CSU-Pueblo football team cracks national poll

Posted: Oct 5, 2010 12:18 AM
Updated: Oct 5, 2010 4:06 AM

The CSU-Pueblo football team received its first NCAA Division II Top 25 ranking in school history, weighing in at No. 25 in the nation in the latest American Football Coaches' Association Top 25, released Monday.

It marks the first time since 1983 that the CSU-Pueblo football program had been featured in a national poll. At the time, the University of Southern Colorado football team, then a member of the NAIA, was ranked in the NAIA top 25 near the beginning of the season. When the football program was restarted in 2008, it did so as a member of NCAA Division II.

CSU-Pueblo is joined by two other RMAC teams in the poll - Nebraska-Kearney (No. 14) and Colorado Mines (receiving 16 votes). CSU-Pueblo faces Mines this coming Saturday, and follows it up with a home date against Nebraska-Kearney on Oct. 16.

The ThunderWolves vaulted into the Top 25 by virtue of their 33-30 triple-overtime win over perennial national playoff contender, Chadron State.

Currently at 5-0 and off to their best start since 1980 (when CSU-Pueblo won their only RMAC championship), CSU-Pueblo has won nine straight games, dating back to last season, the second-longest winning streak in school history. CSU-Pueblo is the only undefeated team in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

The other major national Division II poll, run by D2Football.com, will likely be released Tuesday.