Week 1 FCS Football Top 25 Rankings

RankTeamCommentsPrior
1South Dakota State LogoSouth Dakota State
SDSU (1-0) went to FBS Colorado State and won 42-23, in a game not as close as score showed. Lower class Lindenwood comes next.3
2Montana LogoMontana  UM (1-0) was super impressive, beating FBS Washington, 13-7. Home date with Western Illinois should be easier.6
3Sam Houston State LogoSam HoustonSHSU (1-0) picked up where they left off,winning at Northern Arizona. Desperate Southeast Missouri State comes to Huntsville next week.1
4James Madison LogoJames MadisonJMU (1-0) hosted Morehead State and did what they always do - blowout in opener. CAA opener at home with Maine next week.2
5north Dakota State LogoNorth Dakota StateNDSU (1-0) hosted Albany and won, 28-6. Coming home game with Valparaiso should be over in first quarter.4
6Eastern Washington LogoEastern WashingtonEWU (1-0) rolled into Vegas and beat FBS UNLV in double overtime. Sneaky D-II Central Washington visits next weekend.10
7Southern Illinois LogoSouthern IllinoisSIU (1-0) was very rude company, pounding Southeast Missouri State. Road game at FBS Kansas State will be tough. Upset special?8
8Delaware LogoDelawareUD (1-0) won a tough, conference road opener at Maine. Get to come home and play St. Francis next.5
9Weber State LogoWeber StateWSU (0-1) lead early against FBS Utah, but wore down eventually. Different in-state road opponent this week, Dixie State.7
10UC Davis LogoUC DavisUC-D (1-0) went to the midwest and beat FBS Tulsa. They come back to California to play at San Diego next.18
11North Dakota LogoNorth DakotaUND (1-0) won comfortably at Idaho State. Travel to FBS Utah State next. Could they be thinking upset also?14
12Montana State LogoMontana State MSU (0-1) was winning right up until the end against FBS Wyoming. Home game with Drake should be a clearer and cleaner result.12
13Central Arkansas LogoCentral ArkansasUCA (0-1) just didn't have the firepower to stay with Arkansas State. A tough roadie coming, across the northern border, Missouri State.11
14East Tennessee State FCS Football Top 25East Tennessee StateETSU (1-0) won at FBS Vanderbilt. Next two home games are almost 100% gimmes. Lower class Virginia-Wise comes first.NR
15VMI LogoVMI VMI (1-0) won at home, as expected, against Davidson. This road game at FBS Kent State is a potential win also.17
16Southeastern Louisiana LogoSoutheastern Louisiana SLU (1-0) had to change venue to North Alabama. Still won big. Travel to FBS Louisiana Tech next in a likely mega shootout.15
17#20 Villanova FCS Football 2021 PreviewVillanova
VU (1-0) took a short ride to Lehigh and plucked the Hawks. Home date with Bucknell should produce more of the same.20
18Monmouth Logo Monmouth  MU (0-1) was more or less steamrolled by FBS MTSU. It happens. Need to rebound next week at Fordham. 13
19Jacksonville State LogoJacksonville State JSU (0-1) kicked off their season and didn't score against FBS Alabama-Birmingham. No easier next week at FBS Florida State.9
20#25 Sacramento State FCS Football 2021 PreviewSacramento StateCSU-S (1-0) went on the road and beat FCS newcomer Dixie State. Probably expected a bigger win. Northern Iowa comes next.25
21#21 Northern Iowa FCS Football 2021 PreviewUNI UNI (0-1) lost a defensive battle to FBS Iowa State, 16-10. Will the offense show up at Sacramento State? Likely the defense will.21
22Austin Peay FCS Football Top 25Austin PeayAPSU (1-0) won a huge road non-con at Chattanooga. Travel to FBS Mississippi next, in another will-testing roadie.NR
23Richmond FCS Football Top 25RichmondUR (1-0) thoroughly beat Howard. Next week the Spiders host Lehigh, who should be a very similar experience.NR
24Missouri State FCS Football Top 25Missouri StateMSU (0-1) played Oklahoma State tougher than most expected. Are the Bears for real again? Home game with UCA will say a lot.NR
25Murray State LogoMurray State
MSU (1-0) shutout MVSU, 35-0. First of two FBS road games awaits. Cincinnati is not going to be fun to play.23