PFF offers a different look at the top-performing FCS players and teams outside of just the statistical leaders. The website provides a more analytical look, providing grades based on film.
PFF has team grades on categories like Overall Offense, Passing, Pass-Blocking, Receiving, Rushing, Run-Blocking, Overall Defense, Run Defense, Tackling, Pass Rush, Coverage, and Special Teams.
Below are the grades for the eight remaining teams in the 2024 FCS playoffs and where they rank nationally in the FCS.
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Note: PFF isn’t the gospel or the de facto ranking of who the best players or teams are, it’s just another tool to look at top performers based on the film and relative to the opponents they play. There is more context beyond film grades, just like there is more context beyond box scores and statistical leaders.
Overall Offense
1. South Dakota — 95.4
2. Montana State — 92.8
3. North Dakota State — 92.1
11. UC Davis — 83.1
17. South Dakota State — 79.8
24. Idaho — 78.7
46. UIW — 73.2
50. Mercer — 73.0
RELATED: FCS Quarterfinals TV Schedule
Passing
1. North Dakota State — 91.5
2. South Dakota — 91.0
6. Montana State — 89.4
7. UC Davis — 86.2
29. Idaho — 75.9
39. UIW — 73.0
41. South Dakota State — 72.5
58. Mercer — 69.4
Pass-Blocking
6. North Dakota State — 86.4
14. UIW — 83.5
26. UC Davis — 79.5
37. South Dakota — 77.3
38. South Dakota State — 77.2
56. Montana State — 72.9
58. Idaho — 72.6
63. Mercer — 71.1
Receiving
2. UC Davis — 83.7
3. South Dakota — 83.2
4. Idaho — 82.6
5. North Dakota State — 82.3
35. Mercer — 72.6
36. UIW — 72.5
45. Montana State — 71.1
48. South Dakota State — 70.6
Rushing
1. South Dakota — 97.2
2. Montana State — 96.8
4. South Dakota State — 92.9
7. North Dakota State — 90.2
21. Mercer — 84.8
26. Idaho — 83.8
27. UC Davis — 82.9
43. UIW — 80.2
Run-Blocking
1. South Dakota — 83.8
3. Montana State — 76.6
9. North Dakota State — 69.0
41. South Dakota State — 59.2
58. UC Davis — 56.8
73. Idaho — 54.0
86. Mercer — 51.3
93. UIW — 50.5
RELATED: FCS National Championship Odds
Overall Defense
1. South Dakota State — 93.8
8. Mercer — 92.6
9. South Dakota — 92.5
26. UIW — 91.5
27. Idaho — 91.4
29. North Dakota State — 91.3
31. UC Davis — 91.1
36. Montana State — 90.4
Run Defense
3. South Dakota — 95.6
5. Mercer — 95.2
8. South Dakota State — 94.9
20. UIW — 92.6
21. North Dakota State — 92.5
24. Idaho — 92.3
25. UC Davis — 92.2
58. Montana State — 87.8
Tackling
1. South Dakota — 91.4
17. UIW — 81.4
21. South Dakota State — 80.4
22. UC Davis — 79.7
33. Montana State — 76.5
64. Mercer — 68.1
68. Idaho — 67.3
119. North Dakota State — 51.2
RELATED: FCS Playoffs Quarterfinal Odds
Pass Rush
2. North Dakota State — 89.4
6. Mercer — 82.9
7. Idaho — 82.6
11. Montana State — 79.5
19. UIW — 74.8
73. South Dakota State — 66.4
86. South Dakota — 65.1
127. UC Davis — 54.5
Coverage
2. South Dakota State — 92.8
9. UC Davis — 91.8
24. UIW — 90.1
31. South Dakota — 89.6
47. Montana State — 87.1
50. Mercer — 86.9
54. Idaho — 85.7
74. North Dakota State — 80.0
Special Teams
2. South Dakota — 90.1
4. UC Davis — 90.0
10. UIW — 87.5
22. Montana State — 84.4
27. South Dakota State — 83.5
31. North Dakota State — 82.5
57. Mercer — 78.2
61. Idaho — 77.7
