MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time this season, the University of Tennessee at Martin football team has jumped into the national polls after earning the No. 22 spot in this week’s Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll.
The Skyhawks have opened the season with a 3-1 overall record heading into Big South-OVC Football Association play this weekend and have won three consecutive contests against Missouri State, Houston Christian and North Alabama.
UT Martin ranks in the top-25 nationally in 17 different team categories and 15 individual categories. The squad sits among the nation’s top 10 teams in blocked kicks allowed (first, zero), blocked punts allowed (first, zero), rushing offense (third, 278.8), total offense (fourth, 489.8), team tackles for loss (seventh, 8.5), kickoff returns (7th, 28.5), winning percentage (eight, 75 percent) and net punting (10th, 41.26).
The Skyhawks are averaging 47.0 points per game against FCS opponents while posting an average margin of victory of 27.3 points in the last three matchups.
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll (Sept. 25)
Presented by FedEx Ground
- South Dakota State (3-0, 0-0 MVFC), 1,398 points (54 of 56 first-place votes)
2. North Dakota State (3-0, 0-0 MVFC), 1,335 (2)
3. Montana State (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky), 1,288
4. Idaho (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky), 1,187
5. William & Mary (4-0, 2-0 CAA), 1,154
6. Holy Cross (3-1, 1-0 Patriot), 1,089
7. Furman (3-1, 1-0 SoCon), 1,044
8. Sacramento State (3-1, 0-1 Big Sky), 1,011
9. UIW (3-1, 0-0 Southland), 947
10. Southern Illinois (3-0, 0-0 MVFC), 913
11. Delaware (3-1, 2-0 CAA), 772
12. North Dakota (2-1, 0-0 MVFC), 704
13. Weber State (2-2, 0-1 Big Sky), 601
14. New Hampshire (2-2, 0-1 CAA), 591
15. North Carolina Central (3-1, 0-0 MEAC), 505
16. Villanova (3-1, 1-0 CAA), 494
17. Western Carolina (3-1, 1-0 SoCon), 479
18. Montana (3-1, 0-1 Big Sky), 420
19. Eastern Washington (2-2, 1-0 Big Sky), 358
20. Florida A&M (3-1, 2-0 SWAC), 346
21. UC Davis (2-2, 0-1 Big Sky), 297
22. UT Martin (3-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC), 241
23. Youngstown State (2-1, 0-0 MVFC), 234
24. Rhode Island (2-2, 2-1 CAA), 125
25. Central Arkansas (2-2, 1-0 UAC), 116
Dropped Out: Southeast Missouri (16), Samford (20), Mercer (21)
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Southeast Missouri (1-3, 1-0 Big South-OVC) 103; Fordham (3-1, 0-0 Patriot) 82; Mercer (2-2, 0-1 SoCon) 62; Chattanooga (3-1, 2-0 SoCon) 55; Eastern Illinois (3-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC): 48; Austin Peay (2-2, 1-0 UAC) 33; Samford (1-3, 0-2 SoCon) 29; Tarleton (3-1, 1-0 UAC) 27; Northern Iowa (1-2, 0-0 MVFC) 23; UAlbany (2-2, 0-0 CAA) 22; Harvard (2-0, 1-0 Ivy): 12; Eastern Kentucky (1-3, 0-0 UAC) 7
