HAMMOND, La. –  The Southeastern Louisiana University football team moved up in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25, which were released on Monday.
 
The idle Lions (2-1) moved up two spots in the Stats Perform poll from 16^th to 14^th. In the coaches' poll, SLU climbed from 16^th to 15^th.
 
Southeastern enters the week ranked among the FCS top 10 nationally in third-down percentage (57.1, 2^nd), completion percentage (74.3, 2^nd), first downs (92, 9^th), passing offense (411.7 ypg, 3^rd), red zone offense (100.0, 1^st), scoring offense (49.0 ppg, 3^rd), tackles for loss allowed (2.0 per game, 1^st), team passing efficiency (8^th, 107.40) and total offense (554.7 ypg, 3^rd). The Lions have scored 40 or more points in seven straight contests.
 
Senior quarterback and reigning Walter Payton Award winner Cole Kelley ranks in the top 10 nationally in every passing category. Playing behind a dominant offensive line and spreading the ball to a plethora of talented weapons, Kelley has thrown for 1,202 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions on 99-for-133 passing (74.4 completion percentage).
 
SLU is one of two Southland schools ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, as UIW made its 2021 debut in the poll at No. 24. Nicholls is receiving votes. UIW and Nicholls are both among those receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Top 24.
 
Southeastern opens Southland Conference play on Saturday with a noon game at McNeese. The game will be televised on Cox Sports Television and ESPN+, while also being heard in the Hammond area on Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM, as well as online at www.kajun107.net.
 
Stats Perform FCS Top 25
Team (First-place votes)                   Record            Points  Prv.
1. Sam Houston (32)                           3-0                   1,208   1
2. South Dakota State (10)                  3-0                   1,195   2
3. James Madison (5)                          3-0                   1,162   3
4. Montana (3)                                    3-0                   1,089   4
5. North Dakota State                         3-0                   1,070   5
6. Eastern Washington                        4-0                   964      6
7. Southern Illinois                              3-1                   909      7
8. UC Davis                                        4-0                   859      12
9. Delaware                                         2-1                   842      8
10. North Dakota                                2-1                   785      10
11. Montana State                               3-1                   757      13
12. Villanova                                       3-1                   692      11
13. ETSU                                            4-0                   637      15
14. Southeastern                                2-1                   574      16
15. Northern Iowa                              2-1                   528      17
16. Missouri State                               2-1                   527      18
17. Jacksonville State                         2-2                   352      9
18. VMI                                              3-1                   338      22
19. Weber State                                  1-3                   319      14
20. Kennesaw State                            2-1                   225      23
21. Rhode Island                                 3-0                   184      NR
22. Richmond                                     2-2                   130      24
23. UT Martin                                     3-1                   124      NR
24. UIW                                              3-1                   120      NR
25. New Hampshire                            3-1                   116      21
 
Others Receiving Votes: Austin Peay 86, Alabama A&M 85, Holy Cross 74, Stephen F. Austin 71, Monmouth 35, Central Arkansas 33, Nicholls 33, Murray State 26, Jackson State 22, Chattanooga 20, Duquesne 13, Mercer 11, Princeton 11, Samford 7, South Dakota 6, Eastern Kentucky 4.
 
AFCS FCS Coaches Top 25
Team (First-place votes)                   Record            Points  Prv.
1. Sam Houston (26)                           3-0                   698      1
2. James Madison (1)                          3-0                   658      2
3. South Dakota State (1)                    3-0                   652      3
4. Montana                                          3-0                   614      4
5. North Dakota State                         3-0                   589      5
6. Eastern Washington                        4-0                   567      6
7. Southern Illinois                              3-1                   494      8
8. UC Davis                                        4-0                   479      10
9. Villanova                                         3-1                   426      7
10. Delaware                                       2-1                   425      11
11. North Dakota                                2-1                   400      13
12. Montana State                               3-1                   387      12
13. Northern Iowa                              2-1                   365      14
14. ETSU                                            4-0                   354      17
15. Southeastern                                2-1                   317      16
16. Missouri State                               2-1                   275      18
17. Jacksonville State                         2-2                   224      9
18. Weber State                                  1-3                   158      15
19. Chattanooga                                  1-2                   143      23
20. Kennesaw State                            2-1                   127      T24
21 Richmond                                      2-2                   115      21
22. VMI                                              3-1                   102      NR
23. Rhode Island                                 3-0                   87        NR
T24. Holy Cross                                  3-1                   67        NR
T24. UT Martin                                   3-1                   67        NR
 
Others receiving votes: Central Arkansas 47, New Hampshire 44, Alabama A&M 41, Stephen F. Austin 36, Austin Peay 20, Eastern Kentucky 18, Mercer 17, Nicholls 15, Harvard 12, Monmouth 12, UIW 10, Gardner-Webb 9, Jackson State 8, Charleston Southern 5, Duquesne 5, Illinois State 5, Murray State 5, North Carolina A&T 4, Northern Arizona 3, Northern Colorado 3, Florida A&M 1.
 
2021 opponents in bold italics
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets for the 2021-22 season. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.