Three Missouri Valley Football Conference schools are in the Top 6 nationally, while the league continues to have an FCS-best six Top 25 teams. North Dakota State (3) and Southern Illinois (4) are the league’s top-rated teams, while South Dakota State (6/7), South Dakota (15), Missouri State (17/18) and UNI (20/24) represent the league in both polls.
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Three Missouri Valley Football Conference schools are in the Top 6 nationally, while the league continues to have an FCS-best six Top 25 teams. North Dakota State (3) and Southern Illinois (4) are the league’s top-rated teams, while South Dakota State (6/7), South Dakota (15), Missouri State (17/18) and UNI (20/24) represent the league in both polls. North Dakota and Youngstown State received votes this week as well. South Dakota jumped six spots, and Missouri State five spots after wins last week. The Yotes have three-straight wins, including back-to-back victories over ranked teams.
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 (Oct. 18)
CHICAGO – The big trio of conferences usually lead the way in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 – the Big Sky, CAA and Missouri Valley – but make room for other strong leagues across the nation.
A season-high 10 conferences were represented in the national media poll on Monday, with the SWAC being the latest to power in with No. 24 Jackson State and coach Deion Sanders. The Southland Conference had a Top 10 team (No. 9 Southeastern Louisiana) for the first time this season and was joined by the Ivy League and Southern Conference in having a pair of ranked teams behind the multiple teams of the MVFC (six), Big Sky (five) and CAA (four).
Defending national champion Sam Houston (5-0) maintained the No. 1 ranking following a bye in its schedule, but No. 2 Eastern Washington (7-0) and No. 3 North Dakota State (6-0) made strong cases for the top spot this past weekend. EWU, already the nation’s top-scoring team, pounded Idaho 71-21. NDSU, already top-ranked in scoring defense, posted its second shutout, winning 20-0 at Illinois State.
A national media panel selects the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.
Stats Perform FCS Top 25
1. Sam Houston (35) 5-0 1,223 1
2. Eastern Washington (14) 7-0 1,178 2
3. North Dakota State (1) 6-0 1,169 3
4. Southern Illinois 6-1 1,097 4
5. Villanova 5-1 1,022 6
6. South Dakota State 5-1 980 7
7. James Madison 5-1 951 8
8. Montana State 6-1 919 9
9. Southeastern Louisiana 5-1 842 11
10. UC Davis 6-1 750 13
11. Montana 4-2 694 5
12. Kennesaw State 5-1 658 15
13. UT Martin 5-1 583 17
14. ETSU 6-1 556 10
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Jacksonville State 104, Harvard 101, Eastern Kentucky 85, Weber State 73, Duquesne 44, North Dakota 27, Prairie View A&M 16, Youngstown State 11, Chattanooga 8, William & Mary 7, Stephen F. Austin 5, Mercer 4.
American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches’ Top 25 Poll (Oct. 18)
WACO, TEX. – Eastern Kentucky scored 25 points in the final 19 minutes of their game against Central Arkansas and held the Bears to just one touchdown in the second half to record a 38-35 victory. The win vaulted EKU into the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for the first time in 2021 as they sit at No. 22. The Colonels are 5-2 and have a bye week before facing Lamar on October 30.
The Top 10 looks different this week thanks to losses by Montana and East Tennessee State, but the Top 5 remains the same. Sam Houston still sits No. 1 with 26 first-place votes, followed by Eastern Washington at No. 2 with the final two first-place votes. North Dakota State, Southern Illinois and Villanova round out the Top 5. Five of the Top 10 teams will face ranked opponents, so there might be more change in the poll next week.
No. 1 Sam Houston gets the Top 25 matchups rolling as they host No. 21 Jacksonville State. Both teams should be well rested after coming off bye weeks. No. 3 North Dakota State will host No. 18 Missouri State while No. 5 Villanova will host No. 19 Rhode Island. No. 6 James Madison travels to No. 25 Delaware while No. 7 South Dakota State plays host to No. 24 Northern Iowa.
American Football Coaches Association
FCS Coaches’ Top 25 Poll
1. Sam Houston (26) 5-0 674 1
2. Eastern Washington (2) 7-0 670 2
3. North Dakota State 6-0 646 3
Others Receiving Votes: UIW, 70; Dartmouth, 67; North Dakota, 34; Chattanooga, 33; Weber St., 28; Monmouth (N.J.), 19; Florida A&M, 15; Duquesne, 13; Sacramento St., 10; Holy Cross, 9; Furman, 8; Mercer, 6; New Hampshire, 6; Stephen F. Austin, 6; Yale, 6; Prairie View A&M, 2; Towson, 2; Elon, 1.
