News/Commentary

FCS Coaches' Poll: North Dakota State Moves To No. 1

October 21, 2024 by AFCA.com and CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

After taking possession of the Dakota Marker trophy by knocking off No. 1 South Dakota State, 13-9, on Saturday night, the Bison themselves are the No. 1 team in this week’s AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl. The two-time defending national champion Jackrabbits drop to No. 3.

North Dakota State scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:49 left to go, and Logan Kopp intercepted a pass on South Dakota State's ensuing drive to clinch the 13-9 victory.

Montana State moves to No. 2 and is one of only two unbeaten teams in FCS after a 44-14 win over Portland State. The other unbeaten team is Dartmouth which moves up from 24 to 22 after a 20-16 win over Central Connecticut State.

South Dakota remains in the fourth spot and will travel to No. 3 South Dakota State and try hand the Jackrabbits a second straight loss for the first time since the final two games of the 2019 season when they followed up a road loss to the Coyotes with a setback at home to Northern Iowa.

UC Davis moves up to No. 5 thanks to Maine’s upset of then-No. 5 Villanova, 35-7. The Wildcats dropped to No. 14 after the loss.   

The only other top 25 matchup this week, besides the South Dakota-South Dakota State, has No. 24 Stony Brook hosting No. 15 William & Mary. The last time Stony Brook beat William & Mary at home was on November 5, 2016 when the Seawolves prevailed, 14-9.

Learn more at AFCA.com.

AFCA Coaches' Poll

Rank School (1st votes) W-L Points LW
1 North Dakota St. (24) 7-1 648 2
2 Montana St. (2) 8-0 614 3
3 South Dakota St. 5-2 590 1
4 South Dakota 6-1 581 4
5 UC Davis 7-1 542 6
6 Southeast Missouri St. 7-1 502 8
7 North Dakota 5-2 476 10
8 Tarleton St. 6-1 472 9
9 Montana 5-2 409 11
10 Central Arkansas 5-2 366 12
11 UIW 5-2 350 13
12 Idaho 5-3 327 14
13 Richmond 5-2 308 15
14 Villanova 5-2 301 5
15 William & Mary 5-2 285 16
16 Rhode Island 6-1 262 17
17 Mercer 6-1 261 7
18 Missouri St. 5-2 201 20
19 ACU 5-3 192 21t
20 Illinois St. 5-3 147 23
21 North Carolina Central 5-2 131 21t
22 Dartmouth 5-0 110 24
23 Jackson St. 5-2 82 25
24 Stony Brook 5-2 49 NR
25 Chattanooga 4-3 40 NR

Dropped Out: Florida A&M (18), New Hampshire (19)

Others Receiving Votes: Duquesne, 37; New Hampshire, 22; East Tennessee St., 18; UT Martin, 18; Western Carolina, 18; Florida A&M, 15; Monmouth (N.J.), 15; Tennessee St., 13; Sacramento St., 10; Harvard, 8; Drake, 7; Columbia, 5; Lafayette, 4; Robert Morris, 4; Lamar, 3; Butler, 2; Northern Arizona, 2; Samford, 2; Southeastern Louisiana, 1.