Seven Missouri Valley Football Conference schools are ranked in the AFCA FCS Coaches preseason Top 25 poll, announced by the AFCA on Monday, Aug. 12.   Three MVFC schools are in the Top 5, including South Dakota State (1), North Dakota State (2), and South Dakota (5).   All 11 members received votes.


Courtesy AFCA
WACO, TEX.– Coming off their second straight FCS national title, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits are the preseason No. 1 team in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl. SDSU went 15-0 in 2023 and dominated Montana in the national championship game to give first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers his first national title. The Jackrabbits begin their title defense on August 31 against Oklahoma State.

North Dakota State will start the 2024 season at No. 2. Under new head coach Tim Polasek, the Bison start their season at Colorado. Last year’s runner-up, Montana, comes in at No. 3. The Grizz will look to go one step further in 2024, with their season kicking off against Missouri State. Montana State and South Dakota round out the top five. There is only one top 25 matchup in the first full week of action with No. 6 Villanova playing host to No. 23 Youngstown State on August 29.

AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – August 12, 2024
 

Rank	School (1st votes)	2023	Pts.	Season Opener
1	South Dakota St. (25)	15-0	649	Aug. 31 at Oklahoma St.
2	North Dakota St.	11-4	614	Aug. 29 at Colorado
3	Montana	13-2	576	Aug. 31 vs. Missouri St.
4	Montana St.	8-4	518	Aug. 24 at New Mexico
5	South Dakota	10-3	512	Aug. 29 vs. Northern St.
6	Villanova	10-3	502	Aug. 29 vs. No. 23 Youngstown St.
7	Idaho	9-4	473	Aug. 31 at Oregon
8	Chattanooga	8-5	403	Aug. 31 at Tennessee
9	Furman	10-3	392	Aug. 31 at Ole Miss
10	Sacramento St.	8-5	382	Aug. 29 at San Jose St.
11	Southern Illinois	8-5	370	Aug. 31 at BYU
12	Richmond	9-4	353	Aug. 31 at Virginia
13	Central Arkansas	7-4	339	Aug. 31 at Arkansas St.
14	UAlbany	11-4	275	Aug. 31 vs. LIU
15	UIW	9-2	259	Aug. 31 vs. Northern Colorado
16	William & Mary	6-5	196	Aug. 29 vs. VMI
17	UC Davis	7-4	164	Aug. 31 at California
18	Lafayette	9-3	157	Aug. 29 at Buffalo
19	Western Carolina	7-4	144	Aug. 29 at NC State
20	Illinois St.	6-5	143	Aug. 31 at Iowa
21	Tarleton	8-3	137	Aug. 24 vs. McNeese
22	North Dakota	7-5	131	Aug. 31 at Iowa St.
23	Youngstown St.	8-5	97	Aug. 29 at No. 6 Villanova
24	Nicholls	6-5	91	Aug. 31 at Louisiana Tech
25	Florida A&M (1)	12-1	71	Aug. 24 vs. Norfolk St.

 
Others Receiving Votes: Weber St., 66; North Carolina Central, 53; Eastern Illinois, 50; UT Martin, 38; Austin Peay, 35; Northern Iowa, 33; Harvard, 32; Yale, 31; Mercer, 27; Holy Cross, 20; Howard, 20; Alabama St., 17; Northern Arizona, 17; Elon, 16; Alcorn St., 9; Duquesne, 7; North Carolina A&T, 6; Fordham, 5; Gardner-Webb, 4; Indiana St., 3; Missouri St., 3; Butler, 2; Eastern Kentucky, 2; Southeast Missouri St., 2; Eastern Washington, 1; Murray St., 1; Samford, 1; Utah Tech, 1.