FCS Coaches Poll
STATS FCS Poll

HAMILTON – Colgate head coach Dan Hunt reminded his student-athletes last month after their remarkable playoff run that they had accomplished so much during the 2015 season.
 
Patriot League championship. Perfect league record. Six conference wins for the first time in 12 years. NCAA playoff berth. Two road victories in those playoffs for just the second time in Colgate and Patriot League history. Nine overall wins for just the ninth time in program history.
 
But Hunt mentioned none of those milestones that day. He said simply, "You returned Colgate Football to national prominence."
 
The national polls agreed with that assessment today by placing Colgate inside the final top 20 in both major rankings.
 
The 2015 FCS Coaches Poll boosted Colgate to 13th and the STATS FCS Poll had the Raiders 17th.
 
"It is great to see Colgate back in the national polls," Hunt said. "This team this season showed it can play at a very high level, and we beat some very good teams during our run at the end."
 
Postseason Success
Colgate in the playoffs won 27-20 at New Hampshire and 44-38 at then No. 5-ranked James Madison before falling to Sam Houston State, which finished third and fourth in the rankings. The top-20 result marks Colgate's best final ranking since the 2003 run to the national championship game and that year's closing No. 2 placement.
 
The Raiders rallied from an 0-3 start to the season and captured their eighth Patriot League championship with a perfect 6-0 record. They then won twice on the road in the NCAA playoffs before falling in the national quarterfinals and finishing 9-5 overall.
 
Hunt was named Patriot League and ECAC Coach of the Year, and 12 Raiders were named to either the All-Patriot League first or second teams.
 
"I am very happy for our players; they deserve the recognition that being ranked in the top 20 brings," Hunt said. "I know they look forward to working to have another great season next year."