The Phoenix is tied for first place in the CAA with a record of 7-1.
Through an announcement on ESPNU, the FCS Championship Committee unveiled its first top-10 ranking of the year. Those rankings included the Elon University football team checking in at No. 7.
The Phoenix currently sits at 7-1 overall, its best start to a season since 2009. Elon is also 5-0 in CAA Football play and tied atop the league standings with James Madison.
This is just the second year that the playoff committee has announced a top 10. All 10 of the teams ranked in the initial release last season advanced to the 2016 FCS Playoffs. The committee will release an updated ranking next Thursday evening.
The 2017 championship field consists of 10 automatic qualifiers and 14 at-large qualifiers. The top eight teams will be seeded, receive first-round byes and host second-round games providing they satisfy the hosting criteria. The 16 other teams will bid to host first-round games. First-round games will take place Saturday, Nov. 25, and the championship will conclude with the national championship game in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 6 at noon on ESPN2.
FCS Championship Committee Rankings (Nov. 2)
1. James Madison (8-0)
2. North Dakota State (8-0)
3. Jacksonville State (7-1)
4. Central Arkansas (7-1)
5. South Dakota (7-1)
6. Sam Houston State (7-1)
7. Elon University (7-1)
8. Wofford (7-1)
9. Northern Arizona (6-2)
10. South Dakota State (6-2)