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 9 games. The week 8 submission can be found here.
| Rank | Team | Previous Week |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota State | 1 |
| 2 | Tarleton State | 3 |
| 3 | Montana State | 4 |
| 4 | Montana | 5 |
| 5 | North Dakota | 6 |
| 6 | South Dakota State | 2 |
| 7 | Tennessee Tech | 7 |
| 8 | Lehigh | 8 |
| 9 | UC Davis | 9 |
| 10 | Mercer | 15 |
| 11 | Harvard | 11 |
| 12 | Villanova | 12 |
| 13 | Monmouth | 13 |
| 14 | Southern Illinois | 16 |
| 15 | Lamar | 17 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 18 |
| 17 | Austin Peay | 19 |
| 18 | Youngstown State | 20 |
| 19 | Lafayette | 21 |
| 20 | Abilene Christian | 22 |
| 21 | SE Louisiana | 24 |
| 22 | Jackson State | 10 |
| 23 | Western Carolina | 25 |
| 24 | Illinois State | – |
| 25 | Presbyterian | 14 |
General Thoughts
The big game of the week was the Dakota Marker matchup between NDSU and SDSU, which was dominated by the Bison. For the rest of the top 25, it felt like a majority of teams started slow, were played closer than expected, held on to win, or simply struggled. It is getting deeper into the season with rivalry games and injuries piling up, so those factors played a part in what we saw. Nevertheless, get ready to read 10 variations of “it was a slow start.”
Week 9 Top 25
1. North Dakota State (8-0) – NDSU left no doubt about who the best team in the FCS is. The Bison throttled rival South Dakota State 38-7 in Brookings with Cole Payton rushing for 4 touchdowns. NDSU held the Jackrabbits to 166 total yards in a dominant performance. I felt NDSU was the best and most complete team from the start of the season and that’s only become more evident as the season has progressed. NDSU will face Youngstown State (5-3) at home next week.
2. Tarleton State (9-0) – Tarleton State had a slow start against Eastern Kentucky, holding a 10-7 lead at halftime and going on to win 31-7. The defense was strong, so this game never really felt in doubt once the offense scored a second touchdown. Speaking of the defense, it forced 4 turnovers and held EKU to only 189 yards of total offense. The offense wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t have the same explosive feel we saw earlier in the season. The Texans move up a spot following SDSU’s loss. Tarleton State will face Abilene Christian (4-4) on the road next week. A win wouldn’t completely lock up the UAC title, but it would guarantee them no worse than a share of the conference title this year.
3. Montana State (6-2) – The Bobcats went on the road and took care of Cal Poly 34-17. It was a slow start in terms of points with MSU holding a 13-3 lead at halftime. A strong second half for Montana State put the game to bed, except for a three-drive stretch. The Bobcats led 27-3, but a Cal Poly TD, a Montana State fumble, and another Cal Poly TD cut it to 27-17. The MSU rushing attack accounted for 290 yards and 3 TDs on 50 carries (290) while Justin Lamson had 176 yards and 1 TD on 19 of 30 passing. The Bobcats are up to third with SDSU dropping. Montana State will have another road game next week against Northern Colorado (3-5).
4. Montana (8-0) – The Grizzlies went on the road and defeated Sacramento State 49-35. The offense, which I’ve criticized multiple times for “disappearing,” showed up on Friday night. A better way to frame their struggles this year is finishing drives. Against Sac State, it was a 7-TD performance, including 3 from Michael Wortham, who dazzled by putting up 169 yards on 12 touches. Now, the defense has definitely been concerning at times this season, and Friday night raised a few of those concerns. They gave up 206 receiving yards and 9 catches to Ernest Campbell, but they were strong against the Hornets for the opening 20 minutes of the second half. The Grizzlies are up to fourth this week. Montana will have a second straight road game next week at Weber State (3-5).
5. North Dakota (6-2) – North Dakota got out to a 7-0 lead against Indiana State and breezed past them to win 46-17. Jerry Kaminski threw for 300 yards and 4 TDs on 22 of 34 passing (plus 1 INT) and added another 26 yards and a score on the ground. The defense held ISU to 221 total yards, while forcing three turnovers. UND looks like a very dangerous team and we’ll see how dangerous in a couple of weeks against NDSU. North Dakota cracks the top five for the first time this week. North Dakota faces South Dakota (5-4) on the road next week.
6. South Dakota State (7-1) – SDSU didn’t have much of a chance against archrival North Dakota State in the 38-7 loss. The Jacks were without QB Chase Mason and NDSU took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter. Honestly, even with Mason, I don’t think this game would have been close, but there’s plenty for SDSU to work on. I dropped SDSU from second to sixth following this game. This may seem harsh given they lost to a clear juggernaut and defeated Montana State head-to-head, but I think it’s justified right now. The Jackrabbits will have a chance to bounce back next week at home against Indiana State (2-6).
7. Tennessee Tech (8-0) – TTU had a 21-3 lead shrink down to 21-16 entering the fourth quarter, but a huge final frame saw them defeat Southeast Missouri State 42-23. The Golden Eagles were outgained 401-299 and had only 18 first downs to 26 for SEMO, but TTU won the turnover battle 2-0. More importantly, TTU scored 14 points off those 2 turnovers, including a Holy Roller fumble “return” touchdown in the end zone. TTU remains in seventh this week. Tennessee Tech faces Gardner-Webb (5-3) at home next week.
8. Lehigh (8-0) – It was a hard-fought 27-6 win for Lehigh over a one-win Fordham team. The run game wasn’t as strong, finishing with 158 yards on 43 carries (3.7 average). Hayden Johnson had 267 yards passing, but no touchdowns or interceptions. The defense had a good performance, while the run-stopping was excellent (74 yards allowed on 32 carries). The Mountain Hawks stay at eighth this week as the teams around them had similar performances. Next week’s game will be at home against Georgetown (5-3).
9. UC Davis (6-1) – The Aggies had a tricky road game against Northern Colorado and it got worse before the game when Caden Pinnick was ruled out. However, UCD put up 24 first half points and was able to fend off UNC to win 27-16. Grant Harper filled in for Pinnick and threw for 216 yards, 3 TDs, and 3 INTs on 15 of 31 passing. The rushing attack had 236 yards on 39 carries (6.1 average). There’s some worry about UCD’s offense if Pinnick is out long-term because the group was stagnant in the second half. UCD stays in ninth this week. The Aggies will be back home next week to face Idaho State (2-6).
10. Mercer (6-1) – The Bears overwhelmed VMI 62-0 this week, with Braden Atkinson throwing for 538 yards and 5 TDs on 29 of 35 passing. The run game averaged 8 yards a carry (248 yards on 31 attempts) and it’s safe to say this is how most people imagined the Mercer offense would look in the preseason. The Bears make the biggest move up the polls this week, from 15th to 10th. As the calendar turns to November, Mercer will have a big stretch of games starting at Furman (5-3) next week.
11. Harvard (6-0) – Harvard got a stern test in the first half against Princeton, but was able to put the game away in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns to win 35-14. While it wasn’t an overwhelming performance, it was a strong defensive showing in the second half. Harvard’s rushing attack tallied 259 yards and 3 TDs on 41 carries (6.3 average). Harvard stays at 11th this week. The Crimson now sits alone atop the Ivy League standings and will welcome Dartmouth (5-1) in a big matchup next week.
12. Villanova (6-2) – It was not a pretty game between Villanova and Albany, even if the Wildcats won 29-16. The two teams combined for 410 yards of offense (only 105 rushing yards combined), 15 penalties for 153 yards, 4 for 22 on third downs, 1 for 4 on fourth down, six fumbles (amazingly only one lost), two interceptions, and two missed kicks (one XP, one FG). If there’s one major concern about Villanova, it’s the offense and how it played against Albany didn’t dispel those concerns. The Wildcats are fortunate that most of the top 25 played below expectations this week and they remain in 12th. Villanova will have a bye next week before playing at Towson.
13. Monmouth (7-1) – The Hawks were without Derek Robertson this week and it showed in the 28-10 win against Hampton. Rodney Nelson ran wild with 233 yards and 4 TDs on 33 carries, but Frankie Weaver struggled as he went 14 of 24 with 122 yards and 1 INT. The game was close into the fourth quarter as Monmouth held a slight 14-10 advantage before adding two TDs. Monmouth is lucky they have a softer schedule in November if Robertson’s injury keeps him out for the rest of the regular season. The Hawks keep their position in 13th this week. Monmouth will play at Bryant (2-6) next week.
14. Southern Illinois (5-3) – After a pair of losses to top ten opponents, Southern Illinois got back on track with a 31-17 home win against Northern Iowa. The Salukis led 31-3 well into the fourth quarter, but a fumble and blocked punt resulted in two late scores for UNI. Other than the final five minutes, it was a solid performance for SIU. The unfortunate thing for the Salukis is that we’ve seen the blueprint to stopping them and they are a cut below the best. They do move up two spots following the win. SIU will play at Murray State (0-8) next week.
15. Lamar (7-1) – Lamar didn’t need any late-game heroics to get by Northwestern State this week as they crushed the Demons 41-14. The rushing attack ran for 256 yards and 4 TDs on 49 carries (5.2 average), while the run defense allowed only 23 yards on 26 carries. The Cardinals struggled in the penalty department, committing 11 for 100 yards. I still have my doubts about Lamar’s ceiling, but they keep winning and are up two spots. Lamar will play at Incarnate Word (2-6) next week, a team that has disappointed this season.
16. Rhode Island (7-2) – Rhody had a first half battle with Bryant before putting them away to win 38-17. The offense continues to look better each week, although wins against Albany and Bryant aren’t overly impressive. Devin Farrell threw for 272 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT on 14 of 22 passing. The offense only had 21 minutes in time of possession and URI had 11 penalties for 125 yards, so there’s more to improve upon. URI moves up two spots this week. The Rams will have a bye next week, followed by a road game at Elon on Saturday, November 8.
17. Austin Peay (5-3) – The Governors rebounded from the loss at Eastern Kentucky to throttle North Alabama 56-28. Chris Parson threw for 311 yards and 3 TDs, while adding another 53 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. It was a much better offensive performance, but the two turnovers and 12 penalties for 103 yards need to be corrected. The defense, which surrendered 472 yards, 27 first downs, and allowed 11 of 20 third-down conversions, is also a concern. Austin Peay will have a road game at pesky Southern Utah (3-5) next week.
18. Youngstown State (5-3) – The Penguins didn’t have much trouble with Murray State this week. YSU led 24-7 at halftime and then added another 27 points in the final 30 minutes to win 51-17. Beau Brungard went 22 of 25 passing for 248 yards and 2 TDs, while adding another 64 yards and 2 TDs on the ground, and had a 50-yard TD reception. The rushing attack was balanced with six rushers having 23 or more yards. YSU moves up two spots this week. The Penguins will catch North Dakota State (8-0) after the Dakota Marker game, but will face them in Fargo next week.
19. Lafayette (5-3) – The Leopards had a bye this week and will play at Holy Cross (1-7) next week. Despite the bye, Lafayette moved up two spots.
20. Abilene Christian (4-4) – The Wildcats didn’t play this week and will have a tough home game against Tarleton State (9-0) this week. ACU is up two spots this week.
21. Southeastern Louisiana (6-2) – The Lions, like a lot of teams this week, needed to get to the second half before taking care of business. SELA led 14-7 at the break and then put up 24 points in the second half to defeat Houston Christian 38-14. The Lions allowed only 199 yards of total offense to HCU, while the offense put up a mediocre showing. Like Lamar, I question SELA’s ceiling and resume strength at this point in the season. However, SELA continues to win and moves up four spots after other teams fell following losses. The Lions will welcome East Texas A&M (2-6) to Hammond next week.
22. Jackson State (5-2) – Jackson State didn’t have the services of JaCobian Morgan for a significant amount of the game against Grambling State and it clearly had an impact. Grambling State built a 23-10 lead, but Jared Lockhart rallied Jackson State with two TD drives to take a 24-23 lead. However, it was Grambling State that ended up winning on the final drive, which unfortunately saw C’zavian Teasett carted off the field in an ambulance. JSU takes the biggest dive this week: 12 spots. The Tigers are still talented, but the long-term status of Morgan is unclear and the defense has been shaky the last three games. Jackson State faces Florida A&M (3-4) on the road next week.
23. Western Carolina (5-3) – WCU had a bye this week and will travel to face Chattanooga (4-4) next week. The Catamounts move up two spots.
24. Illinois State (5-3) – A week after dropping the Redbirds from the top 25, they return this week after winning 21-13 against South Dakota on the road. The much-maligned defense had a much better game in the second half, holding USD to two field goal attempts, with USD making only one of them. The offense wasn’t as strong either, but they scored enough to win without Daniel Sobkowicz this week. Illinois State will face Northern Iowa (2-6) next week at home.
25. Presbyterian (7-1) – Presbyterian’s magical run to start the 2025 season has come to an end, following a 35-19 loss at Dayton. The second quarter proved to be the difference, as Presbyterian led 13-7, but three consecutive Dayton TDs made it 28-13 Flyers at the break. Collin Hurst threw 3 interceptions on the day, which led to 14 points for Dayton, including a pick-six to put the Dayton lead at 35-19. The Blue Hose defense struggled mightily by allowing 274 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. The Blue Hose fell 11 spots, but remain in the top 25 due to big wins earlier in the year. Presbyterian will need to regroup and that begins next week with a home game against Valparaiso (1-7).
Teams That Dropped Out and Other Notables
Penn (4-2) made a quick round-trip in and out of the top 25 after being 23rd last week. The Quakers fell out of the poll after losing convincingly to Yale 35-13. The offense wasn’t consistent enough to get points on the board, especially in the second half. The Quakers had four second half possessions, got inside the Yale 35 all four times, but only came away with three points. The deficit played a factor in forcing them to go for TDs, but they still couldn’t find a way to convert on those fourth downs.
Some may wonder why Dayton (6-2) is not in the poll, despite owning a head-to-head victory against Presbyterian, which is ranked 25th. I cannot ignore Presbyterian’s two season opening road victories against Mercer (now 6-1 and 10th in my ballot) and Furman (5-3). Presbyterian also has a road win against Butler (5-3), a team that Dayton lost to at home. Simply put, the Blue Hose’s resume is better than Dayton’s. These types of debates tend to work themselves out by the end of the regular season.
Additional teams that received consideration in this week’s top 25 poll: Alabama State (5-2), Dartmouth (5-1), Dayton (6-2), Northern Arizona (5-3), Stephen F. Austin (6-2), UTRGV (6-2), and Yale (4-2).
Photo Credit to Mercer University Athletics
