South Dakota State No. 1, Montana No. 2 in Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, Presented by FedEx Ground
For the next trophy the Montana Grizzlies hope to raise high … After collecting the Big Sky Conference championship and the Great Divide rivalry trophies by routing Montana State 37-7 on Saturday, Montana enters the FCS playoffs not just as the No. 2 seed, but, as of Monday, with the No. 2 ranking in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, presented by FedEx Ground. It’s the Grizzlies’ highest ranking in the national media poll since they were top-ranked on Sept. 6, 2010.

Coach Bobby Hauck’s 10-1 squad received all 56 second-place votes, trailing only unanimous No. 1 South Dakota State. The defending national champion Jackrabbits (11-0), also the No. 1 playoff seed, and Montana are guaranteed home games through the semifinals if they keep winning, with the title game scheduled for Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas. The Grizzlies’ storied program has captured two national titles and been the runner-up five times.  A national media panel selects the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.  

A final poll will be announced on Jan. 8, the day after the FCS championship game.



SOUTH DAKOTA STATE ENDS REGULAR SEASON AT NO. 1
WACO, TEX.– No. 1 South Dakota State finished the 2023 regular season undefeated for the first time in school history. The Jackrabbits beat Missouri State, 35-17, and moved their record to 11-0. They also received the No. 1 overall seed in the FCS playoffs and will host the winner of No. 20 Mercer vs. Gardner-Webb in the second round.
     The rest of the Top 25 has been reshuffled thanks to losses by nine ranked teams in the final week of the regular season, including four in the Top 10. Furman dropped a 19-13 decision to Wofford and fell four spots to No. 6 allowing Montana to move up to No. 2 after they beat in-state rival Montana State, 37-7. The loss caused the Bobcats to drop four places to No. 8. South Dakota moves up to No. 3 after its 48-6 victory over Western Illinois. The Coyotes are followed by Idaho at No. 4, who dominated Idaho State, 63-21.  
     Florida A&M, who plays Prairie View A&M on December 2 for the SWAC title, moves up to No. 5 thanks to Delaware’s loss to Villanova, 35-7. The Blue Hens fell six spots to No. 12 while the Wildcats jump six places to No. 9. Albany had the biggest move in the poll, rising eight places to No. 15 after its 41-0 blowout of Monmouth (N.J.). Conversely, UT Martin had the largest fall after losing to Samford, 27-17. The Skyhawks dropped eight spots to No. 21.




Stats Perform Poll Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Tarleton (8-3, 4-2 UAC) 83; Northern Iowa (6-5, 5-3 MVFC) 73; Nicholls (6-4, 7-0 Southland, including forfeit win) 59; Gardner-Webb (7-4, 5-1 Big South-OVC) 47; Drake (8-3, 8-0 Pioneer) 38; Holy Cross (7-4, 5-1 Patriot) 38; Central Arkansas (7-4, 4-2 UAC) 29; Eastern Illinois (8-3, 4-2 Big South-OVC) 16; Duquesne (7-4, 6-1 NEC) 11; Harvard (8-2, 5-2 Ivy) 11; Yale (7-3, 5-2) 5

AFCA Poll Others Receiving Votes: Western Carolina, 46; UC Davis, 45; Harvard, 42; Central Arkansas, 32; Nicholls, 23; Illinois St., 13; Yale, 13; Gardner-Webb, 12; Tarleton, 11; Drake, 5; William & Mary, 5; Rhode Island, 4; Duquesne, 3; Bryant, 1; Samford, 1.