LAKE CHARLES – McNeese State remained at No. 23 in this week's FCS Coaches Poll, and despite having its game against LSU canceled due to severe weather, the Cowboys dropped out of the STATS FCS Top 25.
 
Coastal Carolina, coming off a 38-35 win over Furman, is the new No. 1 team in the FCS land in the coaches poll while Southland member Sam Houston State is the new top-ranked team in the STATS poll despite a 14-point loss at Texas Tech.
 
The Bearkats are ranked fourth in the coaches poll while Southeastern Louisiana jumped one spot to No. 18 after its 26-20 win over Northwestern State. The Lions dropped one spot to No. 20 in the STATS poll even with the win.
 
North Dakota State, the No. 1 team in the preseason polls, slipped to No. 2 in both rankings after its last second season opening loss at Montana.
 
The Cowboys garnered 213 points in the STATS poll to list them just outside the top 25. McNeese will open the season on Saturday at home against Incarnate Word in a 6 p.m. game that will be televised on the American Sports Network.
 
FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll
1. Coastal Carolina
2. North Dakota State
    Villanova
4. Sam Houston State
5. Illinois State
6. Jacksonville State
7. Eastern Washington
8. Montana
9. Montana State
10. South Dakota State
11. James Madison
12. Chattanooga
13. Liberty
14. Northern Iowa
15. New Hampshire
16. Fordham
17. Youngstown State
18. Southeastern Louisiana
19. Eastern Kentucky
20. Cal Poly
21. Indiana State
22. Richmond
23. McNeese
24. Idaho State
25. Harvard
      William & Mary