Updated

To members of the North Dakota State football program, No. 1 sounds just right.

The 2011 FCS national champion Bison regained the No. 1 ranking this week for the first time since a Week 7 loss versus Indiana State.

NDSU (7-1), which has won two straight games since then, will put its top ranking on the line Saturday when it visits Missouri State in a Missouri Valley Football Conference game. The Bison are tied for second in the conference standings.

In this week's poll, NDSU jumped from the No. 3 spot over Georgia Southern, which remained at No. 2, although the Eagles received more first-place votes.

The switch was set up by last week's No. 1 team, Eastern Washington, falling to Sacramento State last Saturday.

Coach Craig Bohl's Bison rank No. 1 in the FCS in scoring defense (9.5 points per game) and total defense (184.6 yards per game).

Missouri State (3-6) has won three straight games since opening the season with six losses in a row.