Hey folks. As we Floridians say when we have to do something challenging that isn’t exactly fun – but needs to be done: Putting together this week’s poll ballot was about as much fun as getting a root canal during a hurricane.
Actually, after two hurricanes this fall … ahem … too soon? Probably. But root canals and hurricanes are taxing, for sure, so you know what I’m getting at.
At any rate, let’s get right to it as we close in on a month left of the regular season.
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 NO. 1 TEAM: Montana State
WHY?: Now do you believe me? I’ve been voting MSU No. 1 since week two, and I haven’t been in Bozeman since my cousin was married there in 2012. I live in Florida, folks. I’m not a homer. I like a healthy Tommy Mellott, I love that offensive line, I like how the overall program functions – and that’s an incredible home crowd. Can one of the Dakota monsters disrupt this? Of course they can. But if Mellott and that line keep going? Good luck FCS. I know the Bobcats haven’t won a natty since what? The mid-1980s? But there’s a chance it could happen in 2024 – 40 years after their only other one. They can’t help that their regular-season Big Sky schedule is incredibly friendly, that’s not their fault.
NO. 2 – NORTH DAKOTA STATE (2ND)
LAST WEEK NO. 2 TEAM: North Dakota State
WHY?: North Dakota State took a big step forward this past weekend when it put the two-time defending national champions to bed, at least in the regular-season version of this incredible rivalry. So NDSU gets the Dakota Marker. That’s great and all, but remember when SDSU and Dallas Goedert et al knocked the Bison off but then didn’t win the natty? When NDSU did? I think we all know that could happen, don’t we? Regardless, NDSU proved it is back in place being a candidate to win it all in 2024.
NO. 3 – SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (3rd)
LAST WEEK NO. 3 TEAM: South Dakota State
WHY?: Do you want to know who is ticked off right now? It’s South Dakota State. And if you think I’d be dropping the multi-talented Jackrabbits from the No. 3 spot I have them at for the past month-plus? You’re nuts. SDSU could easily make it three nattys in a row, and anyone with a brain knows that. Having them at No. 3 isn’t a sign of disrespect, gang, it’s a sign of respect this year. Why? Because the top three in the FCS realm are damned near a Top 25 team in the FBS/P4 realm. Ask Deion what’s easier – playing one of the Dakota powers or playing some G5 team nobody is excited about. Sorry, nothing has changed with SDSU – they still could win it all.
NO. 4 – SOUTH DAKOTA (4th)
LAST WEEK NO. 4 TEAM: South Dakota
WHY?: South Dakota is the first team in this ranking that I’m beginning to have some curiosities about, but the Coyotes still haven’t done anything wrong. And by the way, we’ll know a whole lot more about USD after their in-state trip to Brookings to face SDSU on Saturday night. That’s South Dakota’s chance to prove they firmly deserve to be in this realm.
NO. 5 – UC DAVIS (6th)
LAST WEEK NO. 5 TEAM: Villanova
WHY?: Why is UC Davis this high? Why not? The Aggies haven’t been perfect this year, and may be the team that needs the hardest look – but they haven’t lost much, right? Certainly not against FCS teams. Even with a new coaching staff, this program is 6-1 and winning close games. Games with Montana, Montana State, and rival Sacramento State await UCD. We shall see how good this program is.
NO. 6 – NORTH DAKOTA (9TH)
LAST WEEK NO. 6 TEAM: UC Davis
WHY?: North Dakota moves up the charts after consistently playing well. The Fighting Hawks have two very winnable games ahead in Youngstown State and Indiana State, but the final three will make the difference if UND stays in the top 10 or not: home games with SDSU and South Dakota, and a road game at a tough Illinois State team.
NO. 7 – TARLETON STATE (7TH)
LAST WEEK NO. 7 TEAM: Tarleton State
WHY?: The thing I like about this Tarleton State team is it has played a couple of tough teams already, and it will be pushed down the stretch when it hosts the other two UAC powers – Abilene Christian and Central Arkansas. The UAC has been surprisingly challenging, more so than most imagined – and sitting on top of the league is Tarleton with a favorable schedule the rest of the way.
NO. 8 – SEMO (10TH)
LAST WEEK NO. 8 TEAM: Mercer
WHY?: Unlike Tarleton State, SEMO doesn’t have the best schedule strength and absolutely must win out to maintain its lofty standing. Tripping up in the next four weeks will drop the Redhawks considerably and may knock it out of contention for one of the top 16 seeds that get to host a playoff game. But logic would state that it’s very possible SEMO finishes 10-1 with zero FCS losses and does stay high up, though other teams with stronger resumes could move past.
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. Idaho
10. Incarnate Word
11. Abilene Christian
12. Central Arkansas
13. Mercer
14. Villanova
15. Rhode Island
16. Montana
WHY?: Mercer and Villanova have moved down into this second tier after surprising losses and weaker schedules than most of the top eight. Rhody slips into the back half after an impressive win over New Hampshire, and the Rams truly (so far) are having their best season in many years. Also, Idaho looms, wanting its top eight spot back – but the Vandals’ brutal schedule has it in the waiting room, for now.
Related Articles
- FCS Bracketology 2.0
- FCS Playoff Seeds Increases From 8 To 16
- Resumes For The Top 10 Ranked FCS Teams
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. Chattanooga
18. Richmond
19. Harvard
20. Dartmouth
21. UT Martin
22. Illinois State
23. Stony Brook
24. Western Carolina
25. Duquesne
WHY?: This is definitely the tier that makes you wonder what’s next. Western Carolina put on an offensive clinic and now has to be considered a top-tier program within the SoCon – and of course, it gets Mercer this weekend. Chattanooga certainly looks tough, also. How good are the Ivy League teams (who don’t participate in the postseason)? There are still so many question marks in this group.
