Every week, the top teams in the FCS are ranked nationally by both FCS coaches and FCS media. I, Stan Becton, am obviously not a coach, but I am a part of the FCS media and I do have a vote in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. I’ll be submitting my ballot weekly, ranking my top 25 FCS teams.
With the FCS Playoff Committee adding the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll to its selection criteria for the first time in 2023, the media poll is of even more importance moving forward. In an effort to be transparent with my readers, fans and more, I have decided that I will reveal my ballot, with explanations for selections, every week.
Remember, this is my one ballot out of 56 total Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll voters — and just one ballot from the 23 national representatives that vote. That’s to say, yes, my ballot does impact the poll, but it’s in no way the end-all-be-all factor.
Nonetheless, here is my Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot for this week.
Preseason: Stan Becton’s Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot
1. South Dakota State
The back-to-back defending FCS Champions have the reigning Walter Payton Award winner plus plenty more impact players back in 2024. I hope the Jackrabbits are unanimously No. 1 to open the year.
2. North Dakota State
I wouldn’t be surprised if North Dakota State is the unanimous No. 2 to open the year, even with new head coach Tim Polasek. Polasek is back with the Bison for the first time since an offensive coordinator role in 2016 after most recently being the OC and quarterbacks coach at Wyoming under former NDSU title-winning coach Craig Bohl.
The reason I have the Bison No. 2 to open the year is because numerous coaches from the previous staff — particularly on the defensive side of the ball — are back to provide stability.
From a player-based analysis, quarterback Cam Miller is back and has shown the ability to navigate rough stretches of a regular season and still carry NDSU to a deep playoff run. Defensively, Cole Wisniewski might be the best returning defender in the FCS. He’ll be joined by three other preseason first-team All-MVFC members on defense. I
3. Montana State
Montana State head coach Brent Vigen has led the Bobcats to a top-eight national seed in each of his first three seasons as a head coach. Now, he and his quarterback Tommy Mellott enter their fourth season together, hoping for one last run to a title. The key for Mellott will be his health, because when healthy, he’s elite.
Mellott will benefit from being behind one of the best offensive lines in the FCS this fall and from handing the ball off to Julius Davis. The front seven of the Montana State defense will also be formidable again, and I think that should keep the Bobcats in Big Sky title contention through the Brawl of the Wild.
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4. South Dakota
Here come the Coyotes! South Dakota ranks No. 4 to open the season in my eyes. With all the talk of Big Threes this summer, South Dakota’s combo of quarterback Aidan Bouman, wide receiver Carter Bell and tight end JJ Galbreath form one of the best trios in the FCS. Nick Gaes is one of the best defensive linemen in the FCS and the Coyote secondary can make timely plays.
After earning the No. 3 seed last year, South Dakota should have high expectations this fall.
5. Montana
I’m lower on Montana than most, but I still think the Grizzlies are championship contenders. That’s why I ranked them in my top five. I didn’t rank Montana higher because while the rest of the team remains solid, I want to see quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat perform on the field first.
6. Villanova
Villanova will go as far as Connor Watkins can take it this year. I happen to think that will be pretty far in the new-look CAA after giving South Dakota State its toughest game in last year’s playoffs.
The Wildcats open with Youngstown State in a playoff rematch, but then Villanova plays only two FCS teams, Colgate and New Hampshire, that had winning records last year. FBS team Maryland and FBS transitioning team Delaware are the only other winning teams on the schedule.
Villanova should contend for a CAA title again.
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7. Sacramento State
Sacramento State has made at least the second round of the FCS playoffs in the last four years it’s played football. Yet, the Hornets have only made it out of the second round once. Sacramento State will compete for a bye this year and a Big Sky title, but none of it will matter until the postseason.
However, these are preseason rankings and I think Sacramento State will be very good this year with Kaiden Bennett leading an always-electric offense.
8. Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas’ backfield has quarterback Will McElvain and running backs Darius Hale and ShunDerrick Powell. They’ll be behind four returning starters including Will Diggins on the offensive line. Central Arkansas’ defense has All-Americans David Walker — a former top-three Buck Buchanan finalist — and TaMuarion Wilson.
With that much talent returning, Central Arkansas has the makings of a top-10 team.
9. Chattanooga
Chattanooga won an FCS playoff game last year, and starting quarterback Chase Artopoeus is back in his sixth year. Pass catchers Javin Whatley, and Jay Gibson also return to add more experience to the offense. That experience continues on the defensive side of the ball with Marlon Taylor in the trenches.
Chattanooga is set up the best from last season’s SoCon contenders Furman, Western Carolina and Mercer entering the season. As the early conference favorite, the Mocs are a top-10 team.
10. UIW
UIW as a top-10 preseason team? Didn’t we see how this played out last year? Yes and Yes.
Yet, I think this UIW team will rebound from last year’s disappointing season where it missed the playoffs after losing only twice. Quarterback Zach Calzada has all the talent to be a top-10 quarterback in the FCS, even with a new wide receiver core. I think the addition of wide receiver Roy Alexander will be crucial.
I think the UIW defense will improve with more familiarity with Jim Gush’s defensive scheme for the players. Even in year one, the Cardinals allowed just 19.5 points per game and had a top-10 pass defense nationally. As Clint Killough enters his second year as head coach, expectations of being a top team in the FCS should remain.
11. UC Davis
UC Davis has all the makings of a very good team this year. The offense runs through the Big Sky preseason MVP running back Lan Larison. Quarterback Miles Hastings has shown signs of being an upper echelon FCS quarterback, and his safety valve tight end Josh Gale isn’t too shabby either. Defensively, Rex Connors is one of the best safeties in the FCS, plus Zach Kennedy is an All-Conference defender up front.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the 2024 version of UC Davis is ranked inside the top 10 entering its final three games at Montana, vs. Montana State and at Sacramento State.
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12. Idaho
Idaho lost a lot of talent from last year’s FCS quarterfinal team, most notably the QB-WR tandem of Gevani McCoy and Hayden Hatten. Replacement quarterback Jack Layne played stellar against Idaho State, but that was a 3-8 team last season. Losing its top two cornerbacks to the transfer portal will also hurt the Vandals. However, head coach Jason Eck has quickly risen the ranks to become a top-10 FCS coach, and I think he’ll keep Idaho in playoff contention throughout the year in the Big Sky.
13. Richmond
Richmond won a share of the CAA title and a playoff game while using multiple quarterbacks throughout the year. Whether it be Kyle Wickersham or Camden Coleman this fall, entering the year with a known starter will provide stability to a Spiders team that can again contend for a conference title. The best wide receiver in the FCS may reside in Richmond, and Nick DeGennaro will ease the load for whichever signal-caller takes the reins this fall. Nonetheless, in a season where the Spiders avoid playing Villanova, UAlbany and New Hampshire, they should contend for the CAA title.
14. Lafayette
2024 could be the JaMar Curtis show in eastern Pennsylvania. The Lafayette running back stole the show with his three touchdowns in an FCS playoff loss last year and should only be better this year.
Moreover, the Leopards were picked as the unanimous Patriot League favorite after Holy Cross lost its head coach. After a glimpse at the nonconference schedule, Lafayette could run the table vs. the FCS this fall.
15. Illinois State
Running back Mason King, the MVFC Newcomer of the Year, is back at Illinois State. While quarterback is a question mark entering the year, whoever wins the job will have King plus last year’s top three wideouts to ease the transition. Amir Abdullah is a Buck Buchanan candidate on the defensive side of the ball and MVFC Freshman of the Year Tye Niekamp returns, too. With a schedule that avoids South Dakota State, Illinois State is a late September upset away from contending for an MVFC title.
16. Western Carolina
Cole Gonzales is back and can light up the scoreboard at Western Carolina. While concerns about the loss of Desmond Reid are valid, they can be eased when you remember Branson Adams stepped in to close last season for the Catamounts. We’ll know exactly how good the 2024 edition of Western Carolina can be when they play a road contest at Montana, arguably the hardest stadium to play at in the FCS.
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17. Tarleton State
Tarleton State is finally eligible for the FCS playoffs in 2024, and they may not have to wait long to get there. It’s not often in today’s transfer portal era that an FCS team returns an entire offense, but the Texans are doing just that. From quarterback to running back to wide receiver to offensive line, Tarleton State is running it back after a season where they finished 8-3 and averaged 30-plus points per game.
Leading the offense is UAC preseason offensive player of the year Kayvon Britten after rushing for 1,150 yards and 16 touchdowns. Defensively, Brandon Tolvert and Devin Sterling lead a few returners, too. With so much returning talent, Tarleton State has all the makings of a preseason playoff contender.
18. Furman
Furman lost a lot this offseason, but I liked what I saw from Carson Jones when he filled in last year. His game-winning drive against Chattanooga could be a preview of what’s to come this fall. The Paladin defense was one of the best in the FCS last year, and with three preseason all-conference members in the front seven, it should be solid again.
19. Southern Illinois
Quarterback Nic Baker is gone at Southern Illinois, but in comes former OVC freshman of the year DJ Williams. If he takes the starting job he’ll also have a new backfield mate with Ro Elliott and Justin Strong gone. I’m not sure how good the offense will be just yet. Defensively, my biggest concern lies in the trenches for the Salukis. It’s expected that there will be an entirely new group of starters up front.
With so many newcomers, it may take time for Southern Illinois to hit its stride. Unfortunately for the Salukis, time is working against them with their schedule. SIU has one of the most difficult schedules in the country, facing BYU (FBS), Austin Peay, UIW and Southeast Missouri State to open the season. Then it heads into the MVFC gauntlet with South Dakota, Illinois State and North Dakota State before the midpoint of October. Not to mention Youngstown State and South Dakota State are on the schedule in November.
Nonetheless, I’ll give Southern Illinois the benefit of the doubt entering the season, ranking them top 20 since it won a playoff game last season.
20. UAlbany
I am not high on a UAlbany team that made the FCS semifinals one year ago. That’s because this is nowhere near the same UAlbany team. Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger is gone and the defense returns… let’s count… zero starters.
With all of that turnover, I’m ranking the Great Danes No. 20 because running back Griffin Woodell is back and much of the offensive line is too. I’ll give a team that made the FCS semifinals respect, but they’ll need the football version of Gorilla Glue to gel fast enough to get back to their championship level.
21. Nicholls
Nicholls is the defending Southland champion. The Colonels return running backs Jaylon Spears and Collin Guggenheim, plus 10 other preseason First Team All-Southland honorees. Road trips to Sacramento State, Southern and UIW in the first half of the season won’t be easy, but a win in at least one of those games will keep back-to-back playoff hopes alive in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
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22. North Dakota
There will be a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback for North Dakota this fall, but the Fighting Hawks can compete with offensive weapons like running back Gaven Ziebarth and wide receiver Bo Belquist. The quarterback competition is the biggest concern in Grand Forks, however, I think a UND team that made the playoffs the last two seasons can be in a similar position this fall.
23. Eastern Illinois
UT Martin was picked over Eastern Illinois in the Big South-OVC preseason poll, but I’m personally higher on the Panthers entering the year. The QB-RB-WR trio of Pierce Holley, MJ Flowers and Eli Mirza is one of the top-10 trios in the FCS. They could shift Eastern Illinois from one of the first teams out of the playoffs in 2023 to in the field in 2024.
24. William & Mary
If you want an example of a disappointing season, look at 2023 William & Mary, which finished 6-5 after making it to the FCS quarterfinals one year prior. In 2024, I think the Tribe will be better and contend for a playoff spot.
Quarterback Darius Wilson and running back Bronson Yoder are back and should have success running the ball behind Charles Grant and an elite offensive line group. Defensively, the secondary is the returning strength, but we all should watch to see if that’s because of two elite FCS edge rushers or if they can hold their own longer in coverage.
After a nonconference home test against Furman, William & Mary’s CAA slate could be easy; Elon and Richmond are the only teams in the top half of the preseason poll. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Tribe makes the playoffs this year.
25. Alabama State
Alabama State is my top team in HBCU football this year. Defensively, I think it can match up with any of the teams I picked it over for this final spot in my preseason top 25. Offensively, I think the addition of Andrew Body could be exactly what the Hornets have been missing during the Eddie Robinson Jr. era. With nonconference games against North Carolina Central and Samford in 2024, Alabama State will have chances to prove its worthiness of a spot in the top 25 throughout the season.
FIRST LOOK: 2024 Preseason HBCU football power rankings
First teams out (alphabetical): Austin Peay, Elon, Mercer, UT Martin, Weber State, Youngstown State