PITTSBURGH - Following a historic 2018 campaign, the Duquesne football team finished the season ranked 21st in the final STATS FCS Top 25 and 24th in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Poll, the organizations announced on Monday. This marks the first time the Dukes have appeared in either national poll.

The 2018 Dukes become just the third team in NEC history to close out the season ranked in both final national polls, joining Sacred Heart (2014) and Wagner (2012). Duquesne last appeared in the national rankings in Nov. 2002, climbing to 21st in the Sports Network I-AA Poll and 25th in the USA Today/ESPN I-AA Top 25. 

Duquesne (9-4, 5-1 NEC) won its fifth Northeast Conference championship in the last eight years in 2018, punching a ticket to the FCS Playoffs for the second time in program history before earning their first ever FCS Playoff win with a 31-10 victory at Towson in the first round. 

The Dukes tallied nine wins this season for the first time since 2011. In addition to capturing five NEC titles in that span, Duquesne has totaled 59 total victories, at least 10 more than any other team in the league.

After guiding the Dukes to a historic finish this year, 14th-year head coach Jerry Schmitt garnered NEC Co-Coach of the Year honors and was named one of just 15 finalists for for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Award for FCS Coach of the Year.