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FCS Football Rankings: North Dakota State, Montana, Lehigh Stay Perfect

FCS Football Rankings: North Dakota State, Montana, Lehigh Stay Perfect

Get the latest FCS rankings on Nov. 17 after Week 12 as North Dakota State, Montana, Lehigh stay undefeated while key teams battle for Top 25 positioning.

Nov 17, 2025 by Amelia Engstrom
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The top five hold strong as the FCS rankings shift after Week 12.

No. 1 North Dakota State, No. 2 Montana, and No. 4 Lehigh notch their eleventh wins to extend their undefeated seasons. Along with No. 10 Harvard, those programs remain the only undefeated teams in the FCS Top 25.

No. 3 Montana State and No. 5 Tarleton State round out the top five.

Tennessee Tech suffered their first loss of the season, falling 10–42 to Kentucky. They have just one regular-season matchup left — against UT Martin — to get themselves back in the win column.

No. 7 Villanova continues its impressive run and seven-week streak. The Wildcats finished off CAA play with a 30–27 victory over Stony Brook.

No. 9 Rhode Island checks in just above the top-10 cutoff after a commanding 45–13 win over Maine. Currently undefeated in conference play, the Rams have one more test against Hampton to finish CAA play unblemished.

Meanwhile, Monmouth technically moved up from No. 12 to No. 11, where they share the position with Illinois State. The Hawks improved to 9–2 with their 44-point win over NC A&T.

With the end of the regular season fast approaching, expect fiery play in the weeks to come as teams look for last-minute opportunities to prove their prowess.

Latest Division I FCS Rankings

AFCA FCS Coaches Poll — Through Games Nov. 15, 2025

  • 1. North Dakota State (23), Prev: 1 — 11-0
  • 2. Montana (1), Prev: 2 — 11-0
  • 3. Montana State, Prev: 3 — 9-2
  • 4. Lehigh, Prev: 4 — 11-0
  • 5. Tarleton State, Prev: 5 — 10-1
  • 6. Mercer, Prev: 8 — 9-1
  • 7. Villanova, Prev: 7 — 8-2
  • 8. Tennessee Tech, Prev: 6 — 10-1
  • 9.Rhode Island, Prev: 9 — 9-2
  • 10. Harvard, Prev: 11 — 9-0
  • T11. Illinois State, Prev: 13 — 8-3
  • T11. Monmouth (N.J.), Prev: 12 — 9-2
  • 13. Stephen F. Austin, Prev: 17 — 9-2
  • 14. UC Davis, Prev: 10 — 7-3
  • 15. Jackson State, Prev: 16 — 8-2
  • 16. North Dakota, Prev: 18 — 7-4
  • 17. Youngstown State, Prev: 19 — 7-4
  • 18. Abilene Christian (ACU), Prev: 20 — 7-4
  • 19. Lamar, Prev: 14 — 8-3
  • 20. Southeastern Louisiana, Prev: 21 — 8-3
  • 21. South Dakota, Prev: 22 — 8-4
  • 22. South Dakota State, Prev: 15 — 7-4
  • 23. West Georgia, Prev: 24 — 8-3
  • 24. Lafayette, Prev: 25 — 8-3
  • 25. Yale, Prev: NR — 7-2

Dropped Out: Southern Illinois (23)

Others Receiving Votes: Southern Illinois, 28; Alabama St., 27; Dartmouth, 22; UT Rio Grande Valley, 15; Gardner-Webb, 13; Sacramento St., 12; Austin Peay, 8; New Hampshire, 7; South Carolina St., 4; Presbyterian, 3; East Tennessee St., 2; Southern Utah, 2; William & Mary, 2; Elon, 1; Northern Arizona, 1; Prairie View A&M, 1.

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