach poll, with six points, follwing a 27-21 victory at Southeast Missouri State. With the loss to TSU, Jax State has fallen off the radar screen in all three polls.

Still no further word on OVC players of the week.