The Western Illinois football team closed the season with its highest national ranking in 14 seasons. In final Football Championship Subdivision polls released Monday, the Leathernecks were rated No. 12 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 13 in the STATS media poll.
Western went 8-4 overall and placed fourth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with a 5-3 record. The Leathernecks lost a 21-19 decision at Weber State in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Weber State was fifth in both polls.
Western's final rankings are its highest since being No. 5 at the close of both the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
Illinois State (6-5, 4-4) missed making the top 25 in the media poll by one spot. The Redbirds received the 26th-most poll points.
The MVFC had five teams make both final polls. National champion North Dakota State was No. 1 in both.