News/Commentary

FCS Coaches' Poll - Top 4 Unchanged, Sacramento State Back In Top 5

October 9, 2023 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff and AFCA.com

Chattanooga probably thought they had their game won against Western Carolina when the Mocs took a 50-49 lead with 53 seconds left to go in the game, but Catamount quarterback Cole Gonzales had other ideas. Gonzales marched WCU into field goal range and kicker Richard McCollum split the uprights as time expired to give Western Carolina a 52-50 victory. The win broke a 47-game road losing streak to ranked opponents for the Catamounts. The last time WCU beat a ranked opponent on the road was October 27, 1984, to Furman. The win moved Western Carolina to No. 14 in this week’s AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 Poll while Chattanooga remained in the same spot despite the loss.

The Top 4 remained unchanged this week with South Dakota State solidifying the top spot after their 40-21 win over then-No. 22 Illinois State. The fifth spot is now in the hands of Sacramento State because of Southern Illinois’ 31-3 loss to Youngstown State. The loss dropped the Salukis to No. 13 while the Penguins re-entered the poll at No. 20t. Youngstown State doesn’t get long to enjoy their new ranking as they must travel to No. 17 South Dakota this coming Saturday. The Coyotes will be looking for revenge after last year’s 45-24 loss to YSU.

Nine members of the Top 25 lost in each of the two previous weeks. This week saw 7 teams go down, but 4 came against other ranked teams.

(5) Southern Illinois lost 31-3 at (UR) Youngstown State
(9) William & Mary lost 27-13 at FBS member Virginia
(14) Weber State lost 27-10 vs. (UR) Northern Arizona
(18) UC Davis lost 31-23 vs. (13) Montana
(20) Chattanooga lost 52-50 vs. (17) Western Carolina
(22) Illinois State lost 40-21 vs. (1) South Dakota State
(25) Eastern Illinois lost 28-27 in OT vs. (23) UT-Martin

Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Week 3 Next Game
1 South Dakota St. (26) 5-0 650 1 D. (22) Illinois St., 40-21 10/14 Northern Iowa
2 Montana St. 4-1 621 2 Idle 10/14 Cal Poly
3 Idaho 5-1 600 3 D. Cal Poly, 42-14 10/14 (10) Montana
4 Furman 4-1 554 4 D. The Citadel, 28-14 10/14 at Samford
5 Sacramento St. 4-1 519 7 Idle 10/14 at Northern Colorado
6 UIW 4-1 488 6 D. SE Louisiana, 33-26 10/14 Texas A&M-Commerce
7 North Dakota St. 4-1 486 8 D. Missouri St., 38-10 10/14 at (15) North Dakota
8 Delaware 4-1 435 10 D. Duquesne, 43-17 10/14 North Carolina A&T
9 North Carolina Central 5-1 394 11 D. Elon, 34-23 10/19 at Morgan St.
10 Montana 5-1 375 13 D. (18) UC Davis, 31-23 10/14 at (3) Idaho
11 Holy Cross 4-2 358 12 D. Bucknell, 55-27 10/21 Lafayette
12 William & Mary 4-2 352 9 L. Virginia, 27-13 10/21 Towson
13 Southern Illinois 4-1 325 5 L. Youngstown St., 31-3 10/14 at Murray St.
14 Western Carolina 5-1 317 17 D. (20) Chattanooga, 52-50 10/21 (4) Furman
15 North Dakota 3-2 312 15 D. Western Illinois, 49-10 10/14 (7) North Dakota St.
16 Florida A&M 5-1 248 16 D. Southern, 26-19 10/21 at Texas Southern
17 South Dakota 4-1 246 21 D. Murray St., 38-7 10/14 (20t) Youngstown St.
18 Harvard 4-0 208 19 D. Cornell, 41-23 10/14 Howard
19 UT Martin 5-1 177 23 D. (25t) E. Illinois, 28-27 OT 10/21 Charleston Southern
20t. Chattanooga 4-2 90 20 L. (17) W. Carolina, 52-50 10/14 at Mercer
20t. Youngstown St. 3-2 90 NR D. (5) So. Illinois, 31-3 10/14 at (17) South Dakota
22 Rhode Island 4-2 83 25t D. Brown, 34-30 10/14 Richmond
23 Weber St. 3-3 67 14 L. No. Arizona, 27-10 10/14 UC Davis
24 New Hampshire 2-3 54 24 Idle 10/14 Albany
25 Central Arkansas 4-2 52 NR D. Southeast Missouri, 38-33 10/14 Stephen F. Austin

Dropped Out: UC Davis (18), Illinois St. (22), Eastern Illinois (25t)

Others Receiving Votes: Northern Iowa, 51; UC Davis, 49; Illinois St., 43; Fordham, 37; Austin Peay, 34; Mercer, 31; Albany, 25; Eastern Washington, 19; Lafayette, 19; Villanova, 12; Eastern Illinois, 10; Northern Arizona, 8; Eastern Kentucky, 6; Hampton, 4; Jackson St., 1.