Jacksonville State climbs to No. 1 in STATS FCS poll after near upset of Auburn

Jacksonville State moved up to No. 1 in the STATS FCS poll on Monday, becoming the first Ohio Valley Conference team to top the rankings since Eastern Kentucky held that distinction at the end of the 1999 regular season.

Jacksonville State vaulted to the top of the STATS poll after losing to Southeastern Conference power Auburn in overtime. The Gamecocks nearly became just the second FCS team to defeat an AP top 10 team in history, as Auburn scored in the final minute of regulation to tie the score.

Auburn then went on to score a touchdown on its first possession of overtime and held the Gamecocks for a 27-20 victory.

FCS teams are 1-101 all-time against AP top 10 ranked opponents. Appalachian State owns the lone victory, defeating No. 5 Michigan on Sept. 3, 2007.

Auburn (2-0) plummeted to No. 18 in the AP Top 25 poll released Sunday.

The Gamecocks did not come away empty-handed. In addition to moving up in the rankings, Jacksonville State received a $525,000 check for playing Auburn.

It's the first time in school history Jacksonville State has held a No. 1 ranking in football. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 4 in the FCS Coaches poll, moving up two spots. Coastal Carolina (2-0) tops the Coaches poll and is ranked No. 2 in the STATS poll.

Eastern Kentucky (1-1) is the only other OVC team ranked this week, coming in at No. 21 in the STATS poll. The Colonels are No. 22 in the Coaches poll.

Southeast Missouri State (1-1) picked up nine votes in the STATS poll and is ranked 39th.

Jacksonville State opens conference play this week when it hosts Tennessee State (2-0), the only unbeaten team in the OVC.

-- From staff report