PFF offers a different look at the top-performing FCS teams outside of just the statistical leaders. The website provides a more analytical look, providing grades based on film.
Below are the highest-graded FCS teams after Week 5.
Note: PFF isn’t the gospel or the de facto ranking of who the best teams or players are, it’s just another tool to look at top performers. There is more context beyond film grades, like the quality of opponents, just like there is more context beyond box scores and statistical leaders.
Offense
1. Columbia — 87.3
2. North Dakota State — 84.4
3. Montana State — 84.1
4. Butler — 82.1
5. South Dakota — 81.7
Passing
1. Columbia — 86.7
2. Abilene Christian — 85.0
t3. North Dakota State — 83.9
t3. Monmouth — 83.9
5. McNeese State — 83.7
Pass-Blocking
1. Eastern Washington — 87.7
2. South Carolina State — 86.9
3. Delaware — 86.7
4. LIU — 85.5
5. Cal Poly — 85.0
Receiving
1. Chattanooga — 77.1
2. New Hampshire — 76.8
3. Columbia — 76.6
4. Monmouth — 75.9
5. North Dakota State — 75.0
Rushing
1. Montana — 96.4
2. South Dakota — 93.2
3. Villanova — 92.4
4. Central Arkansas — 92.1
5. Montana State — 91.1
Run-Blocking
1. William & Mary — 80.6
2. Montana State — 76.7
3. Princeton — 73.7
4. Columbia — 71.0
5. Abilene Christian — 70.6
Defense
1. Mercer — 92.6
2. Dayton — 91.9
3. Harvard — 91.3
4. Stephen F. Austin — 91.0
5. Delaware — 90.7
Run Defense
1. Mercer — 94.4
2. South Dakota — 92.4
3. Stephen F. Austin — 92.1
4. Dayton — 91.8
5. Stetson — 91.7
Tackling
1. Houston Christian — 90.0
2. Central Arkansas — 87.5
3. SEMO — 86.8
4. South Dakota — 85.6
5. Dayton — 83.2
Pass-Rush
1. Davidson — 88.0
2. Stony Brook — 86.4
3. Merrimack — 83.9
4. North Dakota State — 83.3
5. Mercer — 82.7
Coverage
1. North Carolina Central — 92.3
2. Morgan State — 92.2
3. Dayton — 92.0
t4. Northern Arizona — 91.4
t4. Morehead State — 91.4
t4. Harvard — 91.4
Special Teams
1. The Citadel — 90.9
2. South Dakota — 90.7
3. Howard — 90.4
4. North Dakota — 90.0
5. East Tennessee State — 89.9