Eastern Washington is Athlon's Team of the Week following big road win
It's been a rough three weeks of cancellations, postponements and team opt-outs across FCS college football, but here's a calming thought:
The action is about to rev up again, with conference champions and playoff bids to be intact in less than two weeks.
So get your motor running.
Here's the Athlon FCS Power Poll following Week 8 games:
1. North Dakota State
(5-1, 4-1 Missouri Valley)
Previous Ranking: 1
Week 8 Result: Postponed vs. South Dakota State
Next Game: April 10 at No. 13 Northern Iowa
2. James Madison
(4-0, 2-0 CAA)
Previous Ranking: 2
Week 8 Result: Postponed at Richmond
Next Game: TBA
3. South Dakota State
(4-1 Missouri Valley)
Previous Ranking: 3
Week 8 Result: Postponed at North Dakota State
Next Game: April 17 at North Dakota State
4. Weber State
(4-0 Big Sky)
Previous Ranking: 4
Week 8 Result: 19-16 win at Southern Utah
Next Game: April 10 vs. Idaho State
5. North Dakota
(4-1 Missouri Valley)
Previous Ranking: 5
Week 8 Result: Canceled vs. Missouri State
Next Game: April 17 at Youngstown State
6. Sam Houston
(4-0 Southland)
Previous Ranking: 6
Week 8 Result: 24-16 win at Northwestern State
Next Game: April 10 vs. McNeese
7. Delaware
(3-0 CAA)
Previous Ranking: 7
Week 8 Result: Canceled vs. UAlbany
Next Game: April 10 at Delaware State
Team of the Week
8. Eastern Washington
(4-1 Big Sky)
Previous Ranking: 9
Week 8 Result: 32-22 win at UC Davis
The Eagles improved to 9-0 all-time against UC Davis while basically knocking the Aggies out of the playoff picture. Wide receiver Talolo Limu-Jones set career highs with 10 receptions and 154 receiving yards, hauling in two of quarterback Eric Barriere's three touchdown passes.
Next Game: April 10 vs. Idaho
9. Kennesaw State
(4-0, 2-0 Big South)
Previous Ranking: 10
Week 8 Result: 35-0 win over Robert Morris
Next Game: April 10 at No. 14 Monmouth
10. Jacksonville State
(8-2, 5-1 Ohio Valley)
Previous Ranking: 11
Week 8 Result: 44-23 win at Eastern Illinois
Next Game: April 11 at No. 20 Murray State
11. Villanova
(2-1 CAA)
Previous Ranking: 16
Week 8 Result: 44-17 win at Maine
Next Game: April 17 vs. No. 7 Delaware
12. Missouri State
(4-4, 4-1 Missouri Valley)
Previous Ranking: 14
Week 8 Result: Canceled at North Dakota
Next Game: April 10 vs. Youngstown State
13. Northern Iowa
(3-3 Missouri Valley)
Previous Ranking: 15
Week 8 Result: Canceled at South Dakota
Next Game: April 10 vs. No. 1 North Dakota State
14. Monmouth
(2-0 Big South)
Previous Ranking: 18
Week 8 Result: 48-19 win at Gardner-Webb
Next Game: April 10 vs. No. 9 Kennesaw State
15. UC Davis
(3-2 Big Sky)
Previous Ranking: 8
Week 8 Result: 32-22 loss to Eastern Washington
Next Game: Regular season complete
16. Richmond
(3-0 CAA)
Previous Ranking: 19
Week 8 Result: Postponed vs. James Madison
Next Game: April 10 at William & Mary
17. Rhode Island
(2-1 CAA)
Previous Ranking: 20
Week 8 Result: Postponed vs. New Hampshire
Next Game: Regular season complete
18. Southern Illinois
(4-3, 3-3 Missouri Valley)
Previous Ranking: 21
Week 8 Result: Canceled at Illinois State
Next Game: April 17 vs. Southeastern Louisiana
19. VMI
(5-1 Southern)
Previous Ranking: 13
Week 8 Result: 24-20 loss to ETSU
Next Game: April 17 vs. The Citadel
20. Murray State
(5-1 Ohio Valley)
Previous Ranking: 17
Week 8 Result: 34-31 loss at Austin Peay
Next Game: April 11 vs. No. 10 Jacksonville State
21. Nicholls
(4-2, 3-2 Southland)
Previous Ranking: 12
Week 8 Result: 43-31 loss at McNeese
Next Game: April 10 vs. No. 23 Southeastern Louisiana
22. UIW
(3-1 Southland)
Previous Ranking: 14
Week 8 Result: No game
Next Game: April 10 vs. Northwestern State
23. Southeastern Louisiana
(3-2 Southland)
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Week 8 Result: 42-12 win over Lamar
Next Game: April 10 at No. 21 Nicholls
24. Austin Peay
(4-5, 4-2 Ohio Valley)
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Week 8 Result: 34-31 win over Murray State
Next Game: April 11 at Eastern Illinois
25. New Hampshire
(0-1 CAA)
Previous Ranking: 25
Week 8 Result: Postponed at Rhode Island
Next Game: Regular season complete
— Written by Craig Haley, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Haley has covered the FCS level since 1999 and is the national writer for www.fcs.football. He appears frequently on radio shows and podcasts to discuss everything FCS. Follow him on Twitter @CraigHaley.
(Photo courtesy of Eastern Washington University Athletics)
