There is a lot to discuss after Week 3. We had some near upsets, some cross-country matchups, a few FBS battles with FCS teams – basically your typical mid-September FCS slate.
But all-in-all, this is how I voted this week.
THE PRESTIGIOUS TOP 8
NOTE: These are the schools that would receive a first-round playoff bye and host a second-round game. Also, in parenthesis after the ranked team () is what I had them ranked last week.
NO. 1 – MONTANA STATE (1ST)
LAST WEEK AT NO. 1: Montana State
WHY?: My wife accuses me of being stubborn, and many people on Twitter have said the same. You’re all correct, I am. But I’m stubborn because I truly believe that what I’m doing is right, and that’s the only motivation. I don’t believe in voting for the previous year’s champion just because they won it last year (South Dakota State) when 2024 is a completely new season. Any college program can have multiple roster changes.
Coaches’ polls do that sort of voting, and that’s fine – but we’re the media and I truly believe we should vote who we think IS the top team, not the team who won last year. What if last year’s champion lost 20 starters? Montana State was idle this weekend, but I believe that the data points we’ve had so far puts the Bobcats at No. 1. But I won’t hesitate to make a change if it’s warranted.
NO. 2 – NORTH DAKOTA STATE (2ND)
LAST WEEK AT NO. 2: North Dakota State
WHY?: NDSU just about dropped out of my top tier this past weekend, and then the Bison rallied late and showed what this program is based on. During the middle of this weekend’s game, East Tennessee State and Bryson Irby challenged the Bison as much as just about anyone has in years from the FCS, but NDSU QB Cam Miller got fired up late and led his team to a win in the Appalachian hills of Tennessee. ETSU is no slouch program. ETSU isn’t that far removed from a SoCon title and a 20-point win over an SEC team (Vandy). The Bucs put up a big fight in a game that nobody thought would be close, but NDSU rallied. That’s the mark of a great program, but what’s new?
NO. 3 – SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (3rd)
LAST WEEK AT NO. 3: South Dakota State
WHY?: SDSU knocked off in-state Division II Augustana over the weekend, 24-3. No doubt the Jackrabbits took it easy on their little brothers. Life will get tougher for the two-time defending national champions, and it will give them every opportunity to reclaim their spot at the top of my poll vote. SDSU has one more non-conference matchup – this weekend at SE Louisiana – before it hits the MVFC gauntlet starting in October.
NO. 4 – IDAHO (4th)
LAST WEEK AT NO. 4: Idaho
WHY?: The Vandals were clearly the most impressive winners in the Top 8, with a strangulating defensive effort against a playoff team from a year ago, UAlbany. Last week they supplanted Montana for the No. 4 spot on this ballot. This week’s effort solidified that and made me even think twice about the Dakota powers being above it. One more result like this past weekend and, who knows?
NO. 5 –SOUTH DAKOTA (5th)
LAST WEEK AT NO. 5: South Dakota
WHY?: The Coyotes’ game at Portland State in the old-school Big Sky-MVFC Challenge was canceled. The reason? An outbreak of the whooping cough. No reason to budge USD.
NO. 6 –VILLANOVA (6th)
LAST WEEK AT NO. 6: Villanova
WHY?: Villanova is the highest-ranked non-Big Sky or MVFC team, and rightfully so. The Wildcats have taken care of business so far through three weeks and sports a 3-0 record vs. FCS competition, but the scores haven’t been by much. The defense though has been impressive. Wins over Colgate, Youngstown State, and this past week by Towson have been with an average of only 11 points per game being given up.
NO. 7 – MONTANA (7th)
LAST WEEK AT NO. 7: Montana
WHY?: Montana won big over Pioneer League foe Morehead State, but I’ll still be keeping a close eye on the Griz because of the North Dakota loss last week. Yes, the UND loss was by 3 on the road, but UND is playing pretty good ball right now and who knows, maybe they deserve to be swapped? I’ll make that call if it needs to be.
NO. 8 – UC DAVIS (8th)
LAST WEEK AT NO. 8: UC Davis
WHY?: UCD is 2-0 against FCS so far, but we’ll know a whole lot more about the Aggies when they play host to Idaho on Sept. 28. They will face Utah Tech this upcoming weekend and then things will get busy in Big Sky play.
NOTE: In the first line above, the parenthesis indicates what Brian McLaughlin voted that team last week.
FROM NO. 9 TO NO. 16
NOTE: This is the tier that would be seeded (if they participate in the playoffs) but would still have to play in the first round.
9. Central Arkansas
10. Southern Illinois
11. Sacramento State
12. Illinois State
13. William & Mary
14. North Dakota
15. Mercer
16. Lafayette
WHY?: To be honest? The Central Arkansas-Southern Illinois dynamic is probably interchangeable. But the bottom line is? Both are good FCS programs this year. Clearly the biggest move into this prized second realm of the FCS poll is that of Mercer – a 3-0 program that did a great job on defense against Chattanooga this past weekend.
FROM NO. 17 TO NO. 25
NOTE: This is the tier that would not be seeded, but would be battling for a spot in the playoffs (if they aren’t conference champions)
17. UAlbany
18. Northern Iowa
19. Eastern Illinois
20. Stony Brook
21. SEMO
22. Abilene Christian
23. Tarleton
24. McNeese
25. Western Carolina
WHY?: This is obviously the realm where the most transition takes place. The new arrivals in my vote are Northern Iowa, Stony Brook, Tarleton, and McNeese. But there are several programs who deserve a look in this realm, and there are several programs that may need another week to cook. It’s that time of year, folks.
