FCS Teams Playing The Most Preseason Ranked Opponents In 2024

For FCS playoff resumes, ranked wins and strength of schedule are weighed heavily by committee members when making their selections for seeds and at-large bids.

Using the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Media Poll, we counted up which teams have the most preseason-ranked FCS opponents.

Of course, when a conference like the MVFC has seven ranked teams and the Big Sky has six, programs from those two leagues will dominate a list like this. But there are several teams from other leagues that scheduled multiple ranked non-conference opponents.

4 Ranked Opponents

Austin Peay
vs No. 10 Southern Illinois
at No. 11 Central Arkansas
vs No. 21 Tarleton State
vs No. 9 Chattanooga

Utah Tech
vs No. 4 Montana State
at No. 18 UC Davis
at No. 21 Tarleton State
vs No. 11 Central Arkansas

Southeastern Louisiana University
vs No. 1 South Dakota State
at No. 21 Tarleton State
vs No. 14 UIW
at No. 23 Nicholls

McNeese
at No. 21 Tarleton State
at No. 22 Weber State
at No. 14 UIW
at No. 23 Nicholls

Illinois State
vs No. 2 North Dakota State
at No. 10 Southern Illinois
vs No. 25 Youngstown State
vs No. 24 North Dakota

UC Davis
vs No. 7 Idaho
at No. 3 Montana
vs No. 4 Montana State
at No. 8 Sacramento State

ETSU
vs No. 2 North Dakota State
vs No. 9 Chattanooga
vs No. 20 Western Carolina
vs No. 12 Furman

Montana State
vs No. 7 Idaho
vs No. 8 Sacramento State
at No. 18 UC Davis
vs No. 3 Montana

Sacramento State
vs No. 23 Nicholls
vs No. 22 Weber State
at No. 4 Montana State
vs No. 18 UC Davis

Towson
at No. 6 Villanova
at No. 2 North Dakota State
vs No. 15 William & Mary
at No. 13 Richmond

VMI
at No. 15 William & Mary
at No. 9 Chattanooga
vs No. 12 Furman
at No. 20 Western Carolina

Idaho
vs No. 16 UAlbany
at No. 18 UC Davis
at No. 4 Montana State
vs No. 22 Weber State

Lamar
vs No. 22 Weber State
at No. 11 Central Arkansas
at No. 14 UIW
vs No. 23 Nicholls

2024 Preseason Preview Central

---

5 Ranked Opponents

Wofford
at No. 13 Richmond
vs No. 15 William & Mary
at No. 20 Western Carolina
at No. 9 Chattanooga
at No. 12 Furman

Cal Poly
at No. 18 UC Davis
at No. 7 Idaho
vs No. 3 Montana
vs No. 8 Sacramento State
at No. 22 Weber State

Northern Colorado
at No. 14 UIW
at No. 4 Montana State
at No. 22 Weber State
vs No. 3 Montana
at No. 18 UC Davis

Northern Arizona
at No. 14 UIW
vs No. 8 Sacramento State
at No. 7 Idaho
at No. 3 Montana
vs No. 22 Weber State

Indiana State
at No. 25 Youngstown State
vs No. 10 Southern Illinois
vs No. 24 North Dakota
at No. 5 South Dakota
vs No. 19 Illinois State

Montana
at No. 24 North Dakota
vs No. 20 Western Carolina
vs No. 22 Weber State
vs No. 18 UC Davis
at No. 4 Montana State

North Dakota State
at No. 19 Illinois State
vs No. 24 North Dakota
at No. 10 Southern Illinois
vs No. 1 South Dakota State
at No. 5 South Dakota

Idaho State
at No. 24 North Dakota
vs No. 4 Montana State
vs No. 8 Sacramento State
at No. 22 Weber State
vs No. 7 Idaho

Eastern Washington
vs No. 3 Montana
at No. 8 Sacramento State
vs No. 18 UC Davis
at No. 7 Idaho
vs No. 4 Montana State

South Dakota
vs No. 10 Southern Illinois
at No. 25 Youngstown State
at No. 1 South Dakota State
at No. 24 North Dakota
vs No. 2 North Dakota State

RELATED: A Look At The New FCS Playoff Format Using Preseason Polls

---

6 Ranked Opponents

Youngstown State
at No. 6 Villanova
at No. 1 South Dakota State
vs No. 5 South Dakota
vs No. 24 North Dakota
at No. 19 Illinois State
at No. 10 Southern Illinois

North Dakota
vs No. 3 Montana
at No. 2 North Dakota State
at No. 25 Youngstown State
vs No. 1 South Dakota State
vs No. 5 South Dakota
at No. 19 Illinois State

Murray State
at No. 24 North Dakota
vs No. 5 South Dakota
vs No. 19 Illinois State
vs No. 2 North Dakota State
at No. 1 South Dakota State
at No. 10 Southern Illinois

Missouri State
at No. 3 Montana
vs No. 25 Youngstown State
at No. 19 Illinois State
vs No. 10 Southern Illinois
at No. 2 North Dakota State
vs No. 1 South Dakota State

Northern Iowa
vs No. 1 South Dakota State
at No. 5 South Dakota
at No. 24 North Dakota
at No. 2 North Dakota State
vs No. 19 Illinois State
at No. 25 Youngstown State

Southern Illinois
vs No. 14 UIW
at No. 5 South Dakota
vs No. 19 Illinois State
vs No. 2 North Dakota State
vs No. 25 Youngstown State
at No. 1 South Dakota State

South Dakota State
vs No. 14 UIW
vs No. 25 Youngstown State
at No. 2 North Dakota State
vs No. 5 South Dakota
at No. 24 North Dakota
vs No. 10 Southern Illinois

---

8 Ranked Opponents

Portland State
at No. 22 Weber State
vs No. 5 South Dakota
at No. 9 Chattanooga
vs No. 18 UC Davis
vs No. 4 Montana State
at No. 8 Sacramento State
vs No. 7 Idaho
at No. 3 Montana