UC Davis, Mercer join top-10 of Stan Becton's Week 6 Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot

After eight ranked teams lost, there's bound to be a new look in FCS football polls for Week 6. Here's a preview of what that could look like from the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot from NCAA FCS football reporter Stan Becton.

Every week, the top teams in the FCS are ranked nationally by both FCS coaches and FCS media. I, Stan Becton, am obviously not a coach, but I am a part of the FCS media and I do have a vote in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. I'll be submitting my ballot weekly, ranking my top 25 FCS teams.

With the FCS Playoff Committee adding the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll to its selection criteria for the first time in 2023, the media poll is of even more importance moving forward. To be transparent with my readers, fans and more, I have decided to reveal my ballot every week with explanations for selections. 

Remember, this is my one ballot out of 56 total Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll voters — and just one ballot from the 23 national representatives that vote. That's to say, yes, my ballot does impact the poll, but it's in no way the end-all-be-all factor.

Nonetheless, here is my Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot for this week.

Week 6: Stan Becton's Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot

OFFICIAL RANKINGS: Click or tap here for the latest STATS Perform Rankings

1. Montana State (5-0) | Previous Ranking: 3 (Where I ranked them: 2)

Montana State hasn't been tested on the FCS level — at all. However, I moved the Bobcats back up to No. 1 on my ballot because of their FBS win and unblemished loss column.

2. South Dakota State (3-1) | Previous Ranking: 1 (Where I ranked them: 3)

South Dakota State had a bye last week, but it holds off NDSU from passing it in the rankings because UIW is a better team than Illinois State.

3. North Dakota State (4-1) | Previous Ranking: 2 (Where I ranked them: 4)

North Dakota State's win over Illinois State should remind us all that there are tiers in the FCS. Few belong with the Bison in the elite tier.

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4. South Dakota (3-1) | Previous Ranking: 5 (Where I ranked them: 6)

South Dakota blasted Southern Illinois, winning by 29 points. The Coyotes were dominant.

5. Central Arkansas (4-1) | Previous Ranking: 7 (Where I ranked them: 8)

Central Arkansas played its toughest FCS test yet... and it didn't look tough. A 20-point win over a ranked opponent moves the Bears into the top five.

6. North Dakota (4-1) | Previous Ranking: 9 (Where I ranked them: 9)

North Dakota put up 72 points on Murray State. Yes, it's only Murray State, but I love how the Fighting Hawks never play down to their opponent. Plus, that win over Montana looks better with each week the Griz win.

7. Villanova (4-1) | Previous Ranking: 6 (Where I ranked them: 5)

Villanova is 4-1, but it's last two wins against FCS opponents have not looked the part of a top-five team. After beating Towson because of a missed field goal, the Wildcats went up 24-0 on LIU in the fourth quarter before winning 24-10. A win is a win, but other teams look better at this point of the season.

8. UC Davis (4-1) | Previous Ranking: 14 (Where I ranked them: 11)

Welcome to the top 10 UC Davis. I've had UC Davis just outside of the top 10 since the preseason because I needed the Aggies to show me on-field evidence of them being a top-10 team. A win over Idaho was just that.

9. Idaho (3-2) | Previous Ranking: 4 (Where I ranked them: 1)

Just last week I thought Idaho was the No. 1 team in the country. The Vandals were only a two-point conversion and overtime away from remaining at the top of my rankings. However, Idaho lost. Nonetheless, I still think its resume with an FBS win and two ranked wins should keep it a top-10 team.

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10. Mercer (5-0) | Previous Ranking: 12 (Where I ranked them: 12)

Mercer is a top-10 FCS team in the country. The Bears defense is playing better than any team in the country. Mercer moves above Montana on my ballot because it has two ranked wins to Montana's one.

11. Montana (4-1) | Previous Ranking: 8 (Where I ranked them: 10)

Montana beat Eastern Washington on the red turf, bringing the record to 1-6. From a glass-half-empty perspective, allowing 49 points is horrible defense. From a glass-half-full perspective, Montana's offense is rolling scoring 59, 46 and 52 points across its last three games.

12. William & Mary (4-1) | Previous Ranking: 11 (Where I ranked them: 13)

William & Mary didn't leave any doubt that it's one of the top teams in the CAA with a 49-7 win over Hampton.

13. Southeast Missouri State (4-1) | Previous Ranking: 13 (Where I ranked them: 14)

SEMO moves up after a shutout victory.

14. Tarleton State (4-1) | Previous Ranking: 16 (Where I ranked them: 15)

Tarleton State held off a feisty Southeastern Louisiana squad to remain undefeated against the FCS. The season-opening win against McNeese is aging like fine wine.

15. Sacramento State (2-3) | Previous Ranking: 10 (Where I ranked them: 7)

Sacramento State drops out of the top 10 after a stunning defeat to Northern Arizona. The Hornets still have a ranked win over Nicholls from earlier this year, but they can't afford any more slip-ups against underdogs down the stretch in their favorable schedule.

16. UIW (2-2) | Previous Ranking: 15 (Where I ranked them: 18)

UIW had a bye last week. The bye was very timely as plenty of teams in the bottom half of the rankings lost.

17. Rhode Island (3-1) | Previous Ranking: 22 (Where I ranked them: 19)

Same goes for Rhode Island as UIW.

18. Abilene Christian (3-2) | Previous Ranking: 20 (Where I ranked them: 22)

Abilene Christian bounced back from its first FCS loss with a win over Utah Tech.

19. Southern Illinois (2-3) | Previous Ranking: 17 (Where I ranked them: 16)

I struggled with where to rank Southern Illinois, because a ranked win over UIW still holds weight, even with back-to-back ranked losses. I think the Salukis should still be in the top 20, but that could change with Illinois State and North Dakota State up next.

20. Chattanooga (1-3) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: 21)

Chattanooga is finally in the win column with a 15-point win over Portland State. Remember, two of the Mocs losses came to FBS teams while the other came to Mercer, which I have in my top-10.

21. Florida A&M (2-2) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: 23)

Florida A&M's biggest opponent last week was Hurricane Helene. Hopefully, life can get back to a sense of normalcy in Tallahassee after its game was canceled against Alabama A&M.

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22. New Hampshire (3-1) | Previous Ranking: 24 (Where I ranked them: 24)

Like UIW and Rhode Island, New Hampshire had a bye.

23. McNeese (4-2) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: NR)

Welcome to the top 25 McNeese. Former FCS Championship starter Clifton McDowell is gaining Walter Payton Award traction as he transforms the Cowboys into FCS playoff contenders.

24. Lamar (3-2) | Previous Ranking: 19 (Where I ranked them: 20)

Lamar remains ranked — even after a ranked loss — because of it's win over Weber State a few weeks ago.

25. Stony Brook (4-1) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: NR)

Stony Brook gets my final spot. When comparing the resume of the Seawolves to the resumes of Illinois State and ETSU, it became a numbers problem.

Stony Brook has four FCS wins and zero FCS losses. While Stony Brook's wins may not be over the most impressive opponents, neither were Illinois State's three FCS wins — and the Redbirds now have an FCS loss. ETSU might've beaten Elon, but it only has two FCS wins on the year.

Teams to drop out from last week's official rankings: Illinois State (18), UAlbany (21), Wofford (23), Weber State (25)