By: Aury St. Germain
KENNESAW, Ga.- To cap off the most prolific five-year start in modern college football history, Kennesaw State ended the year ranked No. 8 in the final AFCA Coaches' Poll and No. 13 in the FCS STATS Poll after an 11-3 finish.
The Owls completed the most successful five-year start-up program in college football history, posting 48 victories and surpassing Georgia Southern (47) and Old Dominion (46) during the final two weeks of last season.
With the ranking, the Owls have found themselves in the Top-25 for 34 consecutive weeks.
KSU is the only start-up program in college football history to post three consecutive 11-win seasons during its first five years of competition, and the Owls are joined by North Dakota State as the only FCS programs to post 11-plus wins in each of the last three years.
The Owls postseason began with a thrilling 28-21 victory over No. 11 Wofford, KSU's fourth playoff victory in three seasons.
Kennesaw State's season ended in the second round of the FCS Playoffs on the road at No. 4 Weber State, it's third-straight appearance in the 24-team field.
AFCA Coaches' Poll
1. North Dakota State (16-0)
2. James Madison (14-2)
3. Weber State (11-4)
4. Montana State (11-4)
5. Northern Iowa (10-5)
6. Montana (10-4)
7. Illinois St. (10-5)
8. Kennesaw State (11-3)
9. Sacramento St. (9-4)
10. Austin Peay (11-4)
11. Central Arkansas (9-4)
12. South Dakota State (8-5)
13. Monmouth (11-3)
14. Nicholls (9-5)
15. Villanova (9-4)
16. Southeast Missouri St. (9-4)
17. Wofford (8-4)
18. Southeastern Louisiana (8-5)
19. Furman (8-5)
20. Albany (9-5)
21. Dartmouth (9-1)
22. Central Connecticut State (11-2)
23. North Carolina A&T (9-3)
24. Yale (9-1)
25. Florida A&M (9-2)
STATS FCS Poll
1. North Dakota State (16-0)
2. James Madison (14-2)
3. Weber State (11-4)
4. Montana State (11-4)
5. UNI (10-5)
6. Montana (10-4)
7. Illinois State (10-5)
8. Austin Peay (11-4)
9. Sacramento State (9-4)
10. South Dakota State (8-5)
11. Central Arkansas (9-4)
12. Monmouth (11-3)
13. Kennesaw State (11-3)
14. Nicholls (9-5)
15. Villanova (9-4)
16. Wofford (8-4)
17. Southeast Missouri State (9-4)
18. Albany (9-5)
19. Southeastern Louisiana (8-5)
20. North Carolina A&T (9-3)
21. Furman (8-5)
22. Dartmouth (9-1)
23. Central Connecticut State (11-2)
24. Florida A&M (9-2)
25. Yale (9-1)
