FCS Nation Radio Releases Week 7 FCS Top 25 Poll

A Whole Lotta Shakeup at the Top

Week 7 brought chaos, and clarity, to the FCS landscape. The Top 10 looks brand new, with plenty of movement among the nation’s best.

North Dakota State and South Dakota State continue to reign supreme at No. 1 and No. 2, but right behind them, Montana State reclaims its spot among the elite at No. 4, proving once again they’re a true threat to go dancing come January in Nashville. Tarleton State rounds out the top five, both programs looking every bit the part of postseason contenders.

North Dakota crashes into the Top 6 this week, the Fighting Hawks are playing real ball right now, while Tennessee Tech leapfrogs Southern Illinois after trouncing opponents in back-to-back weeks. The Salukis, on the other hand, got trounced themselves in the Game of the Week against the Bison.

Monmouth sits happily at No. 9, and the question now is whether they can handle the pressure that comes with being a bona fide top-tier program. Lehigh isn’t far behind, continuing to climb and knock loudly on that top-10 door.

Elsewhere, Harvard remains one of the best stories of the season, powered by quarterback Jaden Craig, who’s proving to be a top five QB in the entire subdivision, and there’s no debating that. Villanova, Gardner-Webb, and Southeastern Louisiana round out the bottom of a fiercely competitive Top 25.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 13, 2025

FCS Nation Top 25 – Week 7 (2025)

1. North Dakota State (NDSU)

2. South Dakota State (SDSU)

3. Montana State

4. Montana

5. Tarleton State

6. North Dakota (UND)

7. Tennessee Tech (TTU)

8. Southern Illinois (SIU)

9. Monmouth

10. Illinois State (ISU)

11. Lehigh

12. UC Davis

13. Lamar

14. Mercer

15. Jackson State (JSU)

16. Harvard

17. Abilene Christian (ACU)

18. Northern Arizona (NAU)

19. Stephen F. Austin (SFA)

20. Presbyterian (PC)

21. Villanova

22. West Georgia (UWG)

23. Austin Peay (APSU)

24. Gardner-Webb (GWU)

25. Southeastern Louisiana (SLU)