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FCS Rankings: North Dakota St. Routs Rival South Dakota St. To Hold No. 1

FCS Rankings: North Dakota St. Routs Rival South Dakota St. To Hold No. 1

See the most recent AFCA Coaches Poll and Stats Perform Top 25 rankings after week 9 of the 2025 FCS college football season. Follow the action all season.

Oct 27, 2025 by Andy Schamma
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It's hard to ignore the top headline in FCS college football this week with No. 1 North Dakota State facing off against rival No. 2 South Dakota State—the two have had a stranglehold on the top ranks all season long.

The Jackrabbits were no challenge for the Bison, who routed their southerly neighbors 38-7 in front of a record crowd at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Although the two polls disagreed, the loss resulted in a drop of at least two spots.

Only two other ranked teams lost over the weekend.

Presbyterian took their first loss of the season to Pioneer conference rival Dayton, which led to them falling out of the top 20 across the board.

Jackson State walked away from the HBCU Classic stunned after losing to Grambling in a last minute 44-yard field goal to take the lead, 26-24.

All three ranked CAA teams took wins—necessary to keep their spots near the top as Villanova and Rhode Island take a weekend off.

FloCollege is the home of CAA, D2, and D3 college football. Tune in this weekend to watch CAA football live.

View the most recent FCS college football rankings, after week 9 games on October 25, below.

Latest Division I FCS Rankings

AFCA FCS Coaches Poll After Oct. 27, 2025

  • 1. North Dakota State (8-0) — Previous: 1
  • 2. Tarleton State (9-0) — Previous: 3
  • 3. Montana (8-0) — Previous: 4
  • 4. Montana State (6-2) — Previous: 5
  • 5. South Dakota State (7-1) — Previous: 2
  • 6. UC Davis (6-1) — Previous: 6
  • 7. Lehigh (8-0) — Previous: 7
  • 8. Tennessee Tech (8-0) — Previous: 8
  • 9. Monmouth (7-1) — Previous: 9
  • 10. North Dakota (6-2) — Previous: 10
  • 11. Villanova (6-2) — Previous: 12
  • 12. Rhode Island (7-2) — Previous: 13
  • 13. Mercer (6-1) — Previous: 14
  • 14. Lamar (7-1) — Previous: 15
  • 15. Harvard (6-0) — Previous: 17
  • 16. Southeastern Louisiana (6-2) — Previous: 19
  • 17. Southern Illinois (5-3) — Previous: 18
  • 18. Illinois State (5-3) — Previous: 20
  • 19. Youngstown State (5-3) — Previous: 21
  • 20. Jackson State (5-2) — Previous: 11
  • 21. Northern Arizona (5-3) — Previous: 22
  • 22. Presbyterian (7-1) — Previous: 16
  • 23. Stephen F. Austin (6-2) — Previous: 24
  • 24. Austin Peay (5-3) — Previous: 23
  • 25. Abilene Christian (4-4) — Previous: 25

Others Receiving Votes: UT Rio Grande Valley, 25; Western Carolina, 21; West Georgia, 18; Dartmouth, 12; Lafayette, 12; Gardner-Webb, 10; South Dakota, 9; Sacramento St., 4; Prairie View A&M, 3; Alabama St., 2; Central Connecticut St., 1.

Stats Perform FCS Top 25 After Oct. 27, 2025

  • 1. North Dakota State (8-0) — Previous: 1
  • 2. Tarleton State (9-0) — Previous: 3
  • 3. Montana (8-0) — Previous: 4
  • T-4. Montana State (6-2) — Previous: 5
  • T-4. South Dakota State (7-1) — Previous: 2
  • 6. UC Davis (6-1) — Previous: 6
  • 7. Lehigh (8-0) — Previous: 7
  • 8. North Dakota (6-2) — Previous: 8
  • 9. Tennessee Tech (8-0) — Previous: 9
  • 10. Monmouth (7-1) — Previous: 10
  • 11. Villanova (6-2) — Previous: 11
  • 12. Harvard (6-0) — Previous: 14
  • 13. Rhode Island (7-2) — Previous: 13
  • 14. Lamar (7-1) — Previous: 15
  • 15. Mercer (6-1) — Previous: 17
  • 16. Southern Illinois (5-3) — Previous: 16
  • 17. Illinois State (5-3) — Previous: 18
  • 18. Youngstown State (5-3) — Previous: 22
  • 19. Northern Arizona (5-3) — Previous: 20
  • 20. Stephen F. Austin (6-2) — Previous: 24
  • 21. Southeastern Louisiana (6-2) — Previous: NR
  • 22. Austin Peay (5-3) — Previous: 25
  • 23. Jackson State (5-2) — Previous: 12
  • 24. Abilene Christian (4-4) — Previous: 23
  • 25. Presbyterian (7-1) — Previous: 19

Dropped Out: South Dakota (21)

Others Receiving Votes: South Dakota (5-4, 3-2 MVFC), 99; Western Carolina (5-3, 4-0 SoCon), 95; Alabama State (5-2, 3-1 SWAC), 21; Dartmouth (5-1, 3-1 Ivy), 17;  Lafayette (5-3, 3-0 Patriot), 15; Delaware State (5-3, 1-0 MEAC), 14; West Georgia (6-3, 3-3 UAC), 14; Gardner-Webb (5-3, 3-1 OVC-Big South), 12; Dayton (6-2, 4-1 Pioneer), 8; Prairie View A&M (6-2, 4-0 SWAC), 4; UT Rio Grande Valley (6-2, 2-2 Southland), 4; New Hampshire (5-4, 3-2 CAA), 2; Sacramento State (4-4, 2-2 Big Sky), 2

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