NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware football squad, which heads to Navy this Saturday for a key non-league matchup, cracked the national Top 10 in two polls and remained at No. 5 in this week’s Lambert Cup eastern rankings.

The Blue Hens, who had a bye week last Saturday, will take a 6-1 record into their game at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium at 1 p.m. The Midshipmen (4-3) are coming off a 44-24 loss to Wake Forest last week that snapped a three-game winning streak. The two teams will play for the first time since 2004.

Delaware moved into the Top 10 in both The Sports Network and the Collegiate Commissioner’s Association/American Football Coaches Association (CCA/AFCA), improving to No. 8 in the CCA/AFCA and No. 9 in The Sports Network this week. The No. 9 TSN ranking is the Hens’ highest since being picked No. 5 in the Sept. 26, 2005 rankings.

Northern Iowa took the top spot in this week’s TSN poll, earning 56 first place votes and 2,696 points, just ahead of No. 2 North Dakota State (47/2,621). Montana (11/2,473) was third followed by Massachusetts (4/2,411), McNeese State (2/2,335), James Madison (2,155), Southern Illinois (2,101), New Hampshire (1,821), Delaware (1,679), and Appalachian State (1,665) in the top 10. Wofford was 11th followed by Delaware State, Yale, Richmond, Hofstra, Elon, Eastern Kentucky, Nicholls State, Montana State, Youngstown State, Grambling State, Georgia Southern, Norfolk State, Western Illinois, and The Citadel.

North Dakota State (21/691) was picked No. 1 in the CAA/AFC poll followed by Northern Iowa (2/658), Montana (4/627), Massachusetts (1/620), McNeese State (586), James Madison (561), Southern Illinois (523), Delaware (455), New Hampshire (450), and Appalachian State (418).

Wofford was 11th followed by Delaware State, Yale, Richmond, Hofstra, Montana State, Elon, Eastern Kentucky, Nicholls State, Youngstown State, Grambling State, Georgia Southern, Norfolk State, San Diego, and Eastern Illinois.

The Sports Network poll is selected by a panel of sports information directors, sportswriters, and broadcasters who cover NCAA Division I FCS football. The CCA/AFCA poll consists of conference commissioner’s and head coaches.

In the Lambert Cup poll, Massachusetts maintained the top spot with 80 points followed by James Madison, New Hampshire, Yale, Delaware, Richmond, Hofstra, Fordham, Holy Cross, and Harvard.

The Lambert Cup poll includes voting from sportwriters and broadcasters in the East with the overall champion being named during the final poll in January. The top rated team is recognized at the annual ECAC football awards dinner in February.

Sophomore defensive end Matt Marcorelle (at right) leads the Blue Hen defense.