FCS Football Top 25: McKinnell's Week 10 2025 Rankings

Introduction to the 2025 FCS Football Season Rankings

As a voter for the FCS Stats Perform Top 25, I have the privilege of contributing to the rankings for the 2025 season. This year, I also submitted my ballot for the Redshirt Sports Top 25 poll. Throughout the season, I will release my weekly ballot and explain my reasoning behind the selections. Transparency is key, as it allows fans to understand how teams are analyzed and ranked week-to-week.

Below is my ballot for the 2025 FCS football season:

1. North Dakota State
2. Montana
3. Montana State
4. Tarleton State
5. Lehigh
6. Harvard
7. Tennessee Tech
8. Monmouth
9. North Dakota
10. UC Davis
11. Mercer
12. Southeastern Louisiana
13. South Dakota State
14. Abilene Christian
15. Stephen F. Austin
16. Villanova
17. Youngstown State
18. Western Carolina
19. Illinois State
20. Rhode Island
21. Southern Illinois
22. Lamar
23. South Dakota
24. West Georgia
25. Jackson State

Honorable Mentions: Presbyterian, Alabama State, Lafayette, Sacramento State, Dartmouth

Analysis of the Week's Rankings

This week was particularly challenging as a Top 25 voter. Seven ranked teams lost to unranked or lower-ranked opponents, with a total of eight ranked teams losing if you include Youngstown State’s loss to North Dakota State. Four of those eight losses were Top 10 teams, making this week’s ballot extremely difficult.

Balancing factors such as FCS record, ranked wins, strength of schedule, average margin of victory, advanced metrics (Power ratings), the eye test, and head-to-head results is no easy task. This week tested that balance, and while some teams could be moved up or down, the rankings will continue to evolve over the next few weeks.

Key Changes in the Top 25

The top three teams were clear-cut choices. North Dakota State remains the undisputed No. 1 team in the FCS, adding another Top 25 win to their resume. Montana has held the No. 2 spot for several weeks, and nothing has changed after they handled Weber State. Montana State also impressed with a dominant 55-7 win over Northern Colorado, extending their winning streak to seven games.

Abilene Christian made a strong return to the Top 15 after defeating Tarleton State. The Wildcats now have four Top 25 wins, improving to 5-2 against the FCS. While losses to UIW and Southern Utah limit their ceiling, their ability to win against good teams is undeniable. They also hold a head-to-head win against Stephen F. Austin, which justifies their placement in the Top 15.

Tarleton State suffered their first loss of the season, leading to overreactions about their rating. However, I still believe they are one of the Top 4 teams in the country. Their resume includes four Top 50 FCS wins (Massey) and an FBS win over Army, giving them one of the strongest records in the nation.

South Dakota State faced a major upset, losing to Indiana State at home. Although Chase Mason was sidelined due to injury, this loss raises concerns about their performance without their starting quarterback. Teams like Tarleton State, Lamar, UC Davis, Jackson State, and Monmouth have managed to avoid losses without their starters, suggesting that South Dakota State may not be as strong as previously thought.

Jackson State’s loss was one of the worst for any team in the Top 15 conversation. Without Mason, the Jacks aren’t a Top 10 team. If he returns and they win on the road against USD, I will reconsider their ranking.

Lehigh jumped into the Top 5 after a series of impressive performances. The Mountain Hawks are now 9-0, with notable wins over Yale, Penn, and then-ranked Richmond. They have dominated since Week 1, winning their past eight games by two scores or more. They also have three or more Top 50 FCS wins (Massey), joining Montana and North Dakota State as undefeated teams with strong resumes.

Harvard also moved firmly into the Top 10 after a dominant win over Dartmouth. The Crimson have outscored their opponents 290-79, with their lowest margin of victory being 21 points. I gave Harvard the edge over Tennessee Tech due to the Golden Eagles’ non-Division I win, but I view them almost equally right now.

Upcoming Matchups

Next week features five ranked matchups that will help clarify the rankings between No. 4 and No. 25. These games will provide more data points, allowing for a better assessment of where each team should be ranked.

Here are the five ranked matchups in Week 11 (Rankings from the Stats Perform Top 25):

• No. 1 North Dakota State vs. No. 13 North Dakota
• No. 8 South Dakota State vs. No. 22 South Dakota
• No. 12 Mercer vs. No. 24 Western Carolina
• No. 15 Southern Illinois vs. No. 21 Youngstown State
• No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana vs. No. 20 Lamar

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