LAKE CHARLES – McNeese's 35-28 win over Northwestern State on Saturday gave the Cowboys their third straight win, improved the team to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in Southland Conference play, and on Monday, saw the team jump to No. 6 in both the FCS Coaches and Sports Network Top 25 polls.
 
The ranking is the highest of the season for the Cowboys since being ranked No. 4 in back-to-back weeks for October 22 and 29.  McNeese has been ranked in the top 10 in every week but one for the season.
 
The Cowboys will host Stephen F. Austin at 6 on Saturday as they look to hang onto at least a share of first place in the conference standings where they are currently tied with Sam Houston State and Southeastern Louisiana.
 
McNeese clearly has the most difficult remaining three games of the regular season. After hosting SFA, the Cowboys will visit SLU before ending at home against Lamar. Those three opponents have a combined 18-9 record and 10-5 league mark.
 
SHSU visits Incarnate Word (2-7, 2-4 SLC) this week followed by games at Houston Baptist (2-7, 1-5) and home versus Central Arkansas (5-5, 4-2) while SLU hosts HBU this week, McNeese next week and will visit Nicholls (0-10, 0-6) in the final week of the season.
 
According to College Sports Madness and FCS Bracketologist George Hammond, McNeese is projected to be the No. 7 seed in the 2014 FCS playoffs meaning they'll get a first round bye. Hammond currently has the Cowboys hosting the winner of the Fordham/Liberty game in the second round.
 
CSM has Southeastern Louisiana visiting Chattanooga and Sam Houston State at Illinois State in first round games.
 
North Dakota State continues to rank atop both polls while SLU is 14^th in both polls. SFA, who was ranked last week, dropped out after its loss to Abilene Christian last week.
 
Sports Network Poll
1.  North Dakota State (9-0)
2.  New Hampshire (7-1)
3.  Coastal Carolina (9-0)
4.  Jacksonville State (7-1)
5.  Eastern Washington (8-2)
6.  McNeese (6-2)
7.  Villanova (7-2)
8.  Richmond (7-2)
9.  Fordham (8-1)
10. Youngstown State (7-2)
11. Montana (6-3)
12. Illinois State (7-1)
13. Chattanooga (6-3)
14. Southeastern Louisiana (6-3)
15. Montana State (6-3)
16. Eastern Kentucky (8-1)
17. Indiana State (6-3)
18. Harvard (7-0)
19. Northern Iowa (5-4)
20. Bethune-Cookman (7-2)
21. Cal Poly (6-3)
22. South Dakota State (5-4)
23. Bryant (7-1)
24. William & Mary (5-4)
25. Northern Arizona (6-3)
 
FCS Coaches Poll
1.  North Dakota State (9-0)
2.  Coastal Carolina (9-0)
3.  New Hampshire (7-1)
4.  Jacksonville State (7-1)
5.  Eastern Washington (8-2)
6.  McNeese (6-2)
7.  Villanova (7-2)
8.  Richmond (7-2)
9.  Fordham (8-1)
10. Montana (6-3)
11. Chattanooga (6-3)
12. Illinois State (7-1)
13. Youngstown State (7-2)
14. Southeastern Louisiana (6-3)
15. Eastern Kentucky (8-1)
16. Montana State (6-3)
17. Harvard (7-0)
18. Bethune-Cookman (7-2)
19. Indiana State (6-3)
20. Northern Iowa (5-4)
21. Bryant (7-1)
22. South Dakota State (5-4)
23. Cal Poly (6-3)
24. Southern Illinois (5-4)
25. William & Mary (5-4)