Montana State and North Dakota State continue to battle for top spot in updated Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll

The constant conversation centered around any FCS Top 25 poll right now is whether North Dakota State or Montana State is the team that deserves most to be at the top right now. That internal conversation continued on my most recent Stats Perform FCS poll following Week 12 of action. For now, I’m sticking firm […]

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Sep 17, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; Montana State Bobcats quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) throws the ball during the first half against the Oregon State Beavers at Providence Park.
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The constant conversation centered around any FCS Top 25 poll right now is whether North Dakota State or Montana State is the team that deserves most to be at the top right now. That internal conversation continued on my most recent Stats Perform FCS poll following Week 12 of action. For now, I’m sticking firm with the Bobcats.

The next couple of weeks will hopefully settle that debate heading into the playoffs. Montana State has an important rivalry game this weekend against Montana, while North Dakota State will be challenged by South Dakota. It’s possible this weekend could be a tipping point in that debate.

My other major debate was whether to drop UC Davis below South Dakota, but I held firm with the Aggies. Montana State held a big lead against UC Davis this past weekend, but UC Davis was able to get back in that football game. That resolve was enough for me to leave them where they were with a "good loss".

As we get closer to the final week of the regular season, I feel more and more solid about what the hierarchy of this FCS landscape looks like. That is especially true at the top.

Here is my updated top 25 FCS ranking this week.

  1. Montana State (11-0)
  2. North Dakota State (10-1)
  3. South Dakota State (9-2)
  4. UC Davis (9-2)
  5. South Dakota (8-2)
  6. UIW (Incarnate Word) (9-2)
  7. Mercer (9-2)
  8. Montana (8-3)
  9. Idaho (8-3)
  10. Richmond (9-2)
  11. Abilene Christian (8-3)
  12. Southeast Missouri State (9-2)
  13. Rhode Island (9-2)
  14. Illinois State (8-3)
  15. Villanova (8-3)
  16. Tarleton State (8-3)
  17. Stony Brook (8-3)
  18. Harvard (8-1)
  19. Duquesne (8-2)
  20. Jackson State (9-2)
  21. UT Martin (7-4)
  22. New Hampshire (7-4)
  23. Northern Arizona (7-4)
  24. South Carolina State (8-2)
  25. William & Mary (7-4)

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