Hey folks. As my dad used to say when he had to do something challenging that wasn’t exactly fun – but needed to be done: Putting together week’s FCS poll ballot was about as much fun as squeezing frogs.
At any rate, let’s get right to it as we cross the halfway mark threshold of the season.
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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?: Montana State’s schedule strength, according to Massey, is weaker than all four of the Dakota schools – this much is a fact. But the Bobcats have knocked off an FBS team (New Mexico) and have easily handled all six FCS teams it has beaten. There have been few challenges, a testament to how strong this program is – and the recent blowout win over a dangerous Idaho backs it up. Let’s face it, there’s a decent chance MSU finishes undefeated going into the postseason.
NO. 2 – NORTH DAKOTA STATE (2ND)
LAST WEEK NO. 2 TEAM: North Dakota State
WHY?: Understatement department: This weekend’s annual slugfest against South Dakota State is going to go a long way in telling us who this NDSU team is. Will it be the team that survived ETSU down in Tennessee earlier this year, or will it be the team that truly out-hit P4 Colorado before succumbing to future NFL millionaire talent Travis Hunter? The Bison have pummeled what is a tough Illinois State team, too. The Dakota Marker battle this weekend will be on national television (ESPN2) and will be in Fargo – and it’s been a while since NDSU has won this rivalry game.
NO. 3 – SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (3rd)
LAST WEEK NO. 3 TEAM: South Dakota State
WHY?: How much do we know about this SDSU team? Obviously, quarterback play isn’t an issue with two-time national champion signal-caller Mark Gronowski at the helm en route to a 6-1 start, but where is that quality win? Right now, it looks like the 21-point win over Incarnate Word. But this weekend, that could all change as SDSU faces a team it has owned of late – rival NDSU. Be prepared for a big move on this ballot if the Jackrabbits handle this decisively on the road, which they’re capable of.
NO. 4 – SOUTH DAKOTA (4th)
LAST WEEK NO. 4 TEAM: South Dakota
WHY?: The Coyotes are a fascinating team, steamrolling the past four FCS teams it has played – allowing only 33 points in the four wins (and if they’d not been canceled against Portland State, it’d be even more impressive). We will learn a lot about this dangerous USD team between now and Thanksgiving when it faces NDSU, SDSU, and North Dakota.
NO. 5 – VILLANOVA (5th)
LAST WEEK NO. 5 TEAM: Villanova
WHY?: There’s no way I can elevate Villanova past this spot, and if there are stronger performances by other teams coming up? I have no problem moving teams ahead. The Wildcats are solid and look like the class of a massive CAA, but the best win so far is against a 4-2 Stony Brook team – and the 7-point win over Youngstown State looks less and less impressive due to the Penguins’ struggles. Nova needs to take it up a notch and win out, while also capturing the CAA, or there’s a chance other teams could surpass them in the battle for a seeding – even with Villanova continuing to win.
NO. 6 –UC DAVIS (6th)
LAST WEEK NO. 6 TEAM: UC Davis
WHY?: Right now, the signature win is against Idaho, and the win over Southern Utah was against a team that has an FBS win (UTEP). But the near loss to Portland State is also on this resume. Like Villanova, the Aggies will need to impress as things progress to hold on to this lofty spot on my ballot.
NO. 7 – TARLETON STATE (8TH)
LAST WEEK NO. 7 TEAM: Idaho
WHY?: RB Kayvon Britten has been fantastic this year. His last game’s efforts put him over 1,000 yards in a season for the third straight year. He’s been the biggest reason that this recent team addition to the FCS level has been so effective, as his running has been pivotal in tight wins over McNeese, Southeastern Louisiana, and Southern Utah.
NO. 8 – MERCER (10TH)
LAST WEEK NO. 8 TEAM: Tarleton State
WHY?: Some people may not be as impressed as I was with Mercer’s big win over Princeton this past week. I felt that was key for the Bears. That coupled with a 10-3 win over Chattanooga earlier this year – which looks better and better on paper each week – gives Mercer some serious street cred. This is clearly the best Mercer team in the second stint of football, which began just a bit over a decade ago after about 70 years without the game.
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 North Dakota
10 SEMO
11 Idaho
12 Abilene Christian
13 Cent. Arkansas
14 Incarnate Word
15 Montana
16 Chattanooga
WHY?: Idaho is clearly the best 4-3 team in the FCS, is dangerous, and possesses the No. 1 toughest schedule in the country according to Massey. SEMO is two minutes away from a 7-0 record (and a win over FBS New Mexico State), and the Redhawks should be watched closely. North Dakota is one of the Dakota quartet – and this year? Nothing else needs to be said. Lastly? The rest of this season, Chattanooga may snake its way up through this list like the Tennessee River snakes through town.
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 Dartmouth
18 Rhode Island
19 Duquesne
20 UT Martin
21 Harvard
22 Illinois State
23 Stony Brook
24 Southeastern Louisiana
25 Drake
WHY?: Sometimes? I wish voting on this poll was easier in the 15ish to 25ish range – but it never is simple. There are so many dynamics to consider, but the truth is, the teams listed below in my “also considered” area? They could easily be in this 17th to 25th range – the area which contains the kind of teams (if they choose to compete in it) that will play in the FCS postseason. I did drop some idle teams who made my ballot last week, based on how some of their earlier opponents performed this past weekend.
OUTSIDE THE TOP 25 AND READY TO MOVE IN
Teams like Richmond, William & Mary, McNeese, Western Carolina, and ETSU will be teams I pay close attention to this week.
