FCS Football Rankings for Week 9: Who doesn't love surprises?

What an incredible and explosive week of college football took place last week, especially in the FCS as we take a look at the new AFCA Coaches Poll Rankings for Week 9.

There were some top teams that still showed they were the best the division had to offer, but the headlines came from the few surprising defeats. Here are some of the key notes from this week’s Top 25.

North Dakota State wins the 2024 Dakota Marker

NDSU football is the new No. 1 – In a low-scoring affair that resulted in a game-winning 10-play, 92-yard drive that ended with Cam Miller throwing a touchdown to receiver RaJa Nelson, her second touchdown connection of the game for the 13-9 win South Dakota State held a slim 9-7 lead for most of the second half.
What’s next for SDSU? – The Jackrabbits don’t have time to dwell on the loss as they have a quick turnaround and face in-state rival No. 3 South Dakota in a matchup between No. 3 and No. 4 with potentially high stakes for the loser is possible to fall out of the top ten.

Villanova falls to 14th place after disappointing performance

How shocking was the loss? – Villanova football entered the game as 13-point favorites against unranked Maine, and both teams had suffered setbacks on opposite sides earlier in the week. Throughout the season, Villanova seemed to be one of the FCS’s elite teams, capable of beating any opponent on any night, and that may still be true, but it will be hard for future opponents not to feel like they have the blueprint could have to defeat the Wildcats.
Why the defeat affects their chances of a place in the top group – With the loss coming late in the season, it might already be difficult to make up ground in the rankings to be considered a top team, but Villanova is essentially dominated, not scoring a single point on a 3 until the fourth quarter: 3 When the Maine team comes into play, it will be difficult to convince anyone that they deserve the hype again. Due to New Hampshire’s lopsided loss to Rhode Island, the Wildcats will also not play a ranked team for the remainder of the season.

New CAA teams are emerging week after week

Richmond – Even though Delaware can’t be ranked due to the impending FBS switch, this is still one of the biggest wins in all of the FCS and CAA conferences after it looked like the Fightin’ Blue Hens were unbeatable.

William & Mary – A win against Campbell at home keeps Willam & Mary in step with the rest of the FCS and has a test this week against No. 24 Stony Brook and plays Richmond in the final game of the season.
Rhode Island – After a commanding win over New Hampshire, the Rams showed that they may be a much better team than some would expect considering it was a No. 17 vs. No. 19 game, finally breaking the Ten-game losing streak in history between the two teams and pushes them out of the rankings.

AFCA NCAA FCS Football Rankings in Week 9

North Dakota St. (24) 7-1
Montana St. (2) 8-0
South Dakota St. 5-2
South Dakota 6-1
UC Davis 7-1
Southeast Missouri St. 7-1
North Dakota 5-2
6-1 Tarleton St
Montana 5-2
Central Arkansas 5-2
UIW 5-2
Idaho 5-3
Richmond 5-2
Villanova 5-2
William & Mary 5-2
Rhode Island 6-1
Mercer 6-1
Missouri St. 5-2
ACU 5-3
Illinois St. 5-3
North Carolina Central 5-2
Dartmouth 5-0
Jackson St. 5-2
Stony Brook 5-2
Chattanooga 4-3

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

Others receive 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; 10 Sacramento St.; Harvard, 8; Drake, 7; Colombia, 5; Lafayette, 4; Robert Morris, 4; Lamar, 3; Butler, 2; Northern Arizona, 2; Samford, 2; Southeast Louisiana, 1.

What are the top conferences in the FCS?

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The FCS playoffs begin November 30, 2024.

The 2024 Division I FCS College Football Championship game will be played on January 6, 2025 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

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FCS Football Rankings for Week 9: Who doesn’t love surprises?