Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Illinois State, aiming for NCAA title, cracks top-five of FCS poll

nbcchicago.com · 9h · first reportShare

The Illinois State Redbirds came painfully close to winning a national championship last season, and they’re loaded as they look to finish their quest this season. The Redbirds came one point short in the FCS title game against Montana State a season ago, and now they’re hoping they can win the title as they bring back several key contributors to last season’s squad. Their status as one of the top teams in the nation was cemented by the release of the first FCS coaches’ poll on Monday, which put the Redbirds at No. 4 in the country. Montana State, the team that beat Illinois State in the national title game, received 25 of the 26 first-place votes in this year’s first poll to grab the top spot. Montana checked in at No. 2, with South Dakota State at No. 3 and Tarleton State at No. 5 to round out the top-five. An in-state rival of the Redbirds also made some noise in the poll, as Southern Illinois clocks in at No. 16. Headlining the returning stars for Illinois State is quarterback Tomm