As ETSU is set to begin Southern Conference play later this week, they continue to earn credibility.

The Bucs jumped up two spots to No. 15 in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25 ranking.

In the AFCA coaches poll, the Bucs remained at No. 17.

The real test begins this week for ETSU. The Bucs will open conference play at Samford.

The two schools met back in February to kickoff the spring season. ETSU won that matchup 24-17.

Samford kicked off conference play over the weekend, defeating Western Carolina 42-37.

Their defense forced four turnovers but quarterback Liam Welch also turned it over four times.

ETSU says their mentality doesn't change just because it's a conference game.

"I'm trying to get the guys to understand that you win them all," says ETSU head coach Randy Sanders. "You try to win them all. You play to win them all. If you're doing that, whether it's a conference game or non conference game, what's the difference? They all still count."

"We played UVA Wise like we were preparing for Vanderbilt, like you're preparing for Samford. like preparing for Delaware State. It's the same," says linebacker Donovan Manuel. "It might be a little more exciting. Of course you want to beat your conference opponents. At the end of the day, it's just the next opportunity."

Kickoff on Saturday is at 3 p.m. ET from Birmingham.