HAMMOND – After winning the Southland Conference championship and earning a Football Championship Playoff bid for the second straight season, the Southeastern Louisiana football team finished ranked in both of the final 2014 Football Championship Subdivision polls, which were released on Monday.
 
Southeastern (9-4) finished No. 12 in the FCS Coaches' Poll and No. 14 in the Sports Network FCS Top 25. SLU was No. 6 in both polls to close the 2013 season and is one of 10 teams to finish in the top 15 in each of the past two seasons.
 
The Lions were joined in the final polls by Southland Conference co-champion Sam Houston State, which finished No. 6 in both polls after advancing to the FCS semifinals. North Dakota State, which won its fourth straight national title with Saturday's 29-27 victory over Illinois State, was the unanimous top choice in both polls.
 
SLU had another historic season behind an offense that averaged 467 yards and 40.2 points per game. The Lion offense was led by Southland Offensive Player of the Year Bryan Bennett, who threw for 18 touchdowns and rushed for 15 scores, finishing his two years in Hammond as the school's all-time leader in touchdowns responsible for and rushing touchdowns. Bennett's top target was senior Devante Scott, who finished with the second 1,000-plus yard receiving season in school history.
 
On the defensive side, SLU led the Southland in total and scoring defense, while topping the FCS in pass efficiency defense. The Lion defense was led by a pair of All-Americans in senior linebacker Isiah Corbett and junior defensive back Harlan Miller. All-American junior kick returner Xavier Roberson, as well as first team All-Southland and All-Louisiana place-kicker highlighted the SLU special team units.
 
Southeastern will open up spring practice on Feb. 24. The annual Spring Game is scheduled for March 28.
 
The Sports Network FCS Top 25
Team (First-place votes)       Record            Points  Prv.
1. North Dakota State (152)   15-1                 3800    2
2. Illinois State                        13-2                 3630    7
3. New Hampshire                  12-2                 3475    1
4. Eastern Washington            11-3                 3161    4
5. Coastal Carolina                  12-2                 3046    6
6. Sam Houston State             11-5                 2936    19
7. Villanova                             11-3                 2894    5
8. Chattanooga                        10-4                 2701    8
9. Jacksonville State                10-2                 2585    3
10. Northern Iowa                  9-5                   2332    10
11. Fordham                            11-3                 2234    9
12. South Dakota State           9-5                   2033    14
13. Montana                            9-5                   1969    12
14. Southeastern Louisiana  9-4                   1729    11
15. Harvard                             10-0                 1502    13
16. Richmond                         9-5                   1422    18
17. Liberty                              9-5                   1365    20
18. James Madison                  9-4                   1170    15
19. Indiana State                     8-6                   1162    25
20. Montana State                   8-5                   1144    17
21. Eastern Kentucky             9-4                   992      16
22. Youngstown State                        7-5                   422      21
23. Bethune-Cookman            9-3                   347      22
24. Sacred Heart                     9-3                   325      NR
25. Idaho State                       8-4                   318      24
Others receiving votes: William & Mary 247, Stephen F. Austin 167, McNeese State 52, Charleston Southern 37, North Carolina A&T 31, Yale 31, Alcorn State 30, Southern Illinois 22, Morgan State 16, Lamar 13, San Diego 12, Northern Arizona 10, Dartmouth 9, Cal Poly 6, Samford 6, Bucknell 4, Albany 3, Bryant 3, Sacramento State 2, Western Illinois 2, Northwestern State 1, South Carolina State 1, Wagner 1.
 
FCS Coaches Poll
Team (First-place votes)       Record            Points  Prv
1. North Dakota State (25)     15-1                 625      3
2. Illinois State                        13-2                 600      7
3. New Hampshire                  12-2                 568      1
4. Eastern Washington            11-3                 527      4
5. Coastal Carolina                  12-2                 516      6
6. Sam Houston State             11-5                 463      19
7. Villanova                             11-3                 458      5
8. Chattanooga                        10-4                 434      8
9. Jacksonville State                10-2                 414      2
10. Northern Iowa                  9-5                   389      10
11. Montana                            9-5                   356      11
12. Southeastern Louisiana  9-4                   348      9
13. South Dakota State           9-5                   335      13
14. Fordham                            11-3                 312      12
15. Harvard                             10-0                 251      14
16. Richmond                         9-5                   237      16
17. Liberty                              9-5                   214      23
18. Indiana State                     8-6                   213      21
19. James Madison                  9-3                   202      15
20. Montana State                   8-5                   167      17
21. Eastern Kentucky             9-4                   139      18
22. Bethune-Cookman            9-3                   96        20
23. Sacred Heart                     9-3                   64        22
24. William & Mary                7-5                   58        24
25. Youngstown State                        7-5                   44        25
Others receiving votes: Stephen F. Austin 20, Idaho State 15, Alcorn State 14, Cal Poly 13, Charleston Southern 12, Morgan State 8, San Diego 6, Northern Arizona 3, McNeese State 3, Yale 1.