North Dakota State No. 1 in Stan Becton's Week 7 Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot

Three top-10 teams lost and six other ranked teams fell too last week. Expect the FCS college football polls to have a lot of changes in Week 7. 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 7: Stan Becton's Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot

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

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

North Dakota State now has the best résumé among the top three FCS teams after its blowout win over a then-top-10 North Dakota team. Combine that with wins over Illinois State and ETSU and now team has looked better against contending FCS teams.

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2. Montana State (6-0) | Previous Ranking: 3 (Where I ranked them: 1)

Montana State is still undefeated, but it hasn't played a quality FCS team yet. I still think its FBS win is better than South Dakota State's ranked FCS win so it stays at No. 2.

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

South Dakota State handily beat Northern Iowa, but I don't think this year's Northern Iowa team is a playoff contender. These last two weeks have seen the Jackrabbits return to dominating their opponents, so that's a good sign.

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

South Dakota might be a unanimous pick for the No. 4 team in the country this week. The Coyotes overpowered Murray State in a shutout.

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

Villanova moves back into the top five after pulling away from a tough Stony Brook team in the second half.

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6. Mercer (5-0) | Previous Ranking: 11 (Where I ranked them: 10)

Mercer had a bye, but I move them up past a pair of Big Sky teams that played games that came down to the wire.

7. UC Davis (5-1) | Previous Ranking: 9 (Where I ranked them: 8)

After a lengthy review saw UC Davis' game-winning touchdown stand, the Aggies avoided becoming the fourth top-10 team to lose last week.

8. Idaho (4-2) | Previous Ranking: 10 (Where I ranked them: 9)

Idaho picked up another ranked win this season, but the Vandals can't move past a team it lost to.

9. Southeast Missouri State (5-1) | Previous Ranking: 13 (Where I ranked them: 13)

Paxton DeLaurent threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for another in a win over Eastern Illinois that wasn't as close as the final score showed.

10. Abilene Christian (4-2) | Previous Ranking: 16 (Where I ranked them: 18)

Abilene Christian held off a top-five Central Arkansas team that features stars on both sides of the ball. That's a big-time win and if the Wildcats win their games against unranked opponents, they're likely assured a playoff berth.

11. Central Arkansas (4-2) | Previous Ranking: 5 (Where I ranked them: 5)

Central Arkansas has to rank below an Abilene Christian team it lost to, but among the top-10 teams to lose last week, the Bears look the best.

12. North Dakota (4-2) | Previous Ranking: 7 (Where I ranked them: 6)

North Dakota showed its not ready to hang with the big dogs of the FCS with its loss to North Dakota State.

13. Montana (4-2) | Previous Ranking: 8 (Where I ranked them: 11)

Montana's defense has a problem and it showed in a loss to Weber State. The Grizzlies have let up 35, 49 and 55 points in three straight weeks. Montana can't be asked to outscore every opponent.

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14. Tarleton State (5-1) | Previous Ranking: 14 (Where I ranked them: 14)

Tarleton State is still undefeated against the FCS after a win over Southern Utah.

15. Sacramento State (2-3) | Previous Ranking: 17 (Where I ranked them: 15)

Sacramento State had a bye last week.

16. UIW (3-2) | Previous Ranking: 15 (Where I ranked them: 16)

Once UIW's offense finds its groove, it's hard to stop and that showed against Prairie View A&M.

17. Rhode Island (4-1) | Previous Ranking: 20 (Where I ranked them: 17)

The Rams needed two overtimes, but Rhode Island still found a way to win during a week other ranked FCS teams couldn't.

18. Chattanooga (2-3) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: 20)

Chattanooga picked up its second win of the year with a ranked win over ETSU. The Mocs haven't allowed more than 10 points to a ranked FCS opponent this year.

19. William & Mary (4-2) | Previous Ranking: 12 (Where I ranked them: 12)

William & Mary allowed a 21-0 loss in the third quarter when it lost to Towson. This loss hurts William & Mary's hopes for a CAA title.

20. Florida A&M (3-2) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: 21)

Florida A&M remains undefeated against the FCS with its win over Alabama State, the preseason divisional favorite.

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

Lamar had a bye last week and should move up after other teams lost.

22. Illinois State (4-2) | Previous Ranking: 18 (Where I ranked them: NR)

I might have overreacted to Illinois State's loss to North Dakota State last week when I dropped them out of the rankings. The Redbirds are back this week after a ranked win on the road.

23. Weber State (3-3) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: NR)

Weber State's is .500 on the season with one FCS loss to a ranked Lamar team and the other to a McNeese team that was ranked last week. However, Weber State's win over Montana gets the Wildcats back in the rankings.

24. Duquesne (3-2) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: NR)

Duquesne is undefeated against the FCS and has a then-ranked win over Youngstown State on its résumé. Welcome the Dukes to the rankings.

25. Southern Illinois (2-4) | Previous Ranking: 19 (Where I ranked them: 19)

That's three straight losses by multiple scores for Southern Illinois. The Salukis are hanging on by a thread, and their win over UIW is the string.

Teams to drop out from last week's official rankings: New Hampshire (22), ETSU (23), Northern Arizona (25)