News/Commentary

FCS Coaches' Poll: Defending Champion Jackrabbits No. 1

September 9, 2024 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff and AFCA.com

Idaho sacked the Wyoming quarterback five times, forced one turnover and allowed the Cowboys only one touchdown in the Vandal’s first-ever win in Laramie, 17-13. The victory propelled Idaho up two places to No. 5 in this week’s AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl. This was the Vandals’ second straight win over a Mountain West opponent in as many seasons, and their first win over Wyoming since 1921.

Learn more at AFCA.com.

South Dakota State beat then-No. 11 UIW, 45-24, and continues the hold on to the top spot, followed by North Dakota State, who dismantled Tennessee State, 52-3. Montana State is the only 3-0 team in FCS after a 41-24 win over Maine to keep the No. 3 spot. Villanova jumped to No. 4 after a 28-3 victory over Colgate and rounds out the top five.

The coming weekend sees four battles between ranked schools. The Vandals will play host to No. 15 UAlbany, No. 8 Southern Illinois entertains No. 14 UIW, No. 11 Sacramento State welcomes No. 23 Nicholls, and No. 16 Chattanooga hosts No. 24 Mercer.

Rank School (1st votes) W-L Points LW Last Game Next Game (all on 9/7)
1 South Dakota St. (22) 1-1 645 1 W 45-24 vs UIW 9/14 Augustana (S.D.)
2 North Dakota St. (2) 1-1 620 2 W 52-3 vs Tennessee St. 9/14 at at East Tennessee St.
3 Montana St. (2) 3-0 599 3 W 41-24 vs Maine 9/21 Mercyhurst
4 Villanova 2-0 553 5 W 28-3 vs Colgate 9/14 Towson
5 Idaho 1-1 545 7 W 17-13 vs Wyoming 9/14 (15) UAlbany
6 South Dakota 1-1 515 6 L 27-13 at Wisconsin 9/14 at at Portland St.
7 Central Arkansas 1-1 433 9 W 34-13 at Lindenwood 9/14 Austin Peay
8 Southern Illinois 1-1 426 12 W 31-17 at Austin Peay 9/14 (14) UIW
9 Montana 1-1 405 4 L 27-24 at (20) North Dakota 9/14 Morehead St.
10 North Dakota 1-1 362 20 W 27-24 vs (4) Montana 9/14 Idaho St.
11 Sacramento St. 0-2 304 8 L 46-30 at Fresno St. 9/14 (23) Nicholls
12 UC Davis 1-1 283 18 W 36-22 vs Texas A&M-Commerce 9/14 at Southern Utah
13 William & Mary 1-1 281 14 L 40-21 at Coastal Carolina 9/14 at Wofford
14 UIW 1-1 277 11 L 45-24 at (1) South Dakota St. 9/14(8) Southern Illinois
15 UAlbany 1-1 266 13 L 49-14 at West Virginia 9/14 at (5) Idaho
16 Chattanooga 0-2 265 10 L 24-21 at Georgia St. 9/14 (24) Mercer
17 Tarleton St. 2-1 231 21 W 35-18 vs Houston Christian 9/21 at North Alabama
18 Lafayette 1-1 218 19 W 40-35 at Monmouth (NJ) 9/14 Marist
19 Illinois St. 1-1 202 22 W 24-17 at North Alabama 9/14 Western Illinois
20 Youngstown St. 1-1 183 23 W 59-25 vs Valparaiso 9/14 Duquesne
21 Northern Iowa 2-0 86 NR W 17-10 at St. Thomas (MN) 9/14 at Nebraska
22 Florida A&M 2-1 70 24 Lost 56-9 at to Miami (FL) 9/21 at Troy
23 Nicholls 0-2 65 25 Lost 44-21 at LSU 9/14 at (11) Sacramento St.
24 Mercer 2-0 64 NR W 31-2 at Bethune-Cookman 9/14 at (16) Chattanooga
25 Weber St. 1-1 63 NR W 43-16 vs.Portland St. 9/14 at Lamar

Dropped Out: Richmond (15), Furman (16), Western Carolina (17)

Others Receiving Votes: Southeast Missouri St., 61; Furman, 51; Richmond, 49; Wofford, 46; ACU, 38; Elon, 37; Southern Utah, 31; Eastern Illinois, 28; Western Carolina, 27; North Carolina Central, 16; Northern Arizona, 14; Delaware St., 13; New Hampshire, 13; Harvard, 11; UT Martin, 10; Missouri St., 8; Yale, 8; St. Francis (Pa.), 6; Drake, 5; Alabama A&M, 4; Alabama St., 2; Georgetown (D.C.), 2; McNeese, 2; Rhode Island, 2; Campbell, 1; Indiana St., 1; Lamar, 1; Prairie View A&M, 1; Stephen F. Austin, 1.