News/Commentary

FCS Coaches' Poll: South Dakota State, Montana State Remain 1-2

October 16, 2023 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff and AFCA.com

Montana and Idaho have played 88 times for the Little Brown Stein and the 89th meeting was a classic. The Grizzlies controlled much of the first half, building a 20-0 lead, then their defense forced three turnovers and withstood a ferocious comeback from Idaho to win, 23-21. The victory jumped Montana four spots to No. 6 in this week’s AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 Poll while the Vandals fell five places to No. 8. This was the second straight road victory against a ranked opponent for Montana, which hasn’t happened for the Grizzlies since 2000.

South Dakota State and Montana State remain in the top two spots, but Furman, Sacramento State and UIW each move up a spot to round out the Top 5. That movement sets up a Top 4 battle in the Big Sky Conference this coming Saturday as No. 2 Montana State travels to No. 4 Sacramento State. No. 1 South Dakota State and No. 3 Furman also have Top 25 road games as well. The Jackrabbits will travel to No. 12 Southern Illinois while the Paladins must visit No. 14 Western Carolina.

Austin Peay jumps into the AFCA Top 25 for the first time this season at No. 24. After starting the season with two straight losses, one to FBS-member Tennessee, the Governors have rolled off four straight victories, including last Saturday’s 41-14 domination of Gardner-Webb.

Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Week 3 Next Game
1 South Dakota St. (26) 6-0 650 1 D. Northern Iowa, 41-6 10/21 at (12) Southern Illinois
2 Montana St. 5-1 623 2 D. Cal Poly, 59-19 10/21 at (4) Sacramento State
3 Furman 5-1 570 4 D. Samford, 27-21 10/21 at (14) Western Carolina
4 Sacramento St. 5-1 566 5 D. Northern Colorado, 21-13 10/21 (2) Montana State
5 UIW 5-1 511 6 D. Texas A&M-Commerce, 28-11 10/21 at McNeese
6 Montana 6-1 495 10 D. (3) Idaho, 23-21 10/28 Northern Colorado
7 Delaware 5-1 464 8 D. North Carolina A&T, 21-6 10/21 at Hampton
8 Idaho 5-2 418 3 L. (10 Montana, 23-21 10/28 (2) Montana St.
9 North Dakota 4-2 409 15 D. (7) North Dakota St., 49-24 10/21 at Northern Iowa
10 North Carolina Central 5-1 408 9 Idle 10/19 at Morgan St.
11 Holy Cross 4-2 365 11 Idle 10/21 Lafayette
12 Southern Illinois 5-1 349 13 D. Murray St., 27-6 10/21 (1) South Dakota St.
13 William & Mary 4-2 335 12 Idle 10/21 Towson
14 Western Carolina 5-1 329 14 Idle 10/21 (3) Furman
15 North Dakota St. 4-2 320 7 L. (15) North Dakota, 49-24 10/21 Western Illinois
16 South Dakota 5-1 305 17 D. (20t) Youngstown St., 34-31 10/21 at Indiana St.
17 Harvard 5-0 234 18 D. Howard, 48-7 10/21 at Princeton
18 Florida A&M 5-1 227 16 Idle 10/21 at Texas Southern
19 UT Martin 5-1 190 19 Idle 10/21 Charleston Southern
20 Chattanooga 5-2 151 20t D. Mercer, 22-10 10/21 East Tennessee St.
21 Central Arkansas 5-2 120 25 D. Stephen F. Austin, 24-21 10/28 Tarleton
22 New Hampshire 3-3 81 24 D. Albany, 38-31 10/21 at Stony Brook
23 UC Davis 4-3 67 NR D. (23) Weber St., 17-16 10/28 at Northern Arizona
24 Austin Peay 4-2 59 NR D. Gardner-Webb, 41-14 10/21 at Southern Utah
25 Illinois St. 4-2 58 NR D. Indiana St., 44-7 10/21 at Youngstown St.

Dropped Out: Youngstown St. (20t), Rhode Island (22), Weber St. (23)

Others Receiving Votes: Fordham, 47; Villanova, 38; Lafayette, 21; Youngstown St., 17; Eastern Kentucky, 6; Northern Iowa, 6; Rhode Island, 6; Pennsylvania, 2; Albany, 1; Mercer, 1; Portland St., 1.

For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com.