| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior | |
| 1 |  | North Dakota State | Bison lose to FBS Arizona, 31-28, but continue to hold the top spot. Valley plays starts next week at South Dakota. | 1 |
| 2 |  | Montana | Grizzlies were not sweating their road trip to Indiana State, winning 49-14. They return home to open the Big Sky season vs. Portland State. | 3 |
| 3 |  | South Dakota State | Jackrabbits finally got an easier opponent and won accordingly vs. Butler. Tough MVFC opener at Missouri State next week. | 2 |
| 4 |  | Incarnate Word | Cardinals stay in-state at PV A&M and win 31-14. This week's road game to Southeastern Louisiana may be the Southland game of the year. | 5 |
| 5 |  | Montana State | Bobcats are dealing with injuries and FBS Oregon State showed no mercy, 68-28. Very important Big Sky road opener at Eastern Washington next. | 4 |
| 6 |  | Delaware | Hens traveled to Rhode Island and roughed up the Rams, 42-21. They come home to play undefeated Hampton. Someone's taking a loss. | 6 |
| 7 |  | Weber State | Wildcats continue their dominating ways, crushing Utah Tech, 44-14. A road game to UC-Davis figures to be more of a battle. | 8 |
| 8 |  | Missouri State | Bears led much of their game at FBS Arkansas, but eventually wore out. MVFC play from now on. Home date with South Dakota State first. | 7 |
| 9 |  | Sacramento State | Hornets went to Northern Iowa and made the Panthers look timid. This team is locked in right now. Finish non-con next week at FBS Colorado State. | 9 |
| 10 |  | William & Mary | Tribe traveled to Lafayette, no problems, a 34-7 win. CAA play comes with a visit from Elon first. | 12 |
| 11 |  | Chattanooga | The Mocs had no serious problems defeating North Alabama. Their final non-con comes this week at FBS Illinois. | 11 |
| 12 |  | Jackson State | Tigers look like nobody is stopping them this year now. They crush Grambling State, 66-24 and look to do the same to Mississippi Valley State next. | 13 |
| 13 |  | Villanova | Wildcats took a beating by previously winless FBS Army, 49-10. They get to come back home, opening CAA play with Monmouth. | 10 |
| 14 |  | Holy Cross | Crusaders welcomed Yale to 2022 by beating them, 38-14. Starting Patriot League action next week at Colgate. | 14 |
| 15 |  | Mercer | The Bears took their extra rest and parlayed that into a 17-0 shutout of The Citadel. The last non-conference game is a roadie to Gardner-Webb. | 17 |
| 16 |  | UT Martin | Skyhawks had no answers for FBS Boise State, no fault in that. They get the honor of welcoming Lindenwood in their first OVC game ever. | 16 |
| 17 |  | Samford | Bulldogs needed a total effort to finally take care of Tennessee Tech. Home game with high-scoring Western Carolina comes next. | 21 |
| 18 |  | Eastern Washington | Eagles had the week off. They get ready to go into one of the toughest four game stretches now. They start with Montana State at home. | 19 |
| 19 |  | UC Davis | Aggies with a lopsided win over San Diego, 43-13. Business picks up again next week when Weber State comes calling. | 20 |
| 20 |  | North Dakota | Fighting Hawks scored a late touchdown to win a tough road game at Northern Arizona. Huge conference opener at Southern Illinois next. | 25 |
| 21 |  | Eastern Kentucky | Colonels put Charleston Southern away in the 3rd quarter. Conference road opener at Austin Peay this coming weekend. | 24 |
| 22 |  | Austin Peay | Governors have won three consecutive relative cupcake games. Come home next week, but Eastern Kentucky wear helmets not frosting. | NR |
| 23 |  | Southeastern Louisiana | Lions welcomed CCSU and utterly destroyed them, 70-6. They get UIW at home this week, which may ultimately decide the Southland auto in 2022. | NR |
| 24 |  | North Carolina Central | Eagles went to formerly-ranked New Hampshire and left with a 45-27 victory. The coming home game with sub-FCS Virginia-Lynchburg should be a win. | NR |
| 25 |  | Southeast Missouri | Redhawks have righted the ship after season opening loss to FBS Iowa State. A second straight home game awaits with Central Arkansas. | NR |
Madness FCS Power Rankings
