News/Commentary

FCS Preseason Coaches' Poll: Defending Champion Jackrabbits No. 1

August 12, 2024 by AFCA.com

Coming off their second straight FCS national title, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits are the preseason No. 1 team in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl. SDSU went 15-0 in 2023 and dominated Montana in the national championship game to give first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers his first national title. The Jackrabbits begin their title defense on August 31 against Oklahoma State.

North Dakota State will start the 2024 season at No. 2. Under new head coach Tim Polasek, the Bison start their season at Colorado. Last year’s runner-up, Montana, comes in at No. 3. The Grizz will look to go one step further in 2024, with their season kicking off against Missouri State. Montana State and South Dakota round out the top five. There is only one top 25 matchup in the first full week of action with No. 6 Villanova playing host to No. 23 Youngstown State on August 29.

Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Next
1 South Dakota St. (25) 15-0 649 1 8/31 at Oklahoma St.
2 North Dakota St. 11-4 614 3 8/29 at Colorado
3 Montana 13-2 576 2 8/31 vs. Missouri St.
4 Montana St. 8-4 518 8 8/24 at New Mexico
5 South Dakota 10-3 512 4t 8/29 vs. Northern St.
6 Villanova 10-3 502 9 8/29 vs. No. 23 Youngstown St.
7 Idaho 9-4 473 4t 8/31 at Oregon
8 Chattanooga 8-5 403 17 8/31 at Tennessee
9 Furman 10-3 392 6 8/31 at Ole Miss
10 Sacramento St. 8-5 382 15 8/29 at San Jose St.
11 Southern Illinois 8-5 370 13 8/31 at BYU
12 Richmond 9-4 353 22 8/31 at Virginia
13 Central Arkansas 7-4 339 NR 8/31 at Arkansas St.
14 UAlbany 11-4 275 7 8/31 vs. LIU
15 UIW 9-2 259 14 8/31 vs. Northern Colorado
16 William & Mary 6-5 196 NR 8/29 vs. VMI
17 UC Davis 7-4 164 NR 8/31 at California
18 Lafayette 9-3 157 19 8/29 at Buffalo
19 Western Carolina 7-4 144 NR 8/29 at NC State
20 Illinois St. 6-5 143 NR 8/31 at Iowa
21 Tarleton 8-3 137 NR 8/24 vs. McNeese
22 North Dakota 7-5 131 16 8/31 at Iowa St.
23 Youngstown St. 8-5 97 21 8/29 at No. 6 Villanova
24 Nicholls 6-5 91 NR 8/31 at Louisiana Tech
25 Florida A&M (1) 12-1 71 10 8/24 vs. Norfolk St.

 

*– Ranking in final AFCA FCS Coaches Poll of 2023

Others Receiving Votes: Weber St., 66; North Carolina Central, 53; Eastern Illinois, 50; UT Martin, 38; Austin Peay, 35; Northern Iowa, 33; Harvard, 32; Yale, 31; Mercer, 27; Holy Cross, 20; Howard, 20; Alabama St., 17; Northern Arizona, 17; Elon, 16; Alcorn St., 9; Duquesne, 7; North Carolina A&T, 6; Fordham, 5; Gardner-Webb, 4; Indiana St., 3; Missouri St., 3; Butler, 2; Eastern Kentucky, 2; Southeast Missouri St., 2; Eastern Washington, 1; Murray St., 1; Samford, 1; Utah Tech, 1.

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