Week 10 of the 2025 FCS season is here, and it features two ranked matchups.
After a 6-4 mark last week, let’s predict some more scores.
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Predictions Record:
2025 Record: 81-26
2024 Record: 126-40
FCS Week 10 Predictions
No. 2/2 Tarleton State at No. 24/25 Abilene Christian Prediction
The playoff implications are large in this one.
Tarleton State is in the mix for a highly-contested No. 2 seed, and the difference between the 2 and 3 seed is often the difference between reaching the national championship game or losing in the semifinals.
Abilene Christian’s upset loss at Southern Utah set the Wildcats back. At 4-4 overall and 4-2 vs. the FCS with four games remaining, they need to win out to secure a playoff spot. Seven wins in a 12-game schedule puts you on the bubble and your fate in the hands of the playoff committee. A few ranked wins would help ACU’s case if it were to finish 7-5, but the Wildcats won’t want to put themselves in that position.
ACU had a bye week to prepare for Tarleton, and it’s Homecoming. To add even more juice to this game, the Wildcats won 35-31 at Tarleton State last year in a ranked matchup to win the UAC title.
It’s a major game for both squads.
The Texans look like the more complete and consistent team. After allowing 42 and 23 points in games that tested Tarleton’s depth, the Texans have shut down opposing offenses in recent games, beating No. 23 West Georgia 45-10 and Eastern Kentucky 31-7. Offensively, Victor Gabalis has a 16:1 TD:INT ratio with 1,441 passing yards while missing a couple of games due to injury. Running back Tre Page III is one of the best young offensive players in the FCS, tallying 839 rushing yards and seven TDs.
Stone Earle is a good QB for ACU (1,877 yards, 15 TDs, 8 INT), but the offense has lacked some explosiveness, averaging 26.7 points per game. The defense is allowing 232.4 passing yards per game (No. 83 in the FCS), an area Tarleton can exploit.
ACU should treat this game like a playoff contest. I expect the Wildcats to push Tarleton, but the Texans are too good this year for an upset to occur.
Prediction: Tarleton State 35-24
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No. 18/19 Youngstown State at No. 1/1 North Dakota State Prediction
Two Walter Payton Award candidates will entertain a Fargodome crowd.
YSU’s Beau Brungard is completing 66.9% of his passes (166/248) for 1,879 yards, 13 touchdowns, and two interceptions while leading the team with 991 rushing yards and 14 scores.
NDSU’s Cole Payton is 108/144 passing (75%) for 1,808 yards, 11 TDs, and two interceptions, plus 612 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Dual-threat QBs have given NDSU’s defense trouble at times in past seasons. But NDSU’s trio of linebackers — Nathaniel Staehling (52 tackles, 4.5 TFLs), Logan Kopp (44 tackles, 5 TFLs), and Donovan Woolen (41 tackles, 4.5 TFLs) — is one of the better units the Bison have had.
Meanwhile, NDSU’s offense has been a machine, led by Payton and NFL Draft prospect Bryce Lance (31 catches, 638 yards, 4 TDs). The Bison are scoring 42.9 points per game against a schedule that has featured four ranked opponents. YSU’s defense has given up 35, 35, and 35 points against its last three ranked opponents.
The Bison continue to roll.
Prediction: NDSU 38-17
Dartmouth at No. 12/15 Harvard Prediction
Could the Ivy League be a two-bid league in its debut season participating in the FCS playoffs?
Harvard looks loaded, sitting at 6-0 and outscoring opponents on average of 43.2-11.5. The Crimson won’t have a strong strength of schedule or any ranked wins. But if we want to go down the path of comparing scores, they beat Brown 41-7, a team that beat then-No. 8 Rhode Island 28-21.
Harvard’s defense is allowing just 93.8 rushing yards per game. The offense is led by Jaden Craig, one of the better QBs in the country. He has thrown for 1,531 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Dartmouth is an interesting squad as well, sitting at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the league standings. The Big Green owns a 27-20 win over New Hampshire, who was ranked just inside the Top 25 at that point and is currently 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the CAA. If Dartmouth loses this game and then finishes 8-2, is that enough for an at-large bid? Or if the Big Green pulls off an upset Saturday and goes on to win the Ivy League while Harvard finishes second, that could be a more likely scenario of the Ivy getting a second bid into the bracket.
At home and with a defense built to stop a rushing attack led by RB D.J. Crowther (572 yards, 7 TDs) and QB Grayson Saunier (303 yards, 8 TDs), Harvard remains undefeated.
Prediction: Harvard 28-17
More FCS Predictions
RELATED: HBCU Preview & Predictions
Idaho at No. 19/21 Northern Arizona
A Big Sky game at 9:30 p.m. CT on Halloween and on ESPN2. Things may get weird. QB Joshua Wood is back for Idaho, which is a major boost. But Idaho’s vulnerable secondary may struggle against a passing attack led by Ty Pennington. Prediction: NAU 35-28
Gardner-Webb at No. 9/8 Tennessee Tech
Tennessee Tech is 8-0, while Gardner-Webb is 5-3 overall and 3-1 in OVC-Big South play. TN Tech looks to be the class of the conference this year. Prediction: TN Tech 31-14
Drake at Butler
Drake sits at 4-0 in the Pioneer Football League standings compared to Butler’s 3-1 mark. Butler has won some close games this year, while Drake has won 22 of its last 23 PFL games. Prediction: Drake 34-21
No. 8/10 North Dakota at South Dakota
UND will face a desperate USD squad looking to keep its playoff hopes alive. But the Fighting Hawks are too well-balanced and are fully clicking. Prediction: North Dakota 28-14
No. 15/13 Mercer at Furman
Mercer has been rolling and is undefeated since inserting freshman QB Braden Atkinson. He’s a top candidate for the Jerry Rice Award with 2,048 passing yards, 21 TDs, and four interceptions. Prediction: Mercer 38-21
Western Carolina at Chattanooga
Chattanooga is hot, winning three straight. But so is WCU, winning five straight since the return of standout QB Taron Dickens (1,976 yards, 22 TDs, 1 INT). Prediction: WCU 35-27
UTRGV at No. 20/23 Stephen F. Austin
At 6-2, UTRGV could possibly make the FCS playoffs in its first season playing football. The Vaqueros are eligible because UTRGV is already an established D1 school. However, with three non-D1 wins, it likely has to win out to finish 10-2 with seven D1 wins to have a shot. Going to SFA, who has won six straight, will be a tough task. Prediction: SFA 34-28
Georgetown at No. 7/7 Lehigh
Lehigh is 8-0 and continues to put itself in the conversation for a first-round bye. Georgetown comes in at 5-3 overall and 2-1 in Patriot League play. Another dominating defensive effort (13, 7, and 6 points allowed in the last 3 games) leads to a Lehigh win. Prediction: Lehigh 28-10
FCS Top 25 Schedule
Friday, Oct. 31
All times CT
9:30 — Idaho at No. 19/21 Northern Arizona (ESPN2)
Saturday, Nov. 1
All times CT
11 — Georgetown at No. 7/7 Lehigh (ESPN+)
12 — Gardner-Webb at No. 9/8 Tennessee Tech (ESPN+)
12 — Valparaiso at No. 25/22 Presbyterian (ESPN+)
12 — No. 10/9 Monmouth at Bryant (FloSports)
1 — No. 4/4 Montana State at Northern Colorado (ESPN+)
1 — No. 8/10 North Dakota at South Dakota (ESPN+)
1 — No. 15/13 Mercer at Furman (ESPN+)
2 — No. 14/14 Lamar at UIW (ESPN+)
2 — Northern Iowa at No. 17/18 Illinois State (ESPN+)
2 — Indiana State at No. 4/5 South Dakota State (ESPN+)
2 — No. 3/3 Montana at Weber State (ESPN+)
2 — Dartmouth at No. 12/15 Harvard (ESPN+)
2:30 — No. 18/19 Youngstown State at No. 1/1 North Dakota State (ESPN+)
3 — No. 2/2 Tarleton State at No. 24/25 Abilene Christian (ESPN+)
3 — Idaho State at No. 6/6 UC Davis (ESPN+)
4 — No. 16/17 Southern Illinois at Murray State (ESPN+)
6 — No. 23/20 Jackson State at Florida A&M (ESPN+)
6 — UTRGV at No. 20/23 Stephen F. Austin (ESPN+)
6 — East Texas A&M at No. 21/16 Southeastern Louisiana (ESPN+)
7:30 — No. 22/24 Austin Peay at Southern Utah (ESPN+)
