The University of Montana will open the season at No. 5 in the nation, according to the preseason FCS coaches poll.
The poll, released Monday, ranks North Dakota State No. 1. Eastern Washington is No. 2, followed by Southeastern Louisiana and New Hampshire.
Montana State is ranked No. 19. Northern Arizona cracked the poll at No. 25.
2014 FCS Coaches Poll
Preseason FCS Coaches Poll (August 4, 2014)
Team (First-Place Votes) – 2013 Record – Points – 2013 Final
1. North Dakota State (18) – 15-0 – 636 – 1
2. Eastern Washington (6) – 12-3 – 615 – 3
3. Southeastern Louisiana (1) – 11-3 – 542 – 6
4. New Hampshire – 10-5 – 510 – 5
5. Montana – 10-3 – 505 – 8
6. Coastal Carolina – 12-3 – 447 – 7
7. Towson (1) – 13-3 – 438 – 2
8. Jacksonville State – 12-2 – 425 – 12
9. McNeese State – 10-3 – 424 – 9
10. South Dakota State – 9-5 – 332 – 14
11. Eastern Illinois – 12-2 – 314 – 4
12. Fordham – 12-2 – 305 – 10
13. Villanova – 6-5 – 287 – NR
14. Sam Houston State – 9-5 – 277 – 13
15. Northern Iowa – 7-5 – 263 – NR
16. Chattanooga – 8-4 – 238 – 25
17. Tennessee State – 10-4 – 237 – 17
18. Furman – 8-6 – 188 – 21
19. Montana State – 7-5 – 170 – 20
20. Maine – 10-3 – 169 – 11
21. Youngstown State – 8-4 – 162 – 19
22. William & Mary – 7-5 – 159 – NR
23. Bethune-Cookman – 10-3 – 136 – 16
24. Richmond – 6-6 – 118 – NR
25. Northern Arizona – 9-3 – 116 – 15
Others receiving votes: Samford 95, Southern Illinois 59, Harvard 42, Charleston Southern 39, James Madison 30, Princeton 24, Southern Utah 20, Alcorn State 16, Liberty 16, Delaware 15, South Carolina State 15, Cal Poly 14, Missouri State 12, Sacred Heart 10, Wofford 8, Central Arkansas 7, Alabama State 6, Lehigh 6, Eastern Kentucky 4, Holy Cross 1, Illinois State 1, Jacksonville 1
