I am grateful to have a vote in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 media poll for the 2025 season. I’ll publish my ballot every week and provide some reasoning for my order.
Notes at the bottom.
FCS Top 25
1. North Dakota State
2. South Dakota State
3. Montana
4. Montana State
5. Tarleton State
6. North Dakota
7. UC Davis
8. Tennessee Tech
9. Lehigh
10. Monmouth
11. Harvard
12. Mercer
13. Villanova
14. Youngstown State
15. Illinois State
16. Jackson State
17. Southern Illinois
18. Abilene Christian
19. Northern Arizona
20. Austin Peay
21. Rhode Island
22. SFA
23. Presbyterian
24. Southeastern Louisiana University
25. Lamar
Leaving: West Georgia
Entering: Youngstown State
It was an odd-feeling weekend in the FCS. The weather moved kickoff times around, there were some long weather delays, a few upsets occurred, a few games were closer than expected for a stretch, and some notable injuries occurred.
Among the notable injuries in games were Monmouth QB Derek Robertson, South Dakota State QB Chase Mason, North Dakota State WR Mekhi Collins and DT Jaxon Duttenhefer, and North Dakota RB Gaven Ziebarth. Standout players sidelined before games included Colgate WR Treyvhon Saunders and Southern Illinois LBs Andrew Behm and Chris Presto.
Tarleton State, meanwhile, enjoyed the return of standouts Tre Page III (RB), Kasyus Kurns (DB), and Victor Gabalis (QB), crushing West Georgia 45-10, who was ranked No. 23 in the coaches poll. West Georgia has now lost to three straight ranked opponents after a 5-0 start.
Youngstown State knocked off media poll No. 10 Illinois State 40-35 to rise in the rankings. YSU is now 4-3 overall and 4-2 vs. the FCS, with the two losses coming to ranked opponents SDSU and UND. The SDSU game was a one-score final. Illinois State falls back at 4-3 overall and 4-2 vs. the FCS, lacking quality wins.
Southern Illinois also falls back in the rankings after a 38-19 home loss to media poll No. 9 North Dakota. SIU is 4-3 overall and 3-2 vs. the FCS, lacks ranked wins, and has gotten blown out against its two ranked opponents (NDSU, UND). North Dakota, meanwhile, looks very impressive at 5-2 overall and 5-1 vs. the FCS (loss to Montana), beating two straight ranked opponents (YSU, SIU). The Fighting Hawks host NDSU and SDSU later this season in what will be battles.
Media poll No. 13 Abilene Christian lost 31-24 at Southern Utah. ACU is a tough team to figure out. The Wildcats are 4-4 overall and 4-2 vs. the FCS. They have three ranked wins (SFA, Austin Peay, and West Georgia) but also have two losses to unranked opponents (UIW, SUU).
It’ll be fascinating to see how next week’s Top 5 looks after No. 2 SDSU hosts No. 1 NDSU this weekend. How far does the loser drop? If it’s a close game, do they both stay in the Top 2? How serious is Chase Mason’s injury after he looked slightly hobbled jogging off the field after a touchdown run and didn’t return? Did SDSU hold him out for precautionary reasons? He did have his pads and helmet on and was walking around the sidelines during the game. Let the speculation begin as the massive matchup is finally here.
