UND was identified among the top 25 teams in the nation for the second straight week in the latest FCS Coaches Poll released on Monday.
The 24th-ranked Sioux, 2-2, slipped three spots after a 53-19 victory over Black Hills State in last Saturday's Potato Bowl.
One of the new squads in the poll will be UND's opponent on Saturday as No. 19 Southern Utah, 3-1, will host the Sioux in the Great West opener for both schools.
The Thunderbirds, who were receiving votes last week, picked up some steam in the poll after throttling FBS foe UNLV 41-16 on the road.
With both UND and Southern Utah being ranked, it will mark the first time the Sioux have played in a top 25 matchup since beginning the transition to the FCS level in 2008.
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The Thundersbirds are ranked No. 17 in this week's SportsNetwork/Fathead.com Top 25. UND was receiving votes for the second straight week.
The Sioux and Thunderbirds were joined in the coaches' poll by fellow GWC member South Dakota, which fell to No. 21 after its 59-10 loss to Wisconsin.
