Football Leaps To No. 24 Ranking In Sports Network Top-25 Poll

PHILADELPHIA -- After winning only one game in 2013, the University at Albany football program has turned over a new leaf, opening the 2014 season with three consecutive victories and earning a No. 24 ranking in The Sports Network Top-25 Poll.

UAlbany was last ranked in 2012 when the Great Danes sat at No. 20 in the media poll and No. 18 in the Coaches Poll with a 7-1 overall record, earning the program's highest Division I rating in history. The Danes entered The Sports Network Top-25 in in Week 8 at No 24, and then topped out at No. 20 the following week before falling out of the ranks.

UAlbany is 3-0 for the first time since 2001 and is one of 11 FCS teams still with an undefeated record. Overcoming Holy Cross (14-13), Central Connecticut State (19-0), and Rhode Island (37-20), UAlbany ranks first in the CAA and third in FCS for scoring defense (11.0), as well as first in conference and fourth in FCS for rushing defense (72.3). The Great Danes also rank first in the nation for turnover margin (2.67), gaining nine turnovers this season, while losing only one. In addition, UAlbany is tied for fourth in FCS for fumble recoveries, recovering seven, while losing none.

The Danes' most recent win over URI marked the program's first CAA victory, as well as Head Coach Greg Gattuso 's 100th career win. Gattuso, in his first season at the helm and 13th overall as a head coach, is the winningest active coach at the FCS level with .758 winning percentage.

A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select The Sports Network Top 25. In the voting, a first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.