BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford football team was ranked 17^th in both the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and the STATS FCS Poll, both released Monday.
 
The ranking marks the 24^th-straight poll listing Samford in its top 25. The Bulldogs fell from ninth to 17^th after falling to Mercer by a score of 30-24 last Saturday.
 
Samford is one of two Southern Conference teams to be ranked in the top 25. Wofford is ranked tied for sixth in the AFCA Coaches Poll and eighth in the STATS Poll. Non-conference opponent Kennesaw State is ranked fifth in both polls.
 
In addition to the teams ranked in the top 25, SoCon members Mercer, Chattanooga and Western Carolina are receiving votes in both polls. Furman is receiving votes in the STATS Poll.
 
The Bulldogs will travel to Chattanooga Saturday, Sept. 22. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (CT) start from Chattanooga's Finley Stadium.
 
AFCA FCS Coaches Poll (Sept. 17)
No.         Team (1st-place votes)                                 
1.             North Dakota St. (26)                                
2.             James Madison                                    
3.             South Dakota St.                                         
4.            North Carolina A&T                          
5.            Kennesaw State                   
T-6.        Eastern Washington                     
T-6.        Wofford                                                
8.            Weber State                               
9.            Jacksonville State                                           
10.           McNeese                                           
11.            Sam Houston State                                         
12.           Elon                         
13.           Central Arkansas                                     
14.           Villanova                
15.           Illinois State                                                  
16.           Maine                                    
17.          Samford                         
18.           Nicholls                               
19.            Stony Brook                                       
20.          Montana              
21.           Austin Peay                                            
22.          Northern Iowa                             
23.          Rhode Island                               
24.          Colgate                                   
25.          UC Davis                                              
 
Others Receiving Votes: Delaware, 36; North Dakota, 36; South Dakota, 32; Mercer, 23; Sacramento St., 22; Towson, 17; Western Carolina, 12; Harvard, 10; Montana St., 10; Southeastern Louisiana, 10; Northern Arizona, 7; Chattanooga, 6; Monmouth (N.J.), 6; Princeton, 5; Richmond, 2; Youngstown St., 1.
 
STATS FCS Poll (Sept. 17)
No.         Team (1st-place votes)                                 
1.             North Dakota State (152)
2.             James Madison (2)
3.             South Dakota State
4.            North Carolina A&T
5.            Kennesaw State
6.            Eastern Washington
7.             Weber State
8.            Wofford
9.            McNeese
10.           Jacksonville State
11.            Sam Houston State
12.           Elon
13.           Maine
14.           Central Arkansas
15.           Villanova
16.           Illinois State
17.          Samford 
18.           Nicholls 
19.           Montana
20.          Stony Brook
21.           UC Davis
22.          North Dakota
23.          Rhode Island
24.          Austin Peay
25.          Northern Iowa
 
Others Receiving Votes: Towson 275, South Dakota 249, Mercer 221, Colgate 219, Delaware 216, Chattanooga 184, Sacramento State 143, Montana State 112, Western Illinois 87, Richmond 86, Missouri State 54, Northern Arizona 50, Monmouth 38, Princeton 32, Harvard 30, New Hampshire 28, Tennessee State 22, Yale 16, Furman 12, Southeastern Louisiana 8, Idaho 7, North Alabama 6, Southeast Missouri 5, Northwestern State 3, Prairie View A&M 2, Western Carolina 2, Dartmouth, 1, Howard 1, Sacred Heart 1.