FCS Nation Radio Releases Week 9 FCS Top 25 Poll

Dakota Dominance and Quarterback Questions Shake the Standings

Week 9 brought clarity at the top, and chaos just below it. North Dakota State remains the gold standard, holding firm at No. 1 after another commanding win. But the big storyline lies in Brookings, where South Dakota State slips to No. 4 after struggling offensively without quarterback Chase Mason.

That opened the door for Montana and North Dakota, now sitting at No. 2 and No. 3, to make their cases as true national title contenders. Montana State hangs on at No. 5, but the Bobcats need a statement win to stay in top-of-mind conversation. Tarleton State continues to muscle teams around at No. 6, while Tennessee Tech and Monmouth quietly round out a deep Top 8. Lehigh, UC Davis, and Lamar remain in the thick of it, proving consistency counts this late in the season.

Presbyterian exits the poll this week, making room for Northern Arizona at No. 23 and UTRGV cracking the Top 25 for the first time in program history, a milestone moment for the Vaqueros. As the calendar flips to November, every snap starts to matter just a little more.

FCS Nation Top 25 – Week 9 (2025)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 27, 2025

1. North Dakota State (NDSU)

2. Montana

3. North Dakota (UND)

4. South Dakota State (SDSU)

5. Montana State (MSU)

6. Tarleton State (TSU)

7. Tennessee Tech (TTU)

8. Monmouth

9. UC Davis

10. Lehigh

11. Lamar

12. Mercer

13. Harvard

14. Villanova

15. Southern Illinois (SIU)

16. Western Carolina (WCU)

17. Youngstown State (YSU)

18. Illinois State (ISU)

19. Stephen F. Austin (SFA)

20. Jackson State (JSU)

21. Austin Peay (APSU)

22. Southeastern Louisiana (SLU)

23. Northern Arizona (NAU)

24. Rhode Island (URI)

25. UTRGV