PITTSBURGH -- Fresh off its sixth Northeast Conference championship, the Duquesne University football team is receiving votes in each of the national top 25 polls. The Dukes received 11 votes in the Stats Perform Poll and three votes in the American Football Coaches Association Poll.

Led by 19th year head coach Jerry Schmitt, Duquesne rose back to the top of the NEC standings for the first time since 2018 and sixth time in program history this season behind a 7-4 overall and 6-1 conference record. The Dukes defeated Merrimack, 26-14, on the road this past Saturday to claim the NEC's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.

Duquesne has been ranked in the top 25 three times in program history (2002, spring 2021 and 2018).

The Dukes will take on No. 21/23 Youngstown State in the first round of the NCAA Division I FCS Championship on Saturday at 5 pm in Youngstown. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased here.

FCS CHAMPIONSHIP LINKS
Championship App  |  Full Bracket

FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne football online all season at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqFB).