OTTAWA (CIS) – Nine months after winning the Vanier Cup final on their home turf at PEPS Stadium, the Laval Rouge et Or lead the first Football Reporters of Canada – CIS national poll of the new season.

The six-time Vanier Cup champion Laval received 20 first-place nods and 200 points from the 20 FRC pre-season voters. The Rouge et Or, have opened the last five of six seasons in the number one spot. Last year, the Calgary Dinos edged out Laval for the top spot. The Yates Cup champion Western Ontario Mustangs come in at number two with 150 votes, with OUA rival McMaster close behind in third at 131.

The three-time defending Canada West Champion Calgary Dinos are in fourth with 124 votes, with conference rivals Saskatchewan (119) and Regina (106) close behind.

Rounding out the pack are Montreal (79), Sherbrooke (69), Saint Mary’s (46), and Laurier (37).

The CIS season kicks off Thursday night with Montreal hosting McGill, who are coming off a surprising 37-14 pre-season win over Ottawa.

No. 1 Laval: 9-0 regular season record and 13-0 overall record in 2010… Beat Calgary 29-2 in the Vanier Cup in Quebec City… Beat McMaster 24-10 in pre-season… Open 2011 regular season on the road at Concordia on Sept. 3 (1 p.m., SRC).

No. 2 Western Ontario: 7-1 regular season record and 9-2 overall record in 2010… Lost to Laval 13-11 in the Uteck Bowl at Quebec City… Open regular season at home versus Waterloo on Labour Day, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.

No. 3 McMaster: 6-2 regular season, and 7-3 overall in 2010… Lost 24-28 to Western in conference semi-final… Lost at Laval 24-10 in pre-season… Open 2011 regular season at Queen’s on Labour Day, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.

No. 4 Calgary: 6-2 regular season record and 9-3 overall record in 2010… Lost 29-2 to Laval in Vanier Cup… Beat Alberta 49-14 in pre-season… Open 2011 regular season at Manitoba Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. (Shaw TV).

No. 5 Saskatchewan: 6-2 regular season record and 6-3 overall record in 2010… Lost to Alberta 31-30 in conference semi-finals… Beat Windsor 34-23 in pre-season… Open 2011 regular season at home versus Alberta, Sept. 2, 7 p.m.

No. 6 Regina: 5-3 regular season record and 5-4 overall record in 2010… Lost 40-33 at Calgary in conference semi-finals… Beat Manitoba 15-7 in pre-season… Open 2011 regular season at home versus UBC, Sept. 2, 7 p.m.

No. 7 Montreal: 6-3 regular season record and 6-4 overall record in 2010… Lost 33-26 to Sherbrooke in RSEQ semi-final… Open 2011 regular season at home vs. McGill, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.

No. 8 Sherbrooke: 5-4 regular season record and 6-5 overall record in 2010… Lost 22-17 to Laval in the Dunsmore Cup… Open 2011 regular season at home versus Bishop’s Sept. 2, 7 p.m.

No. 9 Saint Mary’s: 5-3 regular season record and 6-4 overall record in 2010… Lost 35-8 at Calgary in Mitchell Bowl… Open with exhibition game at home versus Acadia Sept. 3, 1 p.m. (Eastlink).

No. 10 Lauier: 4-4 regular season record and 5-5 overall record in 2010… Lost 32-31 to Ottawa in OUA semifinals… Open 2011 regular season at York, on Labour Day, Sept. 5, 1 p.m.

FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#1)

Pts (1st place) – Last week
1. Laval (0-0) 200 (20) –
2. Western (0-0) 150 –
3. McMaster (0-0) 131 –
4. Calgary (0-0) 124 –
5. Saskatchewan (0-0) 119 –
6. Regina (0-0) 106 –
7. Montreal (0-0) 79 –
8. Sherbrooke (0-0) 69 –
9. Saint Mary’s (0-0) 46 –
10. Laurier (0-0) 37 –

Other teams receiving votes: Concordia (16), Acadia (12), Ottawa (7), Queen’s (3), Guelph (1), UBC (1).

CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

Note 1: Click here for complete webcast and radio schedules.

Note 2: Click here for season previews of all CIS football teams.

Note 3: Click here for player profiles featuring one player from each CIS football team.

Thu. Sept 1st

McGill @ Montreal 7pm

Fri. Sept 2nd

UBC @ Regina 7pm
Alberta @ Saskatchewan 7pm

Sat. Sept 3rd

Calgary@ Manitoba 1pm Shaw
Laval @ Concordia 1pm SRC
Acadia @ Saint Mary’s (Exhibition) 1pm Eastlink

Sun. Sept 4th

Bishop’s @ Sherbrooke 3 pm

Mon. Sept 5th

McMaster @ Queen’s 1pm
Toronto @ Windsor 1pm
Ottawa @ Guelph 1pm
Laurier @ York 1pm
Waterloo @ Western 7pm