FCS Nation Radio Releases Week 6 Top 25 Poll
FCS Nation Top 25 – Week 6 (2026)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 5, 2026
South Dakota State
Montana
Tarleton State
North Dakota
Youngstown State
Montana State
Lehigh
Stephen F. Austin
South Dakota
Austin Peay
Lamar
UC Davis
Campbell
Northern Arizona
Idaho State
Illinois State
ETSU
Tennessee Tech
Stony Brook
Harvard
South Carolina State
Colgate
Richmond
Jackson State
Yale
We officially have a new No. 1️⃣
South Dakota State takes over the top spot in the FCS Nation Top 25 after Montana State's 19-game winning streak came to a stunning end at Idaho. Montana climbs to No. 2, undefeated Tarleton State moves into the Top 3 and North Dakota rises to No. 4.
Youngstown State rounds out a new-look Top 5, while Montana State falls five spots to No. 6.
South Dakota State takes over No. 1.
For the first time this season, we have a new team at the top. South Dakota State moves from No. 2 to No. 1 following a 31-14 road win over previously No. 11 Illinois State. The Jackrabbits got two touchdown passes from Josh Holst, while Myles Green added a pick-six as SDSU pulled away in Normal.
The win, combined with Montana State's loss, is enough to put the Jackrabbits on top of the FCS Nation poll.
Montana isn't far behind.
The Grizzlies handled Northern Colorado 36-14 in front of more than 27,000 fans at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Keali'i Ah Yat threw five touchdown passes, while Brooks Davis caught three of them as Montana improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Big Sky play.
Montana moves from No. 3 to No. 2.
Montana State's 19-game winning streak is over.
This was the result that blew up the top of the poll. Montana State entered Friday night undefeated, ranked No. 1 and riding a program-record 19-game winning streak. Idaho didn't care.
The Vandals erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit before Joshua Wood found Ryan Jezioro for a 25-yard touchdown on the final play. Instead of playing for overtime, Idaho went for two. Wood ran it in himself, and the Vandals stunned the defending national champions 35-34 in the Kibbie Dome. It's Montana State's first loss since 2024.
The Bobcats don't disappear from the national picture because of one one-point road loss without Lamson, Dowler, and a handful of other captain-worthy players were not in the lineup, but with the teams around them continuing to win, they fall from No. 1 to No. 6.
Tarleton State is undefeated and inside the Top 3.
At some point, you just have to keep moving Tarleton up. The Texans improved to 5-0 with a 56-21 win over Chicago State, scoring 56 points after falling behind 7-0 early.
Tarleton moves from No. 4 to No. 3, its highest position yet in the FCS Nation Top 25. Now comes the fun part.
The Texans travel to Austin Peay next week for a matchup between our No. 3 and No. 10 teams.
We'll find out a lot more very soon.
North Dakota and Youngstown State round out the Top 5.
North Dakota continues to climb. The Fighting Hawks followed last week's 42-35 win at Indiana State by hanging 55 points on Murray State, winning 55-28.
UND moves from No. 5 to No. 4. Youngstown State is right behind them.
The Penguins went on the road and beat Southern Illinois 28-16, scoring 18 unanswered points after trailing 10-7 in the third quarter.
Two weeks ago, Youngstown State was No. 12 in our poll. Last week, the Penguins jumped to No. 7 after beating South Dakota. Now they're No. 5 in the country.
That's a seven-spot climb in two weeks. 👀
Austin Peay jumps into the Top 10.
Austin Peay continues to quietly build one of the better résumés in the country. The Governors rolled past New Haven 42-17 to improve to 5-1, with quarterback Chris Parson completing 19 of 23 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns. The win was also Austin Peay's program-record 10th consecutive victory at home.
The Governors climb three spots from No. 13 to No. 10. Lamar moves right behind them to No. 11 after blowing out Northwestern State 42-14. The Cardinals are now 4-1 and have won three straight. UC Davis also makes a significant move, climbing five spots from No. 17 to No. 12 after beating Eastern Washington 49-38.
Illinois State and Tennessee Tech take a tumble.
Illinois State entered the season as one of our highest-ranked teams, but the Redbirds continue to slide. After sitting at No. 3 just two weeks ago and No. 11 last week, Illinois State falls another five spots to No. 16 following the 31-14 loss to South Dakota State. Tennessee Tech takes an even bigger hit, falling from No. 10 to No. 18.
That movement helps open the door for a new team.
ETSU enters at No. 17.
Welcome to the poll, ETSU. The Buccaneers held Chattanooga to just three points in a 14-3 rivalry win, one week after putting 58 on Western Carolina. ETSU has now won three straight against FCS opponents after its loss at North Carolina.
That's enough for the Bucs to enter the FCS Nation Top 25 at No. 17. Campbell climbs five spots to No. 13, Northern Arizona jumps six spots to No. 14 and Stony Brook remains inside the Top 20 at No. 19.
South Carolina State finally gets knocked off.
South Carolina State had been one of the best stories of the first month of the season. The Bulldogs started 5-0, including wins over Florida A&M, Furman and Bethune-Cookman. Then THE Citadel Bulldogs showed up. The Citadel stunned South Carolina State 34-31 on a 31-yard field goal as time expired. South Carolina State had erased a 14-point second-half deficit to tie the game before the Citadel won it at the horn. SCSU falls six spots from No. 15 to No. 21.
Jackson State and Yale join the poll.
The bottom of the poll gets another shakeup this week. Colgate moves up to No. 22 and Richmond climbs to No. 23. Jackson State enters at No. 24, while Yale checks in at No. 25. Alabama State, West Florida and Southern Illinois fall out. Six weeks in, the top of the FCS looks completely different. South Dakota State is our new No. 1. Montana is right behind the Jackrabbits. Tarleton State is undefeated and now inside the Top 3.
North Dakota continues to climb. Youngstown State has gone from No. 12 to No. 5 in two weeks.
And the defending national champions just got knocked off.
October is here!!
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