Tarleton State, Central Arkansas fall in Stan Becton's Week 11 Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot

Eight ranked teams lost last week, and it'll definitely impact the latest FCS rankings.

Check out the 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 11: 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 (9-1) | Previous Ranking: 1 (Where I ranked them: 1)

NDSU dominated Northern Iowa, 42-19, and holds on to the top spot.

2. Montana State (9-0) | Previous Ranking: 2 (Where I ranked them: 2)

The red turf didn't bother Montana State in a 42-28 win at Eastern Washington.

3. South Dakota State (7-2) | Previous Ranking: 3 (Where I ranked them: 3)

After a pair of close games, South Dakota State didn't leave last week to chance, beating Murray State 52-6.

4. South Dakota (8-1) | Previous Ranking: 5 (Where I ranked them: 4)

South Dakota had a bye last week.

5. UC Davis (6-2) | Previous Ranking: 4 (Where I ranked them: 5)

UC Davis handled its business against Northern Colorado, winning 59-7.

6. Southeast Missouri State (8-1) | Previous Ranking: 6 (Where I ranked them: 6)

SEMO had a bye last week.

7. Idaho (6-3) | Previous Ranking: 10 (Where I ranked them: 7)

Idaho had a bye last week.

8. Montana (7-2) | Previous Ranking: 8 (Where I ranked them: 8)

Montana blasted Cal Poly, 42-7.

9. Mercer (7-2) | Previous Ranking: 12 (Where I ranked them: 10)

Mercer won a close one over ETSU to stay atop the SoCon.

10. Rhode Island (8-1) | Previous Ranking: 14 (Where I ranked them: 11)

Rhode Island rallied to beat Monmouth and remains undefeated against FCS foes.

11. UIW (7-2) | Previous Ranking: 9 (Where I ranked them: 12)

UIW had no problems with Houston Christian.

12. Tarleton State (Record) | Previous Ranking: 7 (Where I ranked them: 9)

Tarleton State falls out of the top 10 after its first FCS loss to Eastern Kentucky.

13. Abilene Christian (6-3) | Previous Ranking: 17 (Where I ranked them: 14)

Abilene Christian defeated Southern Utah in a week where other UAC contenders lost.

14. Richmond (7-2) | Previous Ranking: 16 (Where I ranked them: 16)

Richmond remained undefeated in CAA with a win over Towson.

15. Villanova (7-2) | Previous Ranking: 13 (Where I ranked them: 18)

Villanova held off Hampton, 20-14.

16. Stony Brook (7-2) | Previous Ranking: 20 (Where I ranked them: 19)

Stony Brook needed overtime, but it got the win over Bryant.

17. UT Martin (6-3) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: 22)

I had UT Martin ranked No. 22 last week. Now after defeating a then-ranked Tennessee State team, the Skyhawks are in my top 20.

18. Central Arkansas (6-3) | Previous Ranking: 11 (Where I ranked them: 15)

Central Arkansas lost to Utah Tech, but with other teams in the rankings also losing, the Bears hold on to a top-20 spot.

19. Duquesne (6-2) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: 20)

At 6-2, Duquesne moves into the top 20 after other ranked teams lost.

20. William & Mary (6-3) | Previous Ranking: 24 (Where I ranked them: 25)

William & Mary got back in the win column with a dominant showing against North Carolina A&T.

21. Illinois State (6-3) | Previous Ranking: 21 (Where I ranked them: NR)

Illinois State doesn't have a loss on its resume that's a "bad loss." That gets them back into my rankings.

22. Chattanooga (5-4) | Previous Ranking: 18 (Where I ranked them: 17)

The SoCon's battle for FCS playoff bids got even crazier after Chattanooga lost to Western Carolina. However, the Mocs stay ranked with the defeat being their first in over a month.

23. Jackson State (7-2) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: NR)

Jackson State enters my top-25 rankings with only one FCS loss and are in poll position in the SWAC East.

24. North Dakota (5-4) | Previous Ranking: 15 (Where I ranked them: 13)

That's back-to-back losses to unranked teams for a North Dakota squad that was previously in the top 10. I'll keep the Fighting Hawks ranked — for now — since they only have two FCS losses.

25. Drake (6-1) | Previous Ranking: NR (Where I ranked them: NR)

The final spot in my top 25 this week was between Drake and Harvard, both one-loss teams. Ultimately, I went with Drake because its only loss came to a top-five team in South Dakota.

Who dropped out from last week's official rankings: North Carolina Central (19), Dartmouth (22), ETSU (23), Tennessee State (25)