The Indiana State football team improves their national ranking following the 38-28 victory over the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits to number 17.
Last week, the Sycamores were recognized for their efforts on the field nationwide as the team made the NCAA Division I Football Championships Subdivision (FCS) Poll following the defeat of Youngstown State University. The previous ranking of number 23 earned by the team was the first time the team made the poll since 1996.
The number 17 national ranking is three spots short of the Sycamores' highest ranking of number 14 in both 1989 and 1995.
Adding to the accolades received by the Sycamores is sophomore running back Shakir Bell being added to the Walter Payton Award Watch List. The addition gives the Missouri Valley Football Conference four players to be honored.
The Walter Payton Award honors the most outstanding players in the FCS.
In the five games concluded by the Sycamores, Bell rushed for a total of 767 yards, rushing for more than 200 yards in two consecutive games. In addition to amassing rushing yards, the sophomore has proven a valuable asset to the team, finding the end zone a total of eight times for the season.
The number 17 Sycamores travel this weekend to face off against another nationally ranked team and conference opponent, the University of Northern Iowa. The Panthers are ranked number two in both the FCS poll and The Sports Network/Fathead.com Poll. The last time the Sycamores were nationally ranked and faced an opponent who was nationally ranked as well was in 1996, also against the UNI Panthers. The game ended in a 34-19 victory for UNI.
Kick-off is set for 5:05 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Uni-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The game will be streamed on a pay-per-view basis on gosycamores.com.
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