It’s a good time to be a Wildcat.
Weber State jumped to No. 2 in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll released Monday, after the Wildcats beat Idaho State 49-21 to open their 2021 spring season.
That’s the highest ranking for the program in school history.
Weber State (1-0) received four first-place votes and 945 points as it leaped two spots from last week’s poll. James Madison (2-0) took over the top spot in the poll, with 34 first-place votes and 992 overall, as previously No. 1 North Dakota State — the three-time defending FCS champions — dropped to No. 6 following a 38-14 loss to Southern Illinois. The Salukis (2-1), with that upset, jumped to No. 11 after being unranked.
Northern Iowa (1-1), North Dakota (2-0) and Villanova (0-0) round out the top 5.
The rankings saw plenty of shakeup after eight ranked teams lost last week, including seven to unranked opponents.
One of those unranked teams to beat a ranked opponent was Dixie State (1-0), which also received 14 votes after opening its Division I era with a 26-14 win over then-No. 22 Tarleton State last Saturday.
The Trailblazers forced five turnovers to upset the Texans. Up next for Dixie State is a matchup with FBS independent New Mexico State on Sunday.
Weber State was led by freshman quarterback Bronson Barron, who threw for 312 yards and four touchdowns in his first collegiate game. He earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts in the win over the Bengals.
The Wildcats are on bye this week, and will host UC Davis on March 13 in their home opener.
Two other Big Sky teams are in the latest top 25: Idaho jumped into the polls at No. 19 after beating then-No. 12 Eastern Washington 28-21. The Eagles fell to No. 22.