UT MARTIN FOOTBALL JUMPS INTO BOTH NATIONAL POLLS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2017
9/27/2021 11:17:00 AM | Football
MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time since the 2017 season, the University of Tennessee at Martin football team has been rewarded for its strong play to start the season by cracking into the national rankings in both polls, ranking No. 23 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 while sitting No. 24 in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
This marks the Skyhawks first appearance in either the Stats Perform or Coaches' Poll since Sept. 25, 2017. UT Martin is the only Ohio Valley Conference program to be ranked in either poll while Austin Peay and Murray State are receiving votes in both polls.
The Skyhawks (3-1) are coming off an upset road victory at No. 9 Jacksonville State in which the team posted a 34-31 comeback to record its first win over a top-10 opponent since 2013 and first win in Jacksonville since 1987. The win continued a hot streak which has seen UT Martin post three consecutive nonconference victories for the first time since joining the NCAA Division I FCS ranks in 1992.
UT Martin has featured nonconference wins over Samford, Northwestern State and No. 9 Jacksonville State in the young season, with the team's only setback coming against Football Bowl Subdivision foe Western Kentucky. Currently the Skyhawks rank in the top-25 in 25 statistical categories nationally including sitting eighth in fourth down conversion defense, 10th in time of possession, 11th in net punting, 13th in sacks allowed, 15th in interceptions and 15th in winning percentage.
Additionally, the Skyhawks lead the OVC in rushing defense (100.5), interceptions (five), punting (41.0), PAT kicking (100%), sacks against (4), third down conversions (45.9), opponent fourth down conversion (20.0), redzone defense (70.6) and time of possession (34:25).
(Sept. 27)
1. Sam Houston (3-0, 1-0 AQ7), 1,208 points (32 first-place votes)
2. South Dakota State (3-0, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 1,195 (10)
3. James Madison (3-0, 1-0 CAA), 1,162 (5)
4. Montana (3-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 1,089 (3)
5. North Dakota State (3-0, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 1,070
6. Eastern Washington (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 964
7. Southern Illinois (3-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 909
8. UC Davis (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 859
9. Delaware (2-1, 1-0 CAA), 842
10. North Dakota (2-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 785
11. Montana State (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky), 757
12. Villanova (3-1, 1-0 CAA), 692
13. ETSU (4-0, 1-0 Southern), 637
14. Southeastern Louisiana (2-1, 0-0 Southland), 574
15. Northern Iowa (2-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 528
16. Missouri State (2-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 527
17. Jacksonville State (2-2, 0-0 AQ7), 352
18. VMI (3-1, 1-0 Southern), 338
19. Weber State (1-3, 0-1 Big Sky), 319
20. Kennesaw State (2-1, 0-0 Big South), 225
21. Rhode Island (3-0, 1-0 CAA): 184
22. Richmond (2-2, 0-1 CAA), 130
23. UT Martin (3-1, 0-0 Ohio Valley), 124
24. UIW (3-1, 1-0 Southland), 120
25. New Hampshire (3-1, 2-0 CAA), 116
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Austin Peay 86, Alabama A&M 85, Holy Cross 74, Stephen F. Austin 71, Monmouth 35, Central Arkansas 33, Nicholls 33, Murray State 26, Jackson State 22, Chattanooga 20, Duquesne 13, Mercer 11, Princeton 11, Samford 7, South Dakota 6, Eastern Kentucky 4
(Sept. 27)
1. Sam Houston (3-0, 1-0 AQ7), 698 (26 first-place votes)
2. James Madison (3-0, 1-0 CAA), 658 (1)
3. South Dakota St. (3-0, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 652 (1)
4. Montana (3-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 614
5. North Dakota St. (3-0, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 589
6. Eastern Washington (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 557
7. Southern Illinois (3-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 494
8. UC Davis (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 479
9. Villanova (3-1, 1-0 CAA), 426
10. Delaware (2-1, 1-0 CAA), 425
11. North Dakota (2-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 400
12. Montana St. (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky), 387
13. Northern Iowa (2-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 365
14. East Tennessee St. (4-0, 1-0 Southern), 334
15. Southeastern Louisiana (2-1, 0-0 Southland), 317
16. Missouri St. (2-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 275
17. Jacksonville St. (2-2, 0-0 AQ7), 224
18. Weber St. (1-3, 0-1 Big Sky), 158
19. Chattanooga (1-2, 0-0 Southern), 143
20. Kennesaw St. (2-1, 0-0 Big South), 127
21. Richmond (2-2, 0-1 CAA), 115
22. VMI (3-1, 1-0 Southern), 102
23. Rhode Island (3-0, 1-0 CAA), 87
24. UT Martin (3-1, 0-0 Ohio Valley), 67
Holy Cross (3-1, 0-0 Patriot), 67
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Central Arkansas, 47; New Hampshire, 44; Alabama A&M, 41; Stephen F. Austin, 36; Austin Peay, 20; Princeton, 20; Eastern Kentucky, 18; Mercer, 17; Nicholls, 15; Harvard, 12; Monmouth (N.J.), 12; UIW, 10; Gardner-Webb, 9; Jackson St., 8; Charleston Southern, 5; Duquesne, 5; Illinois St., 5; Murray St., 5; North Carolina A&T, 4; Northern Arizona, 3; Northern Colorado, 3; Florida A&M, 1.
This marks the Skyhawks first appearance in either the Stats Perform or Coaches' Poll since Sept. 25, 2017. UT Martin is the only Ohio Valley Conference program to be ranked in either poll while Austin Peay and Murray State are receiving votes in both polls.
The Skyhawks (3-1) are coming off an upset road victory at No. 9 Jacksonville State in which the team posted a 34-31 comeback to record its first win over a top-10 opponent since 2013 and first win in Jacksonville since 1987. The win continued a hot streak which has seen UT Martin post three consecutive nonconference victories for the first time since joining the NCAA Division I FCS ranks in 1992.
UT Martin has featured nonconference wins over Samford, Northwestern State and No. 9 Jacksonville State in the young season, with the team's only setback coming against Football Bowl Subdivision foe Western Kentucky. Currently the Skyhawks rank in the top-25 in 25 statistical categories nationally including sitting eighth in fourth down conversion defense, 10th in time of possession, 11th in net punting, 13th in sacks allowed, 15th in interceptions and 15th in winning percentage.
Additionally, the Skyhawks lead the OVC in rushing defense (100.5), interceptions (five), punting (41.0), PAT kicking (100%), sacks against (4), third down conversions (45.9), opponent fourth down conversion (20.0), redzone defense (70.6) and time of possession (34:25).
Stats Perform FCS Top 25For the first time since 2017, @UTM_Football is back in the polls! The Skyhawks are ranked 23rd nationally in the @FCS_STATS Top 25. #MartinMade #WinnersWearBlue #OVCit pic.twitter.com/YEG8N5Y49y
— UT Martin Athletics (@UTMSports) September 27, 2021
(Sept. 27)
1. Sam Houston (3-0, 1-0 AQ7), 1,208 points (32 first-place votes)
2. South Dakota State (3-0, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 1,195 (10)
3. James Madison (3-0, 1-0 CAA), 1,162 (5)
4. Montana (3-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 1,089 (3)
5. North Dakota State (3-0, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 1,070
6. Eastern Washington (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 964
7. Southern Illinois (3-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 909
8. UC Davis (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 859
9. Delaware (2-1, 1-0 CAA), 842
10. North Dakota (2-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 785
11. Montana State (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky), 757
12. Villanova (3-1, 1-0 CAA), 692
13. ETSU (4-0, 1-0 Southern), 637
14. Southeastern Louisiana (2-1, 0-0 Southland), 574
15. Northern Iowa (2-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 528
16. Missouri State (2-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 527
17. Jacksonville State (2-2, 0-0 AQ7), 352
18. VMI (3-1, 1-0 Southern), 338
19. Weber State (1-3, 0-1 Big Sky), 319
20. Kennesaw State (2-1, 0-0 Big South), 225
21. Rhode Island (3-0, 1-0 CAA): 184
22. Richmond (2-2, 0-1 CAA), 130
23. UT Martin (3-1, 0-0 Ohio Valley), 124
24. UIW (3-1, 1-0 Southland), 120
25. New Hampshire (3-1, 2-0 CAA), 116
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Austin Peay 86, Alabama A&M 85, Holy Cross 74, Stephen F. Austin 71, Monmouth 35, Central Arkansas 33, Nicholls 33, Murray State 26, Jackson State 22, Chattanooga 20, Duquesne 13, Mercer 11, Princeton 11, Samford 7, South Dakota 6, Eastern Kentucky 4
Stats Perform FCS Top 25They aren't done as @UTM_Football comes in at #24 in the @WeAreAFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll for the first time since 2017. #MartinMade #WinnersWearBlue #OVCit pic.twitter.com/ICuXR0pJlM
— UT Martin Athletics (@UTMSports) September 27, 2021
(Sept. 27)
1. Sam Houston (3-0, 1-0 AQ7), 698 (26 first-place votes)
2. James Madison (3-0, 1-0 CAA), 658 (1)
3. South Dakota St. (3-0, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 652 (1)
4. Montana (3-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 614
5. North Dakota St. (3-0, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 589
6. Eastern Washington (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 557
7. Southern Illinois (3-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 494
8. UC Davis (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky), 479
9. Villanova (3-1, 1-0 CAA), 426
10. Delaware (2-1, 1-0 CAA), 425
11. North Dakota (2-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 400
12. Montana St. (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky), 387
13. Northern Iowa (2-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 365
14. East Tennessee St. (4-0, 1-0 Southern), 334
15. Southeastern Louisiana (2-1, 0-0 Southland), 317
16. Missouri St. (2-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley), 275
17. Jacksonville St. (2-2, 0-0 AQ7), 224
18. Weber St. (1-3, 0-1 Big Sky), 158
19. Chattanooga (1-2, 0-0 Southern), 143
20. Kennesaw St. (2-1, 0-0 Big South), 127
21. Richmond (2-2, 0-1 CAA), 115
22. VMI (3-1, 1-0 Southern), 102
23. Rhode Island (3-0, 1-0 CAA), 87
24. UT Martin (3-1, 0-0 Ohio Valley), 67
Holy Cross (3-1, 0-0 Patriot), 67
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Central Arkansas, 47; New Hampshire, 44; Alabama A&M, 41; Stephen F. Austin, 36; Austin Peay, 20; Princeton, 20; Eastern Kentucky, 18; Mercer, 17; Nicholls, 15; Harvard, 12; Monmouth (N.J.), 12; UIW, 10; Gardner-Webb, 9; Jackson St., 8; Charleston Southern, 5; Duquesne, 5; Illinois St., 5; Murray St., 5; North Carolina A&T, 4; Northern Arizona, 3; Northern Colorado, 3; Florida A&M, 1.
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