News/Commentary

FCS Coaches' Poll: NDSU Bison Win Their 10th FCS National Title

January 7, 2025 by AFCA.com

WACO, TEX.– North Dakota State survived a furious second half comeback from Montana State in the NCAA FCS national championship game to win, 35-32. The Bobcats outscored NDSU 29-14 in the final two periods, but the Bison recovered an on-side kick with a little over a minute left in the game and ran out the clock. This was North Dakota State’s 10th national title in the last 14 years. The Bison end the 2024 season at No. 1 in the final AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl. Montana State falls to No. 2.

South Dakota State and South Dakota both made appearances in the FCS semifinals, and finish at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. UC Davis, UIW, Mercer and Idaho all reached the quarterfinals and end the season ranked five through eight. Villanova and Illinois State made it to the second round of the playoffs and round out the top 10.

Lehigh and Eastern Kentucky used playoff appearances to end 2024 ranked in the AFCA top 25 for the first time this season. Lehigh made it to the second round, finishing with a 9-4 record and ranked No. 21 while Eastern Kentucky lost in the first round and comes in at No. 25 with an 8-5 mark.

See: Congrove Computer Rankings (Top 129)

Learn more at AFCA.com.

Rank School (1st votes) W-L Points LW
1 North Dakota St. (23) 14-2 575 4
2 Montana St. 15-1 552 1
3 South Dakota St. 12-3 529 2
4 South Dakota 11-3 507 3
5 UC Davis 11-3 480 5
6 UIW 11-3 448 6
7 Mercer 11-3 418 9
8 Idaho 10-4 402 8
9 Villanova 10-4 351 11
10 Illinois St. 10-4 350 10
11 Rhode Island 11-3 336 12
12 Tarleton St. 10-4 307 14
13 Montana 9-5 288 13
14 ACU 9-5 252 17
15 Jackson St. 12-2 249 15
16 Richmond 10-3 238 7
17 Southeast Missouri St. 9-4 223 16
18 UT Martin 9-5 173 20
19 Tennessee St. 9-4 139 19
20 South Carolina St. 8-5 127 18
21 Lehigh 9-4 113 NR
22 Northern Arizona 8-5 102 22
23 Missouri St. 8-4 73 21
24 New Hampshire 8-5 55 24
25 Eastern Kentucky 8-5 51 NR

Dropped Out: North Carolina Central (23), Duquesne (25)

Others Receiving Votes: North Carolina Central, 30; Drake, 29; Central Connecticut St., 28; Stony Brook, 15; Duquesne, 14; Dartmouth, 7; Columbia, 6; Harvard, 5; Southeastern Louisiana, 5.