ALBANY, N.Y. -- With a 5-1 record and 3-0 mark in Northeast Conference play this fall, the University at Albany football team cracked into the Top-25 in the FCS Coaches Poll Monday, ranking 24th in the nation, after receiving votes through the first five weeks of the season.

Undefeated in conference play and on a three-game win-streak, the Great Danes are off to their best start since 2001 and have been completely dominant in their victories. Averaging a league-best 35.8 points per game, UAlbany's five wins have been by no less than a 10-point margin and by as high as 31 points, while the only loss was by a touchdown to a top-10 ranked Youngstown State team.

Besides finishing 2011 ranked 23rd in the Coaches Poll, the last time the  Great Danes were ranked in the regular season was 2006 when UAlbany overcame No. 11 Delaware and No. 23 Central Connecticut State in weeks three and four, respectively. Heading into Week 5 of '06, UAlbany earned a No. 23 rank in both the Coaches and The Sports Network Top-25 polls.

The Great Danes, led by Head Coach Bob Ford in his 40th varsity season, are back in action Saturday, hosting Saint Francis (Pa.) for Homecoming. Kickoff at University Field is at 1:00 p.m. The game will be aired live on Time Warner in the Capital Region.