FRC – CIS Football Top 10 (#4): Laval stays on top, UBC & Manitoba make an appearance

OTTAWA (CIS) – The reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or top the Football Reporters of Canada – CIS rankings for the fourth time in as many polls this season.

The Calgary Dinos (230 points) are #3, with Saskatchewan falling three spots to #7 and two new Canada West teams – UBC and Manitoba – at #9 and #10, respecitvely.

Laval occupies the No. 1 position for the 60th time in 64 national polls dating back to the start of the 2005 schedule.

Calgary (3-0), the three-time defending Canada West champion, scored early and often at Regina en route to a 51-1 domination of the Rams (0-3). The Dinos host Saskatchewan on Friday night in the first of two regular season match-ups between the perennial powerhouses.

Saskatchewan was upset 26-16 by Manitoba at Winnipeg. The loss cost the Huskies three positions in the poll, while the Bisons are ranked nationally for the first time since the second week of 2008 (Sept. 9), the year after they claimed their third Vanier Cup.

UBC outscored winless Alberta (0-3) 40-30 at home to return to the Top 10 after a one-week absence.

No. 1 Laval (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 40-27 win at No. 5 Sherbrooke (2-1)… This week: Host McGill (0-3) Sunday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: Laval is looking to add to its own CIS record with a 46th consecutive overall win at home.

No. 2 Western (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 41-13 home win over then-No. 9 Ottawa (2-1)… This week: Visit Laurier (1-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: Western has won four straight overall against Laurier since 2008 including a lopsided 46-1 victory in the lone duel in 2010.

No. 3 Calgary (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 51-1 win at Regina (0-3)… This week: Host No. 7 Saskatchewan (2-1) Friday at 7 p.m. MT… Heads-up: Calgary has lost four straight to Saskatchewan in the regular season including a 34-13 home defeat and a 36-17 setback in Saskatoon in 2010.

No. 4 Montreal (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Up two positions… Last week: 11-10 home win over No. 8 Saint Mary’s (1-1)… This week: Visit Bishop’s (1-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: Montreal split its season series with Bishop’s a year ago losing 39-21 on the road and winning 37-7 at home.

No. 5 Sherbrooke (2-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 40-27 home loss to No. 1 Laval (3-0)… This week: Visit Concordia (2-1) Friday at 7 p.m. ET… Heads-up: The only meeting between Sherbrooke and Concordia a year ago was a spectacular one, the Vert & Or prevailing 39-36 in overtime despite 516 passing yards by Stingers’ quarterback Terrance Morsink, the third highest single-game total in Quebec conference history.

No. 6 McMaster (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Up one position… Last week: 21-19 win at then-No. 10 Windsor (2-1)… This week: Visit Guelph (1-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: McMaster has won its last five regular season games against Guelph but the last four have been decided by eight points or less including in 2010 (43-35), 2009 (32-29), 2008 (32-31) and 2007 (37-36).

No. 7 Saskatchewan (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Down three positions… Last week: 26-16 loss at then-unranked Manitoba (2-1)… This week: Visit No. 3 Calgary (3-0) Friday at 7 p.m. MT… Heads-up: Saskatchewan’s last conference loss to Calgary was a 20-19 setback in Saskatoon on Oct. 13, 2007.

No. 8 Saint Mary’s (1-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 11-10 loss at then-No. 6 Montreal (2-1)… This week: Visit Mount Allison (0-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. AT… Heads-up: In their last trip to Sackville, N.B., a year ago (Sept. 25), the Huskies were upset 23-21, which marked their first loss to the Mounties since Oct. 24, 1998 (36-3).

No. 9 UBC (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week… Last week: 40-30 home win over Alberta (0-3)… This week: Host No. 10 Manitoba (2-1) Saturday at 2 p.m. PT… Heads-up: UBC has lost its last three against Manitoba including its last two in Vancouver, 35-25 last season and 25-17 in 2009.

No. 10 Manitoba (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week… Last week: 26-16 home win over then-No. 4 Saskatchewan (2-1)… This week: Visit No. 9 UBC (2-1) Saturday at 2 p.m. PT… Heads-up: The Bisons are looking for their first three-game winning streak since they went undefeated in 2007 and won their opener in 2008.

FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#4)

Pts (1st) Last Week
1. Laval (3-0) 288 (27) 1
2. Western (3-0) 260 (2) 2
3. Calgary (3-0) 230 3
4. Montreal (2-1) 180 6
5. Sherbrooke (2-1) 172 5
6. McMaster (2-1) 126 7
7. Saskatchewan (2-1) 119 4
8. Saint Mary’s (1-1) 60 8
9. UBC (2-1) 52 NR
10. Manitoba (2-1) 36 NR

Other votes: Windsor (23), Acadia (21), Ottawa (18), Concordia (16), Toronto (2), Queen’s (1).

About Football Reporters of Canada – University Division
The Football Reporters of Canada – University Division represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958 the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) have been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league’s outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and college football.

The FRC also works with the CFL and CIS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of the FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.