ELON, N.C. -- In the first rankings of the 2010 football regular season, the Elon Phoenix maintained a top-10 national rating in polls issued by both The Sports Network and FCS coaches.  After sitting at number seven in both polls in the preseason, the Phoenix dropped just one spot to sit at number eight in both polls this week.  Dating back to Oct. 18, 2007, Elon has now been ranked in 35 consecutive polls issued by The Sports Network.

After beginning the season ranked second in both polls, Montana moved atop each of the two ratings following week number one.  Montana collected 57 of the 126 first-place votes in The Sports Network rankings and 16 of the 27 first-place nods from the coaches.

The Sports Network rankings place Villanova second, down one spot from the preseason, Appalachian State third, Southern Illinois fourth and Jacksonville State fifth.  Jacksonville State was rated 17th in the preseason, but vaulted into the top-five after a double-overtime victory over Ole Miss.

Just ahead of Elon are New Hampshire and the Phoenix's week three opponent, Richmond.

South Dakota State and Stephen F. Austin round out the top-10.

The coaches' rankings have Southern Illinois at number two, Appalachian State at three, Villanova at four and New Hampshire at five.  Jacksonville State again jumped up from 17th and sits in sixth in this week's poll.  Richmond ranks seventh.

The Sports Network Poll

FCS Coaches Poll