2025 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings

Last updated

2025 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings
NCAA logo.svg
Season 2025
Postseason Single-elimination
Preseason No. 1 North Dakota State
NCAA Division I FCS football rankings
  2024
2026  

The 2025 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football rankings consists of two human polls, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), college football's governing body, the NCAA, bestows the national championship title through a 24-team tournament. [1] The following weekly polls determine the top 25 teams at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level of college football for the 2025 season. The STATS poll is voted on by media members while the Coaches' Poll is determined by coaches at the FCS level.

Contents

Legend

Legend
 Increase in ranking
 Decrease in ranking
 Not ranked previous week
 Selected for NCAA FCS Playoffs
(Italics) Number of first place votes
(#–#) Win–loss record
т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol

STATS poll

Preseason
August 4 [2]
Week 1
September 1 [3]
Week 2
September 8 [4]
Week 3
September 15 [5]
Week 4
September 22 [6]
Week 5
September 29 [7]
Week 6
October 6 [8]
Week 7
October 13 [9]
Week 8
October 20 [10]
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Final
1. North Dakota State (54)North Dakota State (1–0) (53)North Dakota State (2–0) (49)North Dakota State (3–0) (52)North Dakota State (3–0) (51)North Dakota State (4–0) (51)North Dakota State (5–0) (54)North Dakota State (6–0) (55)North Dakota State (7–0) (55)1.
2. Montana State (1)South Dakota State (1–0) (2)South Dakota State (2–0) (7)South Dakota State (3–0) (4)South Dakota State (3–0) (4)South Dakota State (4–0) (4)South Dakota State (5–0) (1)South Dakota State (6–0) (1)South Dakota State (7–0) (1)2.
3. South Dakota State Montana State (0–1) (1)Tarleton State (3–0)Tarleton State (4–0)Tarleton State (5–0) (1)Tarleton State (5–0) (1)Tarleton State (6–0) (1)Tarleton State (7–0)Tarleton State (8–0)3.
4. South Dakota (1)South Dakota (0–1)Montana State (0–2)Montana State (1–2)Montana State (2–2)Montana (4–0)Montana (5–0)Montana (6–0)Montana (7–0)4.
5. Incarnate Word Tarleton State (2–0)Montana (1–0)Montana (2–0)Montana (3–0)Montana State (3–2)Montana State (4–2)Montana State (5–2)Montana State (5–2)5.
6. Illinois State Montana (0–0)Rhode Island (2–0)Illinois State (2–1)Rhode Island (4–0)Illinois State (3–1)UC Davis (4–1)UC Davis (5–1)UC Davis (5–1)6.
7. Montana Illinois State (0–1)Illinois State (1–1)Rhode Island (3–0)Illinois State (3–1)UC Davis (3–1)Lehigh (6–0)Lehigh (7–0)Lehigh (7–0)7.
8. UC Davis UC Davis (1–0)Idaho (1–1)Idaho (2–1)Idaho (2–2)Rhode Island (4–1)Southern Illinois (4–1)Tennessee Tech (6–0)North Dakota (5–2)8.
9. Rhode Island Rhode Island (1–0)UC Davis (1–1)UC Davis (1–1)UC Davis (2–1)Lehigh (5–0)Illinois State (3–2)North Dakota (4–2)Tennessee Tech (7–0)9.
10. Tarleton State Idaho (0–1)Lehigh (2–0)Lehigh (3–0)Lehigh (4–0)Southern Illinois (3–1)Tennessee Tech (5–0)Illinois State (4–2)Monmouth (6–1)10.
11. Mercer Lehigh (1–0)Villanova (1–0)Villanova (1–1)Southern Illinois (3–1)Tennessee Tech (4–0)Idaho (2–3)Monmouth (5–1)Villanova (5–2)11.
12. Idaho Incarnate Word (1–1)South Dakota (0–2)Tennessee Tech (3–0)Abilene Christian (2–2)Idaho (2–3)Monmouth (4–1)Southern Illinois (4–2)Jackson State (5–1)12.
13. Villanova Villanova (0–0)Abilene Christian (1–1)Southern Illinois (2–1)Tennessee Tech (3–0)Northern Arizona (4–1)North Dakota (3–2)Abilene Christian (4–3)Rhode Island (6–2)13.
14. Lehigh Southern Illinois (1–0)Incarnate Word (1–1)Abilene Christian (1–2)North Dakota (2–2)Monmouth (3–1)Northern Arizona (4–2)Jackson State (5–1)Harvard (5–0)14.
15. Sacramento State Jackson State (1–0)Tennessee Tech (2–0)South Dakota (1–2)Northern Arizona (3–1)North Dakota (2–2)Jackson State (4–1)Villanova (4–2)Lamar (6–1)15.
16. Abilene Christian Abilene Christian (0–1)North Dakota (1–1)North Dakota (1–2)Monmouth (2–1)West Georgia (5–0)Austin Peay (4–2)Rhode Island (5–2)Southern Illinois (4–3)16.
17. Jackson State Tennessee Tech (1–0)Southern Illinois (1–1)Northern Arizona (2–1)South Dakota (2–2)Jackson State (3–1)Rhode Island (4–2)Lamar (5–1)Mercer (5–1)17.
18. Western Carolina Sacramento State (0–1)Northern Arizona (1–1)Austin Peay (2–1)West Georgia (4–0)Villanova (2–2)Villanova (3–2)Harvard (4–0)Illinois State (4–3)18.
19. Northern Arizona Northern Arizona (0–1)Jackson State (1–1)Incarnate Word (1–2)Jackson State (2–1)Abilene Christian (2–3)Abilene Christian (3–3)Northern Arizona (4–3)Presbyterian (7–0)19.
20. Southern Illinois North Dakota (0–1)Monmouth (2–0)Jackson State (2–1)Villanova (1–2)Lamar (3–1)Lamar (4–1)Mercer (5–1)Northern Arizona (4–3)20.
21. Tennessee Tech Monmouth (1–0)Sacramento State (0–2)Monmouth (2–1)Sacramento State (2–2)South Dakota (2–3)West Georgia (5–1)Presbyterian (6–0)South Dakota (5–3)21.
22. Monmouth Nicholls (1–1) Austin Peay (1–1)West Georgia (3–0)Lamar (2–1)Austin Peay (3–2)Harvard (3–0)South Dakota (4–3)Youngstown State (4–3)22.
23. Stephen F. Austin Mercer (0–1) New Hampshire (2–0)Lamar (2–1)Austin Peay (2–2)Presbyterian (5–0)South Dakota (3–3)Austin Peay (4–3)Abilene Christian (4–4)23.
24. Stony Brook Southern Utah (1–0) Lamar (1–1)Sacramento State (1–2) Youngstown State (3–1)Youngstown State (3–1)Presbyterian (5–0)Idaho (2–4)Stephen F. Austin (5–2)24.
25. Richmond Stephen F. Austin (0–1) West Georgia (2–0)New Hampshire (2–1) Presbyterian (4–0) Harvard (2–0)Mercer (4–1)Stephen F. Austin (4–2)Austin Peay (4–3)25.
Preseason
August 4 [11]
Week 1
September 1 [12]
Week 2
September 8 [13]
Week 3
September 15 [14]
Week 4
September 22 [15]
Week 5
September 29 [16]
Week 6
October 6 [17]
Week 7
October 13 [18]
Week 8
October 20 [19]
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Final
Dropped:
  • No. 18 Western Carolina
  • No. 24 Stony Brook
  • No. 25 Richmond
Dropped:
  • No. 22 Nicholls
  • No. 23 Mercer
  • No. 24 Southern Utah
  • No. 25 Stephen F. Austin
NoneDropped:
  • No. 19 Incarnate Word
  • No. 25 New Hampshire
Dropped:
  • No. 21 Sacramento State
Dropped:
  • No. 24 Youngstown State
Dropped:
  • No. 21 West Georgia
Dropped:
  • No. 24 Idaho
NoneNoneNoneNoneNoneNone

Coaches' poll

Preseason
August 11 [20]
Week 1
September 2 [21]
Week 2
September 8 [22]
Week 3
September 15 [23]
Week 4
September 22 [24]
Week 5
September 29 [25]
Week 6
October 6 [26]
Week 7
October 13 [27]
Week 8
October 20 [28]
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Final
1. North Dakota State (26)North Dakota State (1–0) (25)North Dakota State (2–0) (24)North Dakota State (3–0) (25)North Dakota State (3–0) (25)North Dakota State (4–0) (25)North Dakota State (5–0) (26)North Dakota State (6–0) (26)North Dakota State (7–0) (25)1.
2. Montana State South Dakota State (1–0)South Dakota State (2–0) (2)South Dakota State (3–0) (1)South Dakota State (3–0) (1)South Dakota State (4–0) (1)South Dakota State (5–0)South Dakota State (6–0)South Dakota State (7–0)2.
3. South Dakota State Montana State (0–1) тTarleton State (3–0)Tarleton State (4–0)Tarleton State (5–0)Tarleton State (5–0)Tarleton State (6–0)Tarleton State (7–0)Tarleton State (8–0)3.
4. Incarnate Word Tarleton State (2–0) (1) тIllinois State (1–1)Illinois State (2–1)Montana (3–0)Montana (4–0)Montana (5–0)Montana (6–0)Montana (7–0)4.
5. South Dakota UC Davis (1–0)Rhode Island (2–0)Montana (2–0)Illinois State (3–1)Montana State (3–2)Montana State (4–2)Montana State (5–2)Montana State (5–2)5.
6. Illinois State South Dakota (0–1)Montana State (0–2)Montana State (1–2) тMontana State (2–2)Illinois State (3–1)UC Davis (4–1)UC Davis (5–1)UC Davis (5–1)6.
7. UC Davis Illinois State (0–1)Montana (1–0)Rhode Island (3–0) тRhode Island (4–0)UC Davis (3–1)Tennessee Tech (5–0)Lehigh (7–0)Lehigh (7–0)7.
8. Tarleton State Rhode Island (1–0)Incarnate Word (1–1)Idaho (2–1)UC Davis (2–1)Lehigh (5–0)Lehigh (6–0)Tennessee Tech (6–0)Tennessee Tech (7–0)8.
9. Montana Incarnate Word (1–1)UC Davis (1–1)UC Davis (1–1)Lehigh (4–0)Tennessee Tech (4–0)Southern Illinois (4–1)Illinois State (4–2)Monmouth (6–1)9.
10. Rhode Island Montana (0–0)Idaho (1–1)Lehigh (3–0)Idaho (2–2)Rhode Island (4–1)Illinois State (3–2)Monmouth (5–1)North Dakota (5–2)10.
11. Mercer Idaho (0–1)Villanova (1–0)Southern Illinois (2–1)Tennessee Tech (3–0)Southern Illinois (3–1)Monmouth (4–1)North Dakota (4–2)Jackson State (5–1)11.
12. Idaho Villanova (0–0)Lehigh (2–0)Tennessee Tech (3–0) тSouthern Illinois (3–1)Monmouth (3–1)North Dakota (3–2)Southern Illinois (4–2)Villanova (5–2)12.
13. Villanova Lehigh (1–0)Abilene Christian (1–1)Villanova (1–1) тAbilene Christian (2–2)Northern Arizona (4–1)Idaho (2–3)Jackson State (5–1)Rhode Island (6–2)13.
14. Sacramento State Jackson State (1–0)Southern Illinois (1–1)Incarnate Word (1–2)Monmouth (3–1)North Dakota (2–2)Jackson State (4–1)Villanova (4–2)Mercer (5–1)14.
15. Lehigh Southern Illinois (1–0)Jackson State (1–1)Abilene Christian (1–2)North Dakota (2–2) тIdaho (2–3)Austin Peay (4–2)Rhode Island (5–2)Lamar (6–1)15.
16. Abilene Christian Sacramento State (0–1)Tennessee Tech (2–0)Jackson State (2–1)Northern Arizona (3–1) тWest Georgia (5–0)Northern Arizona (4–2)Mercer (5–1)Presbyterian (7–0)16.
17. Jackson State Abilene Christian (0–1)North Dakota (1–1)North Dakota (1–2)Jackson State (2–1)Jackson State (3–1)Villanova (3–2)Abilene Christian (4–3)Harvard (5–0)17.
18. Northern Arizona Monmouth (1–0)Monmouth (2–0)Monmouth (2–1)South Dakota (2–2)Youngstown State (3–1)Rhode Island (4–2)Lamar (5–1)Southern Illinois (4–3)18.
19. Western Carolina Northern Arizona (0–1)Northern Arizona (1–1)Northern Arizona (2–1)Youngstown State (3–1)Villanova (2–2)Mercer (4–1)Presbyterian (6–0)Southeastern Louisiana (5–2)19.
20. Southern Illinois Tennessee Tech (1–0)South Dakota (0–2)Austin Peay (2–1) West Georgia (4–0)Incarnate Word (2–3)Youngstown State (3–2)Harvard (4–0)Illinois State (4–3)20.
21. Monmouth Mercer (0–1)Sacramento State (0–2)South Dakota (1–2)Sacramento State (2–2)Austin Peay (3–2)Abilene Christian (3–3) тNorthern Arizona (4–3)Youngstown State (4–3)21.
22. Richmond т North Dakota (0–1)Mercer (0–1)Sacramento State (1–2)Villanova (1–2)Mercer (3–1)West Georgia (5–1) т Southeastern Louisiana (4–2)Northern Arizona (4–3)22.
23. Tennessee Tech тStephen F. Austin (0–1) Austin Peay (1–1)New Hampshire (2–1)Mercer (2–1)Abilene Christian (2–3)Presbyterian (5–0)West Georgia (5–2)Austin Peay (4–3)23.
24. Stephen F. Austin East Tennessee State (0–1) New Hampshire (2–0)Youngstown State (2–1)Incarnate Word (1–3) Presbyterian (5–0)Lamar (4–1)Austin Peay (4–3)Stephen F. Austin (5–2)24.
25. Stony Brook
  • Nicholls (1–1) т
  • Western Carolina (0–1) т
Youngstown State (2–0)Mercer (1–1)Austin Peay (2–2) Lamar (3–1) Harvard (3–0)Youngstown State (3–3)Abilene Christian (4–4)25.
Preseason
August 11 [29]
Week 1
September 2 [30]
Week 2
September 8 [31]
Week 3
September 15 [32]
Week 4
September 22 [33]
Week 5
September 29 [34]
Week 6
October 6 [35]
Week 7
October 13 [36]
Week 8
October 20 [37]
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Final
Dropped:
  • No. 22т Richmond
  • No. 25 Stony Brook
Dropped:
  • No. 23 Stephen F. Austin
  • No. 24 East Tennessee State
  • No. 25т Nicholls
  • No. 25т Western Carolina
NoneDropped:
  • No. 23 New Hampshire
Dropped:
  • No. 18 South Dakota
  • No. 21 Sacramento State
Dropped:
  • No. 20 Incarnate Word
Dropped:
  • No. 13 Idaho
Dropped:
  • No. 25 West Georgia
NoneNoneNoneNoneNoneNone

References

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  3. "Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll Showdown: It's No. 2 SDSU vs. No. 3 Montana State". theanalyst.com. STATS Perform. September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  4. "United Athletic Conference Flexing Muscle in Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll". theanalyst.com. STATS Perform. September 8, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
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  6. "Missouri Valley Has Seven Teams Ranked in Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll". theanalyst.com. STATS Perform. September 22, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
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  8. "UC Davis, Mercer are Linked Again: In the Stats Perform FCS Top 25". theanalyst.com. STATS Perform. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
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  20. "North Dakota State Opens at No 1". afca.com. AFCA. August 11, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
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  23. "Montana Comes From Behind To Beat North Dakota". afca.com. AFCA. September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
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  32. "Montana Comes From Behind To Beat North Dakota". afca.com. AFCA. September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  33. "Monmouth Takes Down Villanova in Top 20 Battle". afca.com. AFCA. September 22, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  34. "Lehigh Runs Past Penn". afca.com. AFCA. September 29, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  35. "Austin Peay Takes Down West Georgia". afca.com. AFCA. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
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  37. "North Dakota Beats Second Straight Ranked Opponent". afca.com. AFCA. October 20, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.