Fear The FCS 2025 Week 5 Media Ballot

For the first time, I was invited to vote in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 for the 2025 season. I was beyond thrilled to accept the invitation, and like many others, I take the opportunity seriously. As part of the weekly process, I will provide some thoughts and reasoning for my top 25. Below is the Stats Perform Top 25 poll submitted after the week 5 games. The week 4 submission can be found here.

General Thoughts

Once again, there was no change among the top four teams. North Dakota State tightened its grip on the top spot as the Bison are the team to beat in the FCS (as usual). Montana is up to fifth and the Grizzlies could break through into the top four. Some shifting took place throughout the rest of the rankings after week five action, including two new teams.

Week 5 Top 25

1. North Dakota State (4-0) – I said in the week 3 ballot that NDSU was the most complete team in the FCS and that didn’t change after the Bison completely obliterated South Dakota 51-13. USD may not be last year’s team, but this was a very impressive win. NDSU scored touchdowns on all five first half possessions and led 34-3 at halftime. The Bison remain in the top spot. North Dakota State has a trip to Illinois State (3-1) next week.

2. South Dakota State (4-0) – The Jacks had no trouble dispatching Mercyhurst to remain undefeated. SDSU looked like a more complete team this week and it showed throughout the 51-7 win. The defense forced two turnovers, the offense cashed them in for 10 points, and it was an all-around better performance. Up next is a potentially tricky road game at Youngstown State (3-1).

3. Tarleton State (5-0) – The Texans had a much-needed bye this week and will face Southern Utah (1-4) next week.

4. Montana State (3-2) – Another team that looked much improved this week was Montana State. The Bobcats crushed Eastern Washington, 57-3. The offense moved the ball at will on the ground and through the air, while the defense held EWU to 207 total yards. The kicking game wasn’t perfect, with two missed extra points and a missed field goal. I don’t need to remind MSU fans of the 2023 FCS playoffs second round game against NDSU that ended with a blocked XP… There will be another test next week, as Montana State travels to face Northern Arizona (4-1).

5. Montana (4-0) – Montana made a statement this week against Idaho. The Grizz offense, led by Eli Gillman (142 yards and 2 touchdowns rushing), was just too much for the Vandals in the 41-30 win. Keali’i Ah Yat was also effective, throwing for 223 yards and accounting for 2 touchdowns (1 passing, 1 rushing) on 17 of 23 passing, and he didn’t throw an interception for the second straight game. This performance was more than enough to put them above Tennessee Tech this week. Montana will have Idaho State (2-3) on the road next week.

6. Tennessee Tech (4-0) – TTU had another big win, this one against Tennessee State by a margin of 35-8. The Golden Eagles scored two plays into the game and never looked back. The passing attack was not as sharp this week, but the ground game ran up 281 yards. Although the two missed field goals didn’t play a part in the outcome, there’s room for improvement there. They drop one spot to sixth as the Montana was impressive against Idaho. Next week is a matchup at home against Western Illinois (1-4).

7. Rhode Island (4-1) – The Rams lost 47-14 to Western Michigan this week, after a disastrous second quarter. Rhody led 7-3 after the first quarter, but the second quarter saw WMU put up 28 points, with two of those touchdowns off URI turnovers. The deficit was 31-7 at the break and the comeback was never likely. URI stays at 7, but it’s a tenuous 7th considering the teams right behind them. Rhode Island will be at Brown next Friday (1-1).

8. North Dakota (2-2) – North Dakota was on a bye this week, but managed to move up two spots with a loss by Idaho and a lackluster game from Lehigh. UND is back in action next week on the road at Northern Iowa (2-2).

9. Southern Illinois (3-1) – Like North Dakota, SIU was on a bye and also moved up two spots for the same reasons. Southern Illinois faces Indiana State (2-2) at home next week.

10. Lehigh (5-0) – Lehigh fended off a serious challenge by Penn this week in a 44-30 victory. The Mountain Hawks had an excellent game stopping the run, allowing only 29 yards rushing on 18 carries. However, they struggled defending the pass, giving up 316 yards. The offense looked good as it has for much of the season, with the rushing attack leading the way. It will be interesting to see if the defense can rebound in the coming weeks. I do drop the Mountain Hawks one spot following this game, but they are still a top 10 team. Lehigh faces another Ivy League test next week, as Yale (2-0) visits.

11. UC Davis (3-1) – UCD had a potentially difficult game against Weber State, but the defense looked better this week in the 34-12 win. The Aggies didn’t surrender a touchdown until the final four minutes, when they had already built a 28-point lead. We’ll see if the defensive improvement is an aberration or not in the next two weeks. UC Davis faces Cal Poly (3-2) on the road next week.

12. Illinois State (3-1) – Illinois State was on a bye this week and remains in 12th. They’ll have one of the toughest FCS home games possible next week: North Dakota State (4-0).

13. Idaho (2-3) – The previous two weeks, I talked about Idaho’s defense as Dr. Jekyll (good) and Mr. Hyde (bad). Well… Montana’s 41-30 win over Idaho revealed Mr. Hyde. That’s the real concern for Idaho this year because they have the pieces to be a really good team, but are inconsistent in getting them to work all at once. Idaho is down five spots this week after the loss and will face Northern Colorado (2-3) on Saturday, October 11, following a bye week.

14. West Georgia (5-0) – UWG had quite the game against Southern Utah. The Wolves dominated the first half, building up a 24-3 lead early in the third quarter, but then the script flipped. SUU figured out how to move the ball and scored on three straight possessions to tie the game at 24. Both teams missed a field goal late in the fourth quarter, but UWG didn’t miss their second chance. They won 27-24 on a field goal as time expired. UWG moves up three spots after the win. The schedule doesn’t get any easier over the next three weeks with games against Austin Peay (3-2), Abilene Christian, and Tarleton State.

15. Northern Arizona (4-1) – NAU is an interesting team. They aren’t flashy and don’t overwhelm their opponents, as noted in the 31-17 win against Portland State. The game was uncomfortably close for much of the second half, but NAU’s lead never felt in jeopardy. It was an underwhelming win against a team that had been thoroughly overwhelmed in the previous four games. The thing about NAU is that they just get the job done and they maintain their spot at 15. Northern Arizona has a huge opportunity next week when they welcome Montana State (3-2).

16. Monmouth (3-1) – Monmouth was on a bye this week and stays at 16. The Hawks will face Delaware State (3-2) next week.

17. Jackson State (3-1) – It was a slow start for the Tigers against Southern, as they trailed 13-7 midway through the second quarter. After that, it was all Jackson State. JSU scored the final 31 points to win 38-13. Jacobian Morgan threw for 337 yards and 2 touchdowns in one of his best games at JSU. The Tigers are up three spots this week. Jackson State will face Alabama A&M (3-2) at home next week.

18. Villanova (2-2) – After back-to-back losses, Villanova rebounded to defeat William & Mary 31-24. The Wildcats trailed 17-14 at halftime, but Ja’briel Mace returned the opening kick of the second half for a touchdown, and Villanova never trailed again. I don’t have a strong read on the Wildcats yet and they fall one spot this week. Villanova has the chance for another solid win next week when it faces New Hampshire (3-2) on the road.

19. Abilene Christian (2-3) – One week after posting an impressive 45-31 home win against Austin Peay, Abilene Christian was dusted by Incarnate Word 38-7. ACU led 7-0 after its first possession, but then was outscored 38-0 the rest of the game. This is where it gets difficult to rank teams because I don’t think UIW is a top 25 based on what I’ve seen, but they own a win over ACU. So, shouldn’t Abilene Christian also be unranked? No, because I think ACU is a top 25 even, despite the loss, due to two solid wins over Stephen F. Austin and Austin Peay. Abilene Christian drops six spots this week and will take on North Alabama (1-3) at home next week.

20. Austin Peay (3-2) – Austin Peay bounced back from its 45-31 loss to Abilene Christian with a 42-10 win against Utah Tech. Utah Tech had been a thorn in the side of its opponents, but didn’t manage much against Austin Peay. The Governors put up 492 yards of offense and looked like the team we saw in the first three games. Next week will be a home matchup against West Georgia (5-0) that could vault them back up the polls.

21. Harvard (2-0) – Harvard rushed out to a 34-7 halftime lead and then put it in cruise control the rest of the game against Brown in the 41-7 win. The Crimson stifled Brown’s offense, giving up only 157 total yards and the offense really didn’t face much resistance. It’s hard to get a true gauge of Harvard, considering the two wins were against Stetson and Brown, but they’ve looked good and moved up two spots this week. Next up is a game at Holy Cross (0-5).

22. Gardner-Webb (2-2) – GWU was on a bye this week and moved up one spot due to teams exiting the poll. The Runnin’ Bulldogs will take on Charleston Southern (1-4) at home next week.

23. Lamar (3-1) – Lamar enters the poll this week following a 35-32 win at home versus Central Arkansas. The Cardinals held a 35-17 lead into the fourth quarter, but Central Arkansas scored two touchdowns to make it close. UCA couldn’t score on its final possession, with Lamar holding on for the win. Lamar does hold a 20-13 win over South Dakota, although it’s clear USD isn’t as good as expected. Lamar starts Southland Conference play next week with a home game against Nicholls (1-4).

24. Presbyterian (5-0) – After being ranked for the first time, Presbyterian didn’t disappoint with an emphatic 41-0 win over Morehead State to start PFL play. The Blue Hose rushed for over 9 yards per carry (303 yards on 32 carries), with Zach Switzer and Justin Montgomery both over 100 yards rushing. Defensively, Presbyterian forced four turnovers, two of which were in or at the end zone, and they stopped three fourth down attempts. Presbyterian has a bye next week, followed by a road game at Butler on October 11.

25. Youngstown State (3-1) – The Penguins jump into this poll, but didn’t play this week. It’s difficult to know how good they are because they’ve beaten Mercyhurst, Robert Morris, and Towson. They also have a loss against Michigan State, but played well in that game. We’ll get a better idea of this team next week because they face South Dakota State (4-0) at home.

Teams That Dropped Out and Other Notables

#22 Nicholls and #24 South Dakota dropped out of this week’s poll. Both lost again this week and it’s clear that there are better teams that deserve to be ranked. Three teams that I also considered this week were Dartmouth, Mercer, Richmond, and Yale. Dartmouth sports a pair of wins over New Hampshire and Central Connecticut State, while Mercer posted a 38-34 win over ETSU and may be back in the top 25 soon. The game at Princeton on October 11 is becoming increasingly intriguing. Richmond is 3-2 with blemishes to Lehigh and North Carolina, but struggled against Howard this week, needing two fourth quarter TDs to pull out the 13-12 win. Yale is 2-0 with wins against Holy Cross and Cornell at home. Next week’s game against Lehigh will give us insight into how good they are.

Photo Credit to University of California, Davis Athletics