University of Tennessee at Martin Football Soars in Top 25 Rankings

2023-10-09 15:09:35

MARTIN, Tenn. – Winners of five straight games against Football Championship Subdivision foes, the University of Tennessee at Martin football team continues its ascension up both Top 25 polls after being ranked No. 17 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll and No. 19 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.

UT Martin jumped up one spot from No. 18 to No. 17 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 while moving up four spots from No. 23 to No. 19 in the AFCA Coaches’ Poll.

The Skyhawks have opened the season with a 5-1 record including five straight wins over FCS foes, knocking off Missouri State, Houston Christian, North Alabama, Tennessee State and Eastern Illinois along the way.

UT Martin ranks in the top-25 nationally in 13 different team categories and 13 individual categories. The squad sits among the nation’s top 10 teams in blocked kicks allowed (first, zero), blocked punts allowed (first, zero), winning percentage (third, 83.3 percent), team tackles for loss (fourth, 8.0), rushing offense (fifth, 255.2 ypg), net punting (fifth, 42.67), first downs offense (eighth, 133), total offense (ninth, 464.5 ypg), rushing defense (10th, 89.5 ypg), passes intercepted (18th, six), fourth down conversion defense (19th, 66.7 percent) and scoring offense (23rd, 32.7 ppg).

Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll (Oct. 9)

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1. South Dakota State (56 first-place votes)
2. Montana State
3. Idaho
4. Sacramento State
5. Furman
6. North Dakota State
7. UIW
8. Delaware
9. Western Carolina
10. South Dakota
11. William & Mary
12. Holy Cross
13. Southern Illinois
14. North Carolina Central
15. North Dakota
16. Montana
17. UT Martin

18. Florida A&M
19.Harvard
20. Central Arkansas
21. Eastern Washington
22. Weber State
23. Youngstown State
24. UAlbany
25. Chattanooga

AFCA FCS Coaches’ Poll (Oct. 9)

1. South Dakota St. (26)
2. Montana St.
3. Idaho
4. Furman
5. Sacramento St.
6. UIW
7. North Dakota St.
8. Delaware
9. North Carolina Central
10. Montana
11. Holy Cross
12. William & Mary
13. Southern Illinois
14. Western Carolina
15. North Dakota
16. Florida A&M
17. South Dakota
18.Harvard
19. UT Martin