I am grateful to have a vote in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 media poll for the 2024 season. I’ll publish my ballot every week and provide some reasoning for my order.
Notes at the bottom.
Delaware and Missouri State, FCS-to-FBS transitioning teams, are not eligible to be voted on in the Media Poll.
FCS Top 25
1. North Dakota State
2. Montana State
3. South Dakota State
4. UC Davis
5. South Dakota
6. Mercer
7. UIW
8. Idaho
9. Richmond
10. Montana
11. SEMO
12. Rhode Island
13. Villanova
14. Tarleton State
15. Abilene Christian
16. Chattanooga
17. ETSU
18. Stony Brook
19. UT Martin
20. Illinois State
21. Eastern Kentucky
22. Jackson State
23. Southeastern Louisiana
24. Harvard
25. South Carolina State
Leaving: Western Carolina, William & Mary, Central Arkansas
Entering: Eastern Kentucky, Jackson State, SC State
UC Davis got the biggest W of the weekend, going to Missoula and earning a 30-14 win over Montana in a Top 7 matchup. The victory bumped the Aggies up one spot to No. 4. They are now 9-1 overall and 9-0 vs. the FCS with two ranked wins, both over teams ranked in the Top 7 at the time of the game. Montana ended up staying in my Top 10 at 7-3 with two ranked wins. SEMO and Rhode Island losing helped, or else the Griz may have been pushed to No. 12.
SEMO dropped out of my Top 10 after a bad loss to Lindenwood. The Redhawks are now 8-2 overall and 8-1 vs. the FCS with one ranked win.
Leaving my ballot are Western Carolina, William & Mary, and Central Arkansas.
Western Carolina lost to ETSU, who I had ranked, dropping to 5-5 and very likely out of the playoff hunt. William & Mary lost to a struggling Elon team. The Tribe is 6-4 with no ranked wins. Central Arkansas has now lost back-to-back games against unranked opponents (Utah Tech and EKU). The Bears fall to 6-4 with no currently-ranked wins.
Moving into my ballot are Eastern Kentucky, Jackson State, and SC State.
Eastern Kentucky has defeated back-to-back ranked opponents (Tarleton State, Central Arkansas) and is now 6-4 overall and 6-2 vs. the FCS. Jackson State has won six straight and is currently 8-2 overall and 7-1 vs. the FCS. South Carolina State has also won six straight games, including beating ranked NC Central two games ago. The Bulldogs are now 7-2 overall and 7-1 vs. the FCS.
