Southern Illinois took over the top spot for the first time in school history with a 42-3 victory over Southeast Missouri, coupled with No. 1 Delaware's 24-21 upset loss to unranked New Hampshire. Southern Illinois, ranked second in the preseason, received 56 first-place votes.
Rounding out the top five were Wofford, Colgate and Furman. Defending national champion Delaware slipped to No. 7.
Delaware coach K.C. Keeler said he still has faith in his Blue Hens, despite giving up 340 yards in a home loss to New Hampshire.
"I still think we have a shot to be a very good football team," Keeler told the Wilmington News Journal. "I signed up for an 11-round fight and I'm fighting all 11 rounds."
Although New Hampshire struggled much of last season, it won three of its final four - and had a chance to defeat Delaware, missing a last-second field goal. This time around, New Hampshire sealed the deal, limiting Delaware to 4-for-12 on third-down conversions. Delaware quarterback Sonny Riccio, a transfer from Missouri, completed 13 of 17 for 101 yards with one TD and one interception. The Blue Hens netted only 12 points on four possessions inside the New Hampshire 20-yard line.
Northern Colorado's Justin Zaitz booted five field goals as the Bears rallied past North Dakota State 15-13 in an inaugural Great West Conference game at Greeley, Colo. Northern Colorado picked off five interceptions, recovered a fumble, and blocked a 34-yard field-goal attempt that could've won the game in the final 10 seconds.
Andre Wilson rushed for 90 yards on 25 carries to lead Northern Colorado, which comes to Missoula on Sept. 25 to play the Grizzlies. Northern Colorado quarterback Tony Christenson was just 12 of 27 passing for 132 yards, tossing two interceptions.
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