VERMILLION, SD (GoYotes.com) —South Dakota is up one spot to No. 5 in this week’s Stats Perform FCS poll announced Monday following the Coyotes’ 14-10 win against then-No. 10 North Dakota Saturday inside the DakotaDome. South Dakota is also No. 5 in this week’s AFCA Coaches Poll.

South Dakota concludes the regular season with a 1 p.m. contest against Western Illinois Saturday in Macomb, Illinois. A win would likely ensure a top-eight seed in the upcoming FCS playoffs which would grant a first-round bye and a home game in the succeeding round of 16. The Stats Perform poll is one measurement the committee takes into consideration when producing its field of 24 teams.

The Coyotes have won eight regular season games for the first time at the FCS level and for the first time since 2006. The 2005 team was the last to finish 9-2 in regular season play. A win Saturday would make this team the ninth in program history to win nine games in a season.

South Dakota needs help but can claim a share of its first MVFC championship with a win at Western Illinois Saturday coupled with a Missouri State victory against South Dakota State in Brookings. No. 3 Montana hosts No. 4 Montana State in other action Saturday.

Stats Perform Top 25

    1.    South Dakota State (10-0)

    2.    Furman (9-1)

    3.    Montana (9-1)

    4.    Montana State (8-2)

    5.    South Dakota (8-2)

    6.    Idaho (7-3)

    7.    Delaware (8-2)

    8.    Sacramento State (7-3)

    9.    North Dakota State (7-3)

   10.    Villanova (8-2)

   11.    Florida A&M (9-1)

   12.    Albany (8-3)

   13.    North Dakota (6-4)

   14.    Western Carolina (7-3)

   15.    Austin Peay (8-2)

   16.    Southern Illinois (6-4)

   17.    North Carolina Central (8-2)

   18.    Chattanooga (7-3)

   19.    UT Martin (8-2)

   20.    Incarnate Word (7-2)

   21.    Mercer (8-3)

   22.    Northern Iowa (6-4)

   23.    Harvard (8-1)

   24.    Lafayette (8-2)

   25.    Youngstown State (6-4)