Southern Illinois QB Nic Baker was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week Sunday. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)

Despite a convincing 26-point victory to start the season against regional rival Southeast Missouri, the Southern Illinois football team took a slight step backward Monday in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 poll.

The Salukis fell one spot to No. 8 and were leapfrogged by new No. 4 Montana and No. 7 Eastern Washington.

Montana pulled off a 13-7 win in Seattle against Pac-12 Conference member Washington Saturday, while Eastern Washington scored a 35-33 double-overtime victory against UNLV, a member of the FBS Mountain West Conference.

SIU quarterback Nic Baker, who was making his fourth career start, was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week Sunday night.

The Rochester High School graduate threw for a school-record 460 yards and four touchdowns in a 47-21 win against SEMO. He completed 25 of 34 passes to improve to 4-0 as a starter in his career for the Salukis (1-0).

Defending champion Sam Houston ranks No. 1 in this week’s poll, and is followed by South Dakota State, James Madison, Montana, North Dakota State, Delaware and Eastern Washington.

After SIU at No. 8, the top 10 includes North Dakota at No. 9 and Weber State, which fell from sixth, at No. 10.

SIU travels to Kansas State, a member of the FBS’ Big 12 Conference for a 6 p.m. game Sept. 11.

Outside the FCS Top 25, Illinois State (1-0) is the 11th team listed in others receiving votes. The Redbirds earned 10 points in the poll and is among 14 teams listed on two or more ballots.

Illinois State also faces an FBS opponent Sept. 11 with a trip to Western Michigan of the Mid-American Conference. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Western Illinois (0-1) travels to No. 4 Montana for a 7 p.m. kickoff Sept. 11.