The state of South Dakota held the No. 1 ranking in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 for the sixth consecutive year Monday, equaling the Jackrabbits’ top spot in the national playoffs.
The Jackrabbits (10-1) are considered the team to beat on the Road to Frisco after winning 10 straight games and their first full Missouri Valley Football Conference championship leading up to their 11th playoff appearance in a row and heading for 12th all time.
Like coach John Stiegelmeier’s team, No. 2 in Sacramento (11-0), No. 3 in Montana (10-1) and No. 4 in North Dakota (9-2) have shared the same spots in the national media survey October 17. NDSU defeated Montana State in last season’s national championship game.
A national media panel selects the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. A first place vote is worth 25 points, a second place vote is worth 24 points, up to one point for a 25th place vote.
The final poll will be announced on January 9th, the day after the FCS championship game.
(A List of 2022 FCS Conference Champions and Postseason Qualifiers)
Stats Lead FCS Top 25 (21 Nov)
1. State of South Dakota (MVFC 10-1, 8-0), 1,340 points (45 of 54 votes in first place)
Previous ranking: 1; Result week 12: No game
2. Sacramento State (11-0, 8-0 Big Sky), 1,296 (9)
Previous ranking: 2; Result week 12: 27-21 win over then-no. 24UC Davis
3. Montana State (10-1, 8-0 Big Sky), 1,239
Previous ranking: 3; Result week 12: 55-21 win over then-no. 13 Montana
4. North Dakota State (MVFC 9-2, 7-1), 1,192
Previous ranking: 4; Result week 12: 42-21 win over then-no. 16North Dakota
5.UIW (10-1, 5-1 Southland), 1,050
Previous ranking: 5; Result week 12: 66-7 win at Northwestern State
6. William & Mary (10-1, 7-1 CAA), 1,031
Previous ranking: 8th;Result week 12: 37-26 win at then No. 11 Richmond
7. Holy Cross (11-0, 6-0 Patriot), 1.008
Previous ranking: 6; Result week 12: 47-10 victory in Georgetown
8. Samford (10-1, 8-0 South), 981
Previous ranking: 9; Result week 12: 50-44 double OT win over then-No. 19 Mercers
9. Weber State (9-2, 6-2 Big Sky), 964
Previous ranking: 7; Result week 12: 33-31 win in Northern Arizona
10. Jackson State (11-0, 8-0 SWAC), 883
Previous ranking: 10; Result week 12: 24-13 win at Alcorn State
11. Furman (9-2, 7-1 South), 835
Previous ranking: 12; Result week 12: 63-28 victory over Wofford
12. Elon (8-3, 6-2 CAA), 682
Previous ranking: 14; Result week 12: No game
13 Richmond (8-3, 6-2 CAA), 623
Previous ranking: 11; Result week 12: 37-26 loss to then-No.8 Wilhelm & Maria
14. Southeast Missouri (9-2, 5-0 Ohio Valley), 618
Previous ranking: 17; Result week 12: 52-22 victory over Murray State
15. New Hampshire (8-3, 7-1 CAA), 561
Previous ranking: 18; Result week 12: 42-41 OT win in Maine
16.Fordham (9-2, 5-1 Patriot), 409
Previous ranking: 21 (tie); Result week 12: 52-38 win over Colgate
17. Southeast Louisiana (8-3, 5-1 Southland), 401
Previous ranking: 23; Result week 12: 40-17 win at Nicholls
18. Idaho (7-4, 6-2 Big Sky), 384
Previous ranking: 21 (tie); Result week 12: 38-7 win at Idaho State
19. Montana (7-4, 4-4 Big Sky), 373
Previous ranking: 13; Result week 12: 55-21 loss at then-No. 4 state Montana
20. North Dakota (7-4, 5-3 MVFC), 342
Previous ranking: 16; Result week 12: 42-21 loss at then-No. 4 state North Dakota
21. Chattanooga (7-4, 5-3 South), 272
Previous ranking: fifteen; Result week 12: 32-29 loss at Western Carolina
22. Mercer (7-4, 5-3 South), 271
Previous ranking: 19; Result week 12: 50-44, double OT loss at then-No.9 Samford
23 Delaware (7-4, 4-4 CAA), 137
Previous ranking: 20; Result week 12: 29-26 defeat at Villanova
24.UC Davis (6-5, 5-3 Big Sky), 109
Previous ranking: 24; Result week 12: 27-21 loss at then-no. 2 State of Sacramento
25.UT Martin (7-4, 5-0 Ohio Valley), 107
Previous ranking: 25; Result week 12: 34-31 win over Eastern Illinois
Others receiving votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Eastern Kentucky (7-4, 3-2 ASUN) 98, Francis (9-2, 7-0 NEC) 92, Rhode Island (7-4, 5-3 CAA) 64, North Carolina Center (9-2, 4-1 MEAC) 39, Florida A&M (9-2, 7-1 SWAC) 34, Yale (8-2, 6-1 Ivy) 32, Austin Peay (7-4, 3-2 ASUN-WAC) 28, St. Thomas (10-1, 8-0 Pioneer) 20, Youngstown State (7-4, 5-3 MVFC) 16
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Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Voters – Stats Perform: Craig Haley, Gary Reasons. A SUN: John Bednarowski, Brian Morgan. Big Sky Conference: Doug Kelly, Tyson Rodgers, Larry Weir. Great Southern Conference: Brian Cleary, Mark Simpson. CAA Soccer: Matt Harmon, Scott Klatzkin, and Rob Washburn. Ivy League: Rick Bender, Craig Larson. Middle East Sports Conference: Bill Hamilton, Maurice Williams. Missouri Valley Football Conference: Dom Izzo, Mike Kern, Randy Reinhardt. Northeast Conference: Sarah Boissonneault, Randy Brochu. Ohio Valley Conference: Mike Bradd, Kyle Schwartz. Patriotic League: Eric Malanoski, Ryan Sakamoto. Pioneer Football League: Cody Bush, Jack Cronin. Southern Conference: Scott Keeler, Andrew Miller, Phil Perry. Southland Conference: Matthew Bonnette, James Dixon, and Josh Manck. Southwest Sports Conference: Ronnie Johnson, Andrew Roberts, Jacob Shames. Western Athletic Conference: Eric Danner, Dennis Driscoll. National Representatives: Josh Buchanan, Zack Carlton, Riley Corcoran, Sam Herder, Emory Hunt, Kyle Kensing, Brandon Lawrence, Zach McKinnell, Brian McLaughlin, Jon Passman, Kent Schmidt, Lawrence Smith, Phil Sokol, Reggie Thomas, Ralph Ventre, Jamie Williams.