Nov. 18, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Southeast Missouri State University football team is ranked 24th nationally in NCAA Division I-AA this week by The Sports Network.

Southeast, 8-4, is ranked for the first time ever during the season with the only previous ranking in the nation's top 25 coming in the 1995 preseason poll. In this week's USA Today/ESPN poll, Southeast is just outside the top 25 at number 26 based on points received.

"It is a tremendous honor to be ranked in the top 25 nationally," said Southeast coach Tim Billings. "It shows you how far our program has come. We have an outside chance of gaining a I-AA playoff berth because we are playing great football. We ended the regular season with three straight wins and we're ready to play anybody anywhere in the playoffs."

Southeast established 28 new school records during the 2002 season.