FCS Polls

[JackJD]

Coaches FCS Poll for 10/14/24 ... see NCAA.com

1	South Dakota State (21)	5-1	644	1
2	North Dakota State (2)	6-1	621	2
3	Montana State (3)	7-0	603	3
4	South Dakota	5-1	572	4
5	Villanova	5-1	535	5
6	UC Davis	6-1	514	6
7	Mercer	6-0	491	7
8	Southeast Missouri State	6-1	455	9
9	Tarleton State	6-1	418	11
10	North Dakota	4-2	403	10
11	Montana	5-2	367	14
12	Central Arkansas	5-2	342	13
13	UIW	4-2	325	15
14	Idaho	4-3	309	8
15	Richmond	4-2	255	17
16	William & Mary	4-2	249	18
17	Rhode Island	5-1	219	21
18	Florida A&M	3-2	157	19
19	New Hampshire	4-2	126	22
20	Missouri State	4-2	131	25
T21	ACU	4-3	127	12
T21	North Carolina Central	5-2	127	24
23	Illinois State	4-3	92	16
24	Dartmouth	4-0	84	NR
25	Jackson State	4-2	37	NR

Others Receiving Votes: Stony Brook, 36; Duquesne, 35; Chattanooga, 30; East Tennessee St., 28; UT Martin, 22; McNeese, 17; Monmouth (N.J.), 11; Sacramento St., 11; Western Carolina, 11; Drake, 8; Columbia, 6; Stephen F. Austin, 5; Tennessee St., 5; Weber St., 4; Butler, 2; Northern Arizona, 2; Georgetown (D.C.), 1; Indiana St., 1; Lafayette, 1; Lamar, 1.

[JackJD]

SAGARIN through 10/19/24, says Jacks STILL #1 with the computer.

Jeff Sagarin’s computer continues to show the love for the Jackrabbits. Below is the listing of the top 10 FCS compared to all of D-1, FBS and FCS. This is the ranking for games through 10/19/24.

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm


Columns starting on the left:Overall Sagarin D1 ranking; School; last week's Sagarin rank...

41 SDSU (39)
56 NDSU (61)
76 Montana State (78)
81 USD (71)
102 UND (107)
106 Montana (106)
112 Incarnate Word (108)
113 Missouri State (115)
117 UC-Davis (?)
118 Chattanooga (?)

Go Jacks!

[JackJD]

Here's the Coaches Poll for games through 10/20/25: We slip to #3 and the Bison ascend to #1 with Montana State in between. See NCAA.com

1	North Dakota State (24)	7-1	648	2
2	Montana State (2)	8-0	614	3
3	South Dakota State	5-2	590	1
4	South Dakota	6-1	581	4
5	UC Davis	7-1	542	6
6	Southeast Missouri State	7-1	502	8
7	North Dakota	5-2	476	10
8	Tarleton State	6-1	472	9
9	Montana	5-2	409	11
10	Central Arkansas	5-2	366	12
11	UIW	5-2	350	13
12	Idaho	5-3	327	14
13	Richmond	5-2	308	15
14	Villanova	5-2	301	5
15	William & Mary	5-2	285	16
16	Rhode Island	6-1	262	17
17	Mercer	6-1	261	7
18	Missouri State	5-2	201	20
19	ACU	5-3	192	21T
20	Illinois State	5-3	147	23
21	North Carolina Central	5-2	131	21T
22	Dartmouth	5-0	110	24
23	Jackson State	5-2	82	25
24	Stony Brook	5-2	49	NR
25	Chattanooga	4-3	40	NR

Others Receiving Votes: Duquesne, 37; New Hampshire, 22; East Tennessee St., 18; UT Martin, 18; Western Carolina, 18; Florida A&M, 15; Monmouth (N.J.), 15; Tennessee St., 13; Sacramento St., 10; Harvard, 8; Drake, 7; Columbia, 5; Lafayette, 4; Robert Morris, 4; Lamar, 3; Butler, 2; Northern Arizona, 2; Samford, 2; Southeastern Louisiana, 1.


Here's the Stats Perform Top 25 poll, for game through 10/20/25. See NCAA.com.

1	North Dakota State (40)	7-1	1384	2
2	Montana State (16)	8-0	1351	3
3	South Dakota State	5-2	1286	1
4	South Dakota	6-1	1237	4
5	UC Davis	7-1	1172	6
6	Southeast Missouri State	7-1	1074	8
7	North Dakota	5-2	1006	9
8	Tarleton State	6-1	929	10
9	Montana	5-2	854	11
10	UIW	5-2	826	14
11	Idaho	5-3	809	13
12	Central Arkansas	5-2	785	12
13	Villanova	5-2	736	5
14	Mercer	6-1	708	7
15	Rhode Island	6-1	637	16
16	William & Mary	5-2	558	15
17	Abilene Christian	5-3	518	17
18	Richmond	5-2	512	18
19	Chattanooga	4-3	395	19
20	North Carolina Central	5-2	237	20
21	Illinois State	5-3	199	21
22	Dartmouth	5-0	184	22
23	ETSU	4-3	142	23
24	Western Carolina	4-3	124	NR
25	Tennessee State	6-2	103	NR

Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): UT Martin (4-3, 2-1 Big South-OVC), 82; Stony Brook (5-2, 2-1 CAA), 69; Duquesne (4-2, 2-0 NEC), 39; Sacramento State (3-4, 1-2 Big Sky), 36; Harvard (4-1, 1-1 Ivy), 32; Monmouth (4-3, 2-1 CAA), 30; Jackson State (5-2, 3-0 SWAC), 29; Northern Arizona (4-4, 2-2 Big Sky), 28; Southeastern Louisiana (4-4, 3-0 Southland), 18; Drake (5-1, 4-0 Pioneer), 14; New Hampshire (4-3, 2-1 CAA), 12; Florida A&M (3-3, 1-1 SWAC), 6; Dayton (5-1, 3-0 Pioneer), 5; Samford (3-3, 2-1 SoCon), 5; Lamar (4-3, 1-1 Southland), 4; Maine (4-3, 2-2 CAA), 2

[mnjackrbt]

If it was strictly up to me, I would have said the winner of SDSU vs NDSU goes to #1, the loser to #2. However, #3 is still understandable.

Fun to look at this and see SDSU connections around the rankings. Just shows that we are good program that others respect and want guys from.
#3 SDSU
#4 USD - Former SDSU WR and coach, Offensive Coordinator Josh Davis
#5 UC-Davis - Former SDSU LB, Isaiah Jackson Special Teams Coordinator
https://ucdavisaggies.com/sports/foo...h-jackson/8522
#11 Idaho - Former SDSU OL/OC Coach Jason Eck as Head Coach.

[trueblue]

If it was strictly up to me, I would have said the winner of SDSU vs NDSU goes to #1, the loser to #2. However, #3 is still understandable.

Fun to look at this and see SDSU connections around the rankings. Just shows that we are good program that others respect and want guys from.
#3 SDSU
#4 USD - Former SDSU WR and coach, Offensive Coordinator Josh Davis
#5 UC-Davis - Former SDSU LB, Isaiah Jackson Special Teams Coordinator
https://ucdavisaggies.com/sports/foo...h-jackson/8522
#11 Idaho - Former SDSU OL/OC Coach Jason Eck as Head Coach.

and Luke Schluesner and Dan Jackson at Idaho as OC and DC

[mnjackrbt]

and Luke Schluesner and Dan Jackson at Idaho as OC and DC

Forgot about Schluesner, and I honestly had no idea that Dan Jackson left Vanderbilt. The state of South Dakota is starting to get their hands on coaching ties all over the country. From DeBoer at Alabama, Heupel at Tennessee, Lee at Vanderbilt, Dickert at Washington State.

[JackJD]

SAGARIN’s computer analysis, through 10/26/24 games, says Jacks are still #1 in FCS, and #45 overall in Division 1 football. The Big 4 in FCS, SDSU, NDSU, Montana State and USD continue to be the class of the FCS. Below is the listing of the top 10 FCS compared to all of D-1, FBS and FCS.

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm

Columns, left to right, are: Current Sagarin D1 rank; School; last week’s Sagarin D1 rank.
45 SDSU (41)
47 NDSU (56)
73 Montana State (76)
77 USD (81)
106 Montana (106)
112 UND (102)
113 Missouri State (113)
115 UC Davis (117)
116 Incarnate Word (112)
121 Tennessee Martin (?)

The Coaches FCS Poll and the Stats Perform Poll on NCAA.com should be out late tomorrow. I predict no change in the top four (last week: 1. NDSU; 2 Montana State; 3. SDSU and 4. USD.

[Roy]

Circle 11/23, Bison at USD and Griz at MT State Sunset may find the Jacks in the 1 or 2 spot!

[JackJD]

Circle 11/23, Bison at USD and Griz at MT State Sunset may find the Jacks in the 1 or 2 spot!

Both of those games will be interesting. Montana seems to be playing better and I'm guessing the Grizzlies don't appreciate being left out of the discussion about the top FCS teams. Jeff Sagarin's computer says Montana should be ranked behind NDSU, Montana State, SDSU and USD.

[bigticket1]

Circle 11/23, Bison at USD and Griz at MT State Sunset may find the Jacks in the 1 or 2 spot!

And Montana State plays at UC Davis the week before

[jakejc795]

And Montana State plays at UC Davis the week before

I'm rooting for every team 'cats play between now and season's end

[Prairiehaas]

SAGARIN’s computer analysis, through 10/26/24 games, says Jacks are still #1 in FCS, and #45 overall in Division 1 football. The Big 4 in FCS, SDSU, NDSU, Montana State and USD continue to be the class of the FCS. Below is the listing of the top 10 FCS compared to all of D-1, FBS and FCS.

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm

Columns, left to right, are: Current Sagarin D1 rank; School; last week’s Sagarin D1 rank.
45 SDSU (41)
47 NDSU (56)
73 Montana State (76)
77 USD (81)
106 Montana (106)
112 UND (102)
113 Missouri State (113)
115 UC Davis (117)
116 Incarnate Word (112)
121 Tennessee Martin (?)

The Coaches FCS Poll and the Stats Perform Poll on NCAA.com should be out late tomorrow. I predict no change in the top four (last week: 1. NDSU; 2 Montana State; 3. SDSU and 4. USD.

The Sagarin rankings look about right SDSU & NDSU in a dead heat followed closely by MSU & USD.

Will be interesting to see how they hold up. I suspect USD may beat NDSU in a close game in Vermillion, though a big NDSU win would not surprise me either. UC Davis or UM would need a big win vs MSU to knock them out of the top 4. A big win by either or a win by both and/or a second conference loss by any Dakota schools would scramble these rankings. And yes you can pin me as Captain Obvious here.

[JackJD]

The two FCS polls on NCAA.com, for games through 10/27/24:


Here' the AFCA - FCS Coaches Pol. Note UC-Davis moved into 4th, bumping USD to 5th.

1	North Dakota State (24)	8-1	648	1
2	Montana State (2)	8-0	620	2
3	South Dakota State	6-2	602	3
4	UC Davis	7-1	559	5
5	South Dakota	6-2	534	4
6	Southeast Missouri State	8-1	518	6
7	Tarleton State	7-1	493	8
8	Montana	6-2	460	9
9	Central Arkansas	6-2	402	10
10	UIW	6-2	391	11
11	Idaho	6-3	356	12
12	Richmond	6-2	348	13
13	Villanova	6-2	316	14
14	Rhode Island	7-1	307	16
15	North Dakota	5-3	293	7
16	Mercer	7-1	282	17
17	Missouri State	6-2	214	18
18	ACU	5-3	202	19
19	Illinois State	5-3	180	20
20	Stony Brook	6-2	141	24
21	North Carolina Central	6-2	132	21
22	Dartmouth	6-0	106	22
23	Jackson State	6-2	82	23
24	William & Mary	5-3	65	15
25	Chattanooga	5-3	63	25

Others Receiving Votes: Duquesne, 34; UT Martin, 31; East Tennessee State, 29; Tennessee State, 20; Florida A&M, 5; Lamar, 4; Butler, 3; Drake, 3; Robert Morris, 3; Northern Arizona, 2; Harvard, 1; Stephen F. Austin, 1.


Here's the State Perform Poll...note this poll also has UC-Davis moving ahead of USD.

1	North Dakota State	8-1	1387	1
2	Montana State	8-0	1350	2
3	South Dakota State	6-2	1290	3
4	UC Davis	7-1	1196	5
5	South Dakota	6-2	1175	4
6	Southeast Missouri State	8-1	1106	6
7	Tarleton State	7-1	1012	8
8	Montana	6-2	941	9
9	UIW	6-2	904	10
10	Idaho	6-3	860	11
11	Central Arkansas	6-2	794	12
12	Mercer	7-1	777	14
13	Villanova	6-2	708	13
14	Rhode Island	7-1	705	15
15	North Dakota	5-3	645	7
16	Richmond	6-2	566	18
17	Abilene Christian	5-3	512	17
18	Chattanooga	5-3	452	19
19	North Carolina Central	6-2	263	20
20	Stony Brook	6-2	259	NR
21	Illinois State	5-3	241	21
22	Dartmouth	6-0	227	22
23	ETSU	5-3	199	23
24	William & Mary	5-3	170	16
25	Tennessee State	6-2	137	25

Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): UT Martin (5-3, 2-1 Big South-OVC), 119; Duquesne (5-2, 3-0 NEC), 47; Harvard (5-1, 2-1 Ivy), 37; Northern Arizona (4-4, 2-2 Big Sky), 27; Jackson State (6-2, 4-0 SWAC), 25; Western Carolina (4-4, 3-1 SoCon), 21; Lamar (5-3, 2-1 Southland), 9; Drake (5-1, 4-0 Pioneer), 8; Stephen F. Austin (5-3, 3-2 Southland), 8; Southern Utah (4-4, 3-1 UAC), 7; Florida A&M (4-3, 2-1 SWAC), 4

[West-River_Jack]

I believe UC Davis still has to play both the Griz and the Bobcats. They will either prove that they deserve the promotion, or quietly go back down.

[JackJD]

I've read...cannot remember where but I'm looking for the source...that the FCS playoffs selection/seeding committee will not use the polls to determine seeding. They will be using a combination of sources including the Massey rating and a couple others (and, except for Massey, I know nothing about them). So I decided to check Massey. Here's the top 15-rated FCS teams by Massey as of 10/27/24:

1. NDSU
2. SDSU
3. Montana State
4. USD
5. UC Davis
6. Montana
7. Idaho
8. Missouri State
9. UND
10. Delaware
11. SE Missouri State
12. Incarnate Word
13. Tarleton State
14. Villanova
15. Mercer

https://masseyratings.com/cf/fcs/ratings

I personally think USD should be in the top four. The two polls published on NCAA.com which I posted above, both moved UC Davis ahead of USD and from what I've read about UC Davis, they're good but probably not as good as the top four MVFC teams. USD belongs in the top four (and an argument could be made at this point in the season, that anything could happen in matchups between any of the top four MVFC teams).

As West River Jack noted, UC Davis will get tested in upcoming games against Montana and Montana State. (I reserve the right to revise my opinion after seeing those results!)

It will be interesting to see what happens to Montana. I think the Griz have figured it out and they're a dangerous team coach by a wily guy who cannot be overlooked. Nov 23 is the date set for the annual "Brawl"...this year the Griz travel to the Bobcats for the annual grudge match.

The remainder of the season for the top FCS teams will be fun to watch.