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Mountaineers Receive Votes for AP Top 25

Appalachian State football student-athletes celebrate with their fellow students following last Thursday's 31-13 dismantling of Georgia Southern. After moving to 6-1 with the win, the Mountaineers received six points in this week's AP College Football Top 25 poll.
Appalachian State football student-athletes celebrate with their fellow students following last Thursday’s 31-13 dismantling of Georgia Southern. After moving to 6-1 with the win, the Mountaineers received six points in this week’s AP College Football Top 25 poll. Photo by Dave Mayo / App State Athletics

For the first time in eight years, Appalachian State University football has received votes in this week’s Associated Press College Football Top 25 poll, which was released on Sunday afternoon. Appalachian State received a total of six points in this week’s AP poll, good for eighth in the “also receiving votes” category (33rd overall).

Appalachian State (6-1, 3-0 Sun Belt) enters the AP voting on the strength of a five-game winning streak, which includes last Thursday’s nationally televised 31-13 dismantling of Sun Belt Conference rival Georgia Southern. The Mountaineers are the only team to rank among the top 20 nationally in both total defense (7th – 277.0 ypg) and total offense (20th – 482.0 ypg).

App State’s six wins have come by an average score of 43-7 and its only loss was a 41-10 defeat at Clemson (ranked No. 3 in this week’s AP poll) on Sept. 12. The Mountaineers stood toe-to-toe with Clemson for much of the game, aside from a disastrous six-play stretch that saw them commit three turnovers, which led to a 28-point second quarter for the Tigers.

“It’s an honor for everyone associated with our program to be considered one of the nation’s top teams by some of the people that follow college football the closest,” Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield said. “However, there is a lot of football still to be played and a lot more goals for us to accomplish. Our focus is completely on getting ready to face a very good Troy team on Saturday.”

The acknowledgment by AP voters is a first for Appalachian State since joining the NCAA Division I FBS ranks in 2014. However, it is not the Mountaineers’ first foray into the AP balloting.

When still a member of NCAA Division I FCS in 2007, the Mountaineers’ historic 34-32 victory over No. 5 Michigan prompted the AP to make all NCAA Division I teams (FCS and FBS) eligible to receive votes in its Top 25 poll. Prior to Appalachian’s historic win at Michigan, voters could only include FBS teams on their ballots. The new policy was dubbed the “Appalachian State Rule” by some.

Following the policy shift, App State went on to receive votes in the AP Top 25 poll on three occasions in 2007, including seven points in the season’s final poll, good for a tie for ninth in the “also receiving votes” listing.

Appalachian State returns to action on Saturday with its annual Family Weekend contest versus Troy. Kickoff for the Sun Belt matchup is set for 3:30 p.m. at Kidd Brewer Stadium. A limited number of reserved seats are available and can be purchased online at appstatesports.com/tickets, by phone at (828) 262-2079 or in person at the Appalachian State athletics ticket office, located at the Holmes Center.