PITTSBURGH - For the second time in program history, the Duquesne Dukes have earned a spot in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25. Duquesne is tied for 25th in the latest national poll released by the organization on Monday afternoon, appearing in the top 25 for the first time since the 2018 season. 

The Dukes (4-0 Northeast) are tied for 25th in the rankings with Austin Peay (4-5, 4-2 Ohio Valley). James Madison (4-0, 2-0 CAA) owns the top spot followed by North Dakota State (5-1, 4-1 Missouri Valley) second, Weber State (4-0 Big Sky) third, South Dakota State (4-1 Missouri Valley) fourth and Sam Houston (4-0 Southland) fifth. 

Duquesne clinched home field advantage for the upcoming Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship game this Sunday, April 11 after a 20-10 road win over Bryant in the regular season finale on March 28. The Dukes, who will host Sacred Heart (2-1) at Rooney Field in the title game, are seeking their sixth NEC championship in program history and their third FCS Playoff berth with a win. 

Led by 16th-year head coach Jerry Schmitt, Duquesne last appeared in the STATS FCS Top 25 following the historic 2018 campaign, when the Dukes earned their first-ever FCS Playoff victory with a 31-10 win at Towson. Duquesne, which captured its fifth NEC crown that season, sat 21st in the final STATS FCS Poll. 

The NEC Championship game between Duquesne and Sacred Heart is slated for this Sunday, April 11 at 2 p.m. at Rooney Field on The Bluff. The game is scheduled to air live on ESPN3. 
 

STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 (APRIL 5)

1. James Madison (4-0, 2-0 CAA), 981 points (30 first-place votes)
Previous Ranking: 1; Week 8 Result: Postponed at then-No. 15 Richmond

2. North Dakota State (5-1, 4-1 Missouri Valley), 939 (6)
Previous Ranking: 2; Week 8 Result: Postponed vs. then-No. 4 South Dakota State

3. Weber State (4-0 Big Sky), 917 (1)
Previous Ranking: 3; Week 8 Result: 19-16 win at Southern Utah

4. South Dakota State (4-1 Missouri Valley), 874 (2)
Previous Ranking: 4; Week 8 Result: Postponed at then-No. 2 North Dakota State

5. Sam Houston (4-0 Southland), 848 (1)
Previous Ranking: 5; Week 8 Result: 24-16 win at Northwestern State

6. North Dakota (4-1 Missouri Valley), 803
Previous Ranking: 6; Week 8 Result: Canceled at then-No. 19 Missouri State

7. Kennesaw State (4-0, 2-0 Big South), 751
Previous Ranking: 7; Week 8 Result: 35-0 win over Robert Morris

8. Delaware (3-0 CAA), 716
Previous Ranking: 8; Week 8 Result: Canceled at Albany

9. Eastern Washington (4-1 Big Sky), 689
Previous Ranking: 9; Week 8 Result: 32-22 win at then-No. 11 UC Davis

10. Jacksonville State (8-2, 5-1 Ohio Valley), 640
Previous Ranking: 12; Week 8 Result: 44-23 win at Eastern Illinois

11. Villanova (2-1 CAA), 535
Previous Ranking: 16; Week 8 Result: 44-17 win at Maine

12. Richmond (3-0 CAA), 517
Previous Ranking: 15; Week 8 Result: Postponed vs. then-No. 1 James Madison

13. UC Davis (3-2 Big Sky), 441
Previous Ranking: 11; Week 8 Result: 32-22 loss to then-No. 9 Eastern Washington

14. VMI (5-1 Southern), 413
Previous Ranking: 10; Week 8 Result: 24-20 loss to ETSU

15. Missouri State (4-4, 4-1 Missouri Valley), 343
Previous Ranking: 19; Week 8 Result: Canceled at then-No. 6 North Dakota

16. Southern Illinois (4-3, 3-3 Missouri Valley), 330
Previous Ranking: 18; Week 8 Result: Canceled at Illinois State

17. Murray State (5-1 Ohio Valley), 294
Previous Ranking: 14; Week 8 Result: 34-31 loss at Austin Peay

18. Nicholls (4-2, 3-2 Southland), 293
Previous Ranking: 13; Week 8 Result: 43-31 loss at McNeese

19. UIW (3-1 Southland), 255
Previous Ranking: 20; West 8 Result: No game

20. Monmouth (2-0 Big South), 250
Previous Ranking: Unranked; Week 8 Result: 48-19 win over Gardner-Webb

21. ETSU (4-1 Southern), 245
Previous Ranking: Unranked; Week 8 Result: 24-20 win at VMI

22. Rhode Island (2-1 CAA), 243
Previous Ranking: 22; Week 8 Result: Postponed vs. New Hampshire

23. Southeastern Louisiana (3-2 Southland), 190
Previous Ranking: 25; Week 8 Result: 42-12 win over Lamar

24. Northern Iowa (3-3 Missouri Valley), 171
Previous Ranking: 23; Week 8 Result: Canceled at South Dakota

T25. Austin Peay (4-5, 4-2 Ohio Valley), 94
Previous Ranking: Unranked; Week 8 Result: 34-31 win over Murray State

T25. Duquesne (4-0 Northeast), 94
Previous Ranking: Unranked; Week 8 Result: No game

Dropped Out: Chattanooga (17); Furman (21); Idaho (23)
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Furman 42, Davidson 20, Gardner-Webb 18, New Hampshire 15, Idaho 10, Maine 10, Southern 10, Mercer 6, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3