FCS Top 25 Rankings Week 8, 2025: Bison Dominate Southern Illinois in Statement Win

Week 8 FCS Football Highlights

North Dakota State reinforced its dominance atop the FCS Top 25 with a crushing 45-17 victory over No. 8 Southern Illinois on Saturday, October 11. Quarterback Cole Payton completed 13 of 16 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown while rushing for two scores, including a highlight-reel 41-yard touchdown run in the third quarter where he broke numerous tackles. The Bison defense forced three turnovers and limited the Salukis to just 313 total yards as NDSU improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play.​

The unbeaten teams at the top of the FCS rankings stayed perfect in dominant fashion. No. 2 South Dakota State forced five turnovers in a 31-3 Hobo Day romp over Northern Iowa before a season-high crowd of 19,342. Quarterback Chase Mason accounted for all four Jackrabbit touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) as SDSU extended its home winning streak to an FCS-record 33 games. No. 3 Tarleton State overcame injuries to key offensive players, defeating Utah Tech 41-23 behind backup quarterback James Paige's five total touchdowns (four rushing, one passing). The Texans improved to 7-0 for their longest winning streak since moving to Division I in 2020.​​

Conference play intensified across the FCS landscape with several ranked matchups producing decisive outcomes. In the Big Sky Conference, No. 4 Montana rallied from a 9-0 halftime deficit to defeat Cal Poly 28-9, scoring all 28 points in the second half behind running back Eli Gillman's 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns. No. 5 Montana State feasted on Idaho State 48-14 as quarterback Justin Lamson threw a career-high four touchdown passes. No. 6 UC Davis pulled away from No. 14 Northern Arizona 45-24 behind freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick's career-high 348 passing yards and five touchdown passes—three in the fourth quarter alone.​

Top 5: Championship Favorites

1. North Dakota State (6-0, 3-0 MVFC) —

The Bison delivered perhaps their most complete performance of the season, dominating No. 8 Southern Illinois 45-17 before a homecoming crowd of 15,812 at the Fargodome. NDSU scored 21 points off three Southern Illinois turnovers and outgained the Salukis 540-313 in total offense, including a 264-123 advantage on the ground. Quarterback Cole Payton was surgical, completing 13 of 16 passes (81.2%) for 243 yards with a touchdown and posted a remarkable 229.5 passer efficiency rating. Wide receiver Bryce Lance opened the scoring with a 75-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep and later caught a 48-yard pass to set up a go-ahead score just before halftime.​

The Bison defense forced a crucial fumble inside the red zone late in the second quarter with the game tied 10-10, leading to Payton's nine-yard touchdown pass to Lance that gave NDSU a 17-10 halftime lead. After the break, Payton showcased his dual-threat ability with a 41-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, breaking multiple tackles to extend the lead to 31-10. The Bison added two more scores to pull away, with running backs DJ Scott and TaMerik Williams each finding the end zone.​

Head coach Tim Polasek's squad extended its home winning streak to 16 games and has now outscored opponents 312-80 this season—one of just three FCS teams to outscore opponents by more than 200 points. NDSU will travel to Indiana State on Saturday, October 18, for its first road game in three weeks. The Bison have won three consecutive games against ranked opponents and appear poised for another deep playoff run.​

2. South Dakota State (6-0, 2-0 MVFC) —

The Jackrabbits celebrated Hobo Day—one of the nation's largest student-run homecoming celebrations—with a dominant 31-3 victory over Northern Iowa. SDSU's defense stole the show, forcing five turnovers including four interceptions to hold UNI out of the end zone for the second consecutive week. Isaiah Johnson picked off quarterback Matthew Schecklman on UNI's opening drive, setting up a short field that led to Chase Mason's first touchdown plunge from two yards out. Safety Carson Van Tol stuffed the stat sheet with four total tackles, two sacks, and an interception.​

Mason was outstanding in leading the offense, completing 19 of 31 passes for 251 yards while rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for two more. Running back Julius Loughridge contributed 76 yards on 19 carries, including key runs of 27 and 20 yards on the Jackrabbits' second scoring drive. Wide receivers Alex Bullock (five catches, 82 yards), Jack Smith (four catches, 51 yards), and Jaxon Janke all made key contributions as SDSU finished with 382 yards of total offense compared to just 221 for the Panthers.​

The Jackrabbits' 33-game home winning streak is now the fourth-longest in FCS history, and they've won 25 of their last 26 MVFC games dating back to the start of the 2022 season. Head coach Jimmy Rogers' squad will travel to Murray State on Saturday, October 18, with the game time moved up to 1 p.m. CDT. With a November 15 showdown looming at rival North Dakota State, the Jackrabbits control their destiny for an undefeated regular season and a potential top playoff seed.​

3. Tarleton State (7-0, 3-0 UAC) —

The Texans showed remarkable depth and resilience, overcoming injuries to starting quarterback Victor Gabalis and running backs Tre Page III and Caleb Lewis to defeat Utah Tech 41-23. Backup quarterback-turned-running back James Paige carried the load with 30 rushing attempts for 114 yards and four rushing touchdowns while also throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Danny Joiner. Daniel Greek, making his second consecutive start at quarterback, completed 13 of 21 passes for 169 yards and added a 2-yard rushing touchdown to cap the scoring.​​

Tarleton State fell behind 7-0 early after a Devyn Perkins interception set up Utah Tech's opening touchdown, but the Texans responded with three consecutive scoring drives to seize control. Paige's 1-yard touchdown run tied the game midway through the first quarter, and his 4-yard pass to Joiner capped a marathon 17-play, 98-yard drive that consumed 8:45 of clock and gave TSU a 13-7 lead heading into the second quarter. The Texans' defense limited Utah Tech to just 132 rushing yards and forced critical stops in the red zone.​

Head coach Todd Whitten's squad saw its streak of four consecutive 50-point games end, but the Texans still averaged 47.8 points per game—fourth in the FCS. Tarleton State will host West Georgia on Saturday, October 18, in a critical United Athletic Conference clash. The Texans have won nine of their last 10 UAC games and remain undefeated with the nation's third-longest active winning streak at seven games.​

4. Montana (6-0, 3-0 Big Sky) —

The Grizzlies overcame their first shutout half since 2019 to rally for a 28-9 homecoming victory over Cal Poly. Montana trailed 9-0 at halftime after being outgained 276-146 in the opening 30 minutes, but the defense clamped down in spectacular fashion, limiting the Mustangs to just 60 total yards, two completed passes, and one first down in the second half. Defensive back Kenzel Lawler sparked the comeback with a 21-yard interception return for touchdown early in the third quarter to put Montana on the scoreboard.​

Quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat completed 27 of 41 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown, with wide receiver Michael Wortham catching 10 passes for 84 yards including a 24-yard touchdown strike that gave Montana the lead for good at 14-9 early in the fourth quarter. Running back Eli Gillman was the offensive star, rushing for 123 yards and two touchdowns on scores of 17 and 13 yards as the Grizzlies outscored Cal Poly 28-0 in the second half. Montana's defense held the Mustangs to a mere 74 total yards after halftime and forced three turnovers.​

The victory marked Montana's sixth consecutive win dating back to last season and improved the Grizzlies to 6-0 for the first time since 2009. Head coach Bobby Hauck's squad leads the all-time series with Cal Poly 20-5 and has now won three straight Big Sky Conference games. Montana will host Sacred Heart on Saturday, October 18, in a non-conference matchup. The Grizzlies sit atop the Big Sky standings at 3-0 in league play alongside Montana State and UC Davis.​

5. Montana State (5-2, 3-0 Big Sky) —

The Bobcats put on an offensive clinic, routing Idaho State 48-14 before a crowd of 22,267 in Bozeman. Quarterback Justin Lamson threw for a career-high four touchdown passes while completing 17 of 21 attempts for 184 yards without an interception. Lamson also rushed 16 times for 60 yards and a score, becoming the first MSU player this season to account for five touchdowns in a single game. Running back Adam Jones became the first Bobcat to eclipse 100 rushing yards this season, carrying 16 times for 173 yards and a touchdown.​

Montana State jumped out to a 14-0 lead on its first two possessions, with Lamson's 22-yard touchdown pass to running back Julius Davis opening the scoring. Lamson found tight end Dane Steel for a 15-yard score on the next drive to double the lead. The Bobcats led 34-14 at halftime after racking up 373 yards and five touchdowns in the opening 30 minutes while holding Idaho State to just four rushing yards. Rocky Lencioni caught two touchdown passes while Julius Davis (65 rushing yards) and Colson Coon (32) contributed to a balanced ground attack.​

Head coach Brent Vigen praised his team's complementary football, noting how "the defense would feed the offense, and the offense would feed the defense". The Bobcats' defense forced three turnovers and held ISU to 404 total yards—80 below the Bengals' season average. Montana State enters its bye week with a 5-2 record and five consecutive wins, including a perfect 3-0 mark in Big Sky play. The Bobcats will return to action on October 25 at Cal Poly.​

Teams 6-10: Championship Contenders

6. UC Davis (5-1, 3-0 Big Sky) —

The Aggies pulled away from No. 14 Northern Arizona with a 21-point fourth quarter to win 45-24 on homecoming night in Davis. Freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick threw for a career-high 348 yards and five touchdown passes, completing an impressive 25 of 29 attempts. Pinnick threw three of his five touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone, connecting with Stacy Dobbins (10 yards), Mitchell Dixon (7 yards), and Samuel Gbatu Jr. (4 yards) to put the game out of reach. Gbatu finished with nine receptions for 114 yards and two scores, while running back Jordan Fisher totaled 104 rushing yards including a 59-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. The Aggies' defense recorded a season-high six sacks, with Jackson Sievers (nine tackles, 1.0 sack) and Jacob Psyk (six tackles, 1.5 sacks) leading the charge. UC Davis overcame a fumble at midfield in the fourth quarter when Khalani Riddick forced a fumble on the first play of NAU's ensuing drive, recovered by Jake Williams to preserve momentum. Head coach Tim Plough's squad improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Big Sky play ahead of Saturday's matchup against Idaho.​

7. Lehigh (7-0, 3-0 Patriot) —

The Mountain Hawks dominated Columbia 31-7 for their 12th consecutive regular-season victory and seventh straight win in 2025. Sophomore quarterback Hayden Johnson completed 17 of 23 passes for a career-high 240 yards and a touchdown while leading Lehigh with 68 rushing yards. Senior wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel was the offensive star with a career-high 182 receiving yards on nine catches, including a 63-yard touchdown reception early in the third quarter that made it 24-0. Lehigh's offense raced to a 17-0 halftime lead behind Matt Machalik's rushing touchdowns and Johnson's efficient passing. The Mountain Hawks' defense was suffocating, holding Columbia to just 228 total yards (42 in the first half) including only 39 rushing yards. Lehigh registered six sacks, nine tackles for loss, and two interceptions, with seniors Brycen Edwards and Matt Spatny each recording two sacks. Head coach Kevin Cahill's squad won its third straight game against Ivy League opponents and will host Georgetown on Saturday, October 18.​

8. Tennessee Tech (6-0, 3-0 OVC-Big South) ↑

The Golden Eagles survived a weather-delayed challenge from Charleston Southern, winning 27-13 in rainy conditions to remain unbeaten. Quarterback Kekoa Visperas completed 17 of 27 passes for 157 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions while rushing nine times for a team-high 72 yards. Visperas connected with Maury Sullivan for a 2-yard touchdown on the game's opening drive, and running backs Obie Sanni (6-yard TD), Q'Daryius Jennings (1-yard TD), and Aidan Littles (16-yard TD) all found the end zone. The Golden Eagles' defense held Charleston Southern to just 209 total yards, including only 63 rushing yards on 31 attempts. Tennessee Tech forced a three-and-out on the opening possession and limited the Buccaneers to their closest margin of victory this season—just 14 points. Head coach Bobby Wilder's squad improved to 6-0 for just the third time in program history and ranks seventh in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. Tennessee Tech will host Chattanooga on Saturday, October 18, in an OVC-Big South conference matchup.​

9. North Dakota (4-2, 2-0 MVFC) ↑

The Fighting Hawks (4-2) enjoyed a bye week to rest and prepare after winning four consecutive games, including consecutive road victories at Missouri Valley Football Conference opponents. UND's last outing was a dominant 35-7 win at Northern Iowa on October 4, when quarterback Jerry Kaminski threw four touchdown passes and the defense forced multiple turnovers. The Fighting Hawks rank among the MVFC leaders in several offensive categories and have momentum heading into the second half of the season. North Dakota will host Youngstown State on Saturday, October 18, looking to extend its winning streak to five games. Head coach Bubba Schweigert's squad sits at 2-0 in MVFC play and has positioned itself as a legitimate playoff contender.​

10. Illinois State (5-2, 2-1 MVFC) ↓

The Redbirds (5-2) bounced back from their loss to North Dakota State with a 46-32 road victory over winless Murray State. Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse was nearly perfect, completing 21 of 25 passes (84%) for 338 yards and four touchdowns. Illinois State scored touchdowns on its first four possessions, with Wenkers Wright returning a kickoff 80 yards followed by Victor Dawson's 12-yard rushing touchdown to make it 14-3. Wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz caught eight passes for 162 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a 2-yard score to open the game's scoring. The Redbirds led 37-17 midway through the third quarter after Rittenhouse connected with tight end Javon Charles for a 19-yard touchdown. Murray State (0-6) has now lost 15 consecutive games dating back to last season—the longest active losing streak in Division I football. Illinois State returns home to face South Dakota on Saturday, October 18.​

Teams 11-25: Playoff Picture

Playoff Contenders (Teams 11-17)

11. Monmouth (5-1, 2-0 CAA) ↑ — The Hawks (5-1) stayed unbeaten in Coastal Athletic Association play with a 42-31 road victory at Towson. Running back Elijah Jennings rushed for three touchdowns while quarterback Derek Robertson completed 26 of 31 passes for 244 yards and two scores. Rodney Nelson ran 27 times for 152 yards and a touchdown as Monmouth racked up 448 total yards. The Hawks scored in every quarter and led wire-to-wire before Towson made it interesting late. Monmouth will host Stony Brook on Saturday, October 18, for homecoming.​

12. Southern Illinois (4-2, 1-1 MVFC) ↓ — The Salukis (4-2) saw their three-game winning streak snapped in a 45-17 loss at top-ranked North Dakota State. Quarterback DJ Williams threw for 190 yards with one touchdown and one interception while rushing for 41 yards. Two costly fumbles inside NDSU territory—one at the 18-yard line late in the second quarter and another at the 35 early in the third—proved decisive. Southern Illinois managed just 123 rushing yards and was outgained 540-313 in total offense. The Salukis will host Missouri State on Saturday, October 18.​

13. Abilene Christian (4-3, 2-0 UAC) ↑ — The Wildcats (4-3) enjoyed a bye week after defeating North Alabama 52-23 on October 4 behind quarterback Stone Earle's four touchdown passes. ACU has won two straight games and sits at 2-0 in United Athletic Conference play. Abilene Christian moved up significantly in the rankings—three spots in the AFCA Coaches Poll and from No. 19 to No. 13 in the Stats Perform poll—due to other teams' losses. The Wildcats will travel to West Georgia on Saturday, October 18, in a key UAC matchup.​

14. Jackson State (5-1, 3-0 SWAC) ↑ — The Tigers (5-1) survived a thrilling 38-34 homecoming victory over Alabama State to take control of the SWAC East. Quarterback JaCobian Morgan threw for 314 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 66 yards and one score. Wide receivers Shemar Savage and Ja'Naylon Dupree each caught two touchdown passes while Nathan Rembert's 18-yard touchdown catch with 50 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner. Alabama State had the ball at the JSU 1-yard line with one second remaining but couldn't score on the final play. Jackson State will enjoy a bye week before hosting Alcorn State on October 25.​

15. Villanova (4-2, 3-1 CAA) ↑ — The Wildcats (4-2) rallied from a 14-3 halftime deficit to defeat Elon 29-21 in a thrilling road victory. Quarterback Pat McQuaide threw two touchdown passes to Luke Colella (20 and 42 yards) in the third quarter to give Villanova a 17-14 lead. Running back Ja'briel Mace delivered the knockout blow with a 97-yard kickoff return for touchdown with 5:10 remaining after Elon had taken a 21-20 lead. Jack Barnum kicked three field goals for the Wildcats, who improved to 3-1 in CAA play. Villanova will host Hampton on Saturday, October 18.​

16. Rhode Island (5-2, 3-0 CAA) ↑ — The Rams (5-2) defeated New Hampshire 38-27 to remain unbeaten in Coastal Athletic Association play. Rhode Island improved to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in conference action with its third consecutive victory since the upset loss to Brown. The Rams have climbed from No. 17 to No. 15 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 16 in the Stats Perform poll. Rhode Island will travel to UAlbany on Saturday, October 18.​

17. Lamar (5-1, 1-0 SLC) ↑ — The Cardinals (5-1) enjoyed a bye week after their thrilling 24-17 victory over Nicholls on October 4. Lamar has won four consecutive games and rose three spots to No. 17 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25—the program's all-time high ranking. Quarterback Aiden McCown and the Cardinals' offense have found their rhythm, averaging over 30 points per game during the winning streak. Lamar will host Central Arkansas on Saturday, October 18, in Southland Conference play.​

On the Bubble (Teams 18-22)

18. Harvard (4-0, 2-0 Ivy) ↑ — Harvard (4-0) defeated Cornell 24-7 to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2015. The Crimson have outscored opponents 183-45 through four games and lead the Ivy League at 2-0. Harvard jumped from No. 25 to No. 20 in the AFCA Coaches Poll following its dominant start. The Crimson will host Dartmouth on Saturday, October 19.​

19. Northern Arizona (4-3, 1-2 Big Sky) ↓ — The Lumberjacks (4-3) saw their four-game winning streak snapped in a 45-24 loss at No. 6 UC Davis. Quarterback Ty Pennington completed 28 of 47 passes for 245 yards, with wide receiver Isaiah Eastman catching eight passes for 135 yards. NAU dropped from No. 14 to No. 21 in the AFCA poll and No. 19 in the Stats Perform poll. Northern Arizona will travel to Portland State on Saturday, October 18.​

20. Mercer (5-1, 3-0 SoCon) ↑ — Mercer (5-1) defeated Western Carolina 37-28 to improve to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Southern Conference play. Quarterback Braden Atkinson threw for 347 yards in the victory. The Bears have won four consecutive games since their season-opening loss to Presbyterian. Mercer rose from No. 25 to No. 16 in the AFCA poll and No. 20 in Stats Perform. The Bears will host Samford on Saturday, October 18.​

21. Presbyterian (6-0, 2-0 Pioneer) ↑ — Presbyterian (6-0) won its sixth consecutive game, defeating Butler 31-20 on the road to improve to 2-0 in Pioneer Football League play. Quarterback Collin Hurst and the Blue Hose offense have been explosive, averaging over 30 points per game. Presbyterian ranks No. 19 in both major polls despite being undefeated. The Blue Hose will host Morehead State on Saturday, October 18.​

22. South Dakota (4-3, 2-1 MVFC) ↑ — South Dakota (4-3) enjoyed a bye week after defeating Murray State 49-24 on October 4 behind running back L.J. Phillips Jr.'s 244 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Coyotes have won two of their last three games and sit at 2-1 in MVFC play. South Dakota rose from No. 23 to No. 22 in the Stats Perform poll. The Coyotes will travel to Northern Iowa on Friday, October 17.​

New to Rankings (Teams 23-25)

23. Idaho (2-4, 0-2 Big Sky) ↓ — Idaho (2-4) suffered a crushing 49-33 home loss to Northern Colorado to drop to 0-2 in Big Sky play. The Vandals plummeted from No. 11 to No. 23 in the Stats Perform poll and fell out of the AFCA Coaches Top 25 entirely after losing their third consecutive game. Quarterback Jordan Cooke threw for 350-plus yards but couldn't overcome the defense's struggles. Idaho will host UC Davis on Saturday, October 18.​

24. Austin Peay (3-3, 1-2 UAC) ↓ — Austin Peay (3-3) saw its two-game winning streak snapped with a 34-20 road loss at Eastern Kentucky. The Governors dropped nine spots in the AFCA Coaches Poll from No. 16 to No. 24 after the defeat. Quarterback Chris Parson and the offense struggled against the Colonels' defense after putting up 44 points against West Georgia the week prior. Austin Peay will host Tennessee State on Saturday, October 18.​

25. Stephen F. Austin (5-1, 2-0 SLC, Previous: NR) NEW — Stephen F. Austin (5-1) enters the FCS Top 25 for the first time this season after defeating McNeese 48-24 to improve to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Southland Conference play. Quarterback Harley Dawson and the Lumberjacks' offense has been explosive, averaging over 35 points per game. SFA's only loss came against then-No. 19 Abilene Christian earlier in the season. The Lumberjacks rank No. 25 in the Stats Perform poll and received votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll. Stephen F. Austin will host Houston Christian on Saturday, October 18.​

Conference Power Rankings

Missouri Valley Football Conference continues to dominate with six teams in the FCS Top 25, including the top two spots with North Dakota State and South Dakota State both at 6-0. The Bison demolished Southern Illinois 45-17 while the Jackrabbits forced five turnovers in a 31-3 Hobo Day victory over Northern Iowa. North Dakota jumped to No. 9 after its bye week while Illinois State held at No. 10 despite beating Murray State 46-32. Southern Illinois dropped from No. 8 to No. 12 following the blowout loss at NDSU, and South Dakota remained at No. 22. The MVFC's depth remains unmatched with five teams holding winning records and playoff aspirations.​

Big Sky Conference placed five teams in the updated rankings, led by Montana and Montana State in the top five. The Grizzlies rallied from a 9-0 halftime deficit to beat Cal Poly 28-9 while the Bobcats crushed Idaho State 48-14. UC Davis stayed at No. 6 after dominating Northern Arizona 45-24 behind five Caden Pinnick touchdown passes. Northern Arizona dropped from No. 14 to No. 19 after the loss, while Idaho plummeted from No. 11 to No. 23 following a 49-33 home defeat to Northern Colorado. The Big Sky's top three teams—Montana, Montana State, and UC Davis—are all 3-0 in conference play and control their championship destiny.​

Coastal Athletic Association features four ranked teams led by No. 7 Lehigh's perfect 7-0 record after defeating Columbia 31-7. Monmouth moved up to No. 11 following a 42-31 road win at Towson, while Villanova climbed to No. 15 after rallying to beat Elon 29-21. Rhode Island jumped to No. 16 after defeating New Hampshire 38-27 to improve to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in CAA play. The conference's depth has been questioned compared to previous years, but four teams remain in the national conversation with winning records and playoff hopes.​

United Athletic Conference has four teams ranked, led by undefeated No. 3 Tarleton State at 7-0 after surviving Utah Tech 41-23. Abilene Christian rose to No. 13 during its bye week as other teams lost, while Austin Peay tumbled from No. 16 to No. 24 following a 34-20 loss at Eastern Kentucky. Stephen F. Austin entered the rankings at No. 25 after improving to 5-1 with a 48-24 victory over McNeese. The conference race remains wide open with multiple contenders capable of challenging Tarleton State for the championship.​

Week 9 Top Games to Watch

No. 13 Abilene Christian at No. 3 Tarleton State — The Wildcats make the trip to Stephenville for a United Athletic Conference showdown between unbeaten teams in league play. Tarleton State has won seven consecutive games and ranks fourth nationally in scoring offense at 47.8 points per game despite playing without several key offensive players last week. Abilene Christian quarterback Stone Earle threw four touchdown passes in the Wildcats' last game and ACU has won two straight after a 1-3 start. This matchup will likely determine the front-runner for the UAC championship and could have significant playoff seeding implications. Kickoff is Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.​

No. 9 North Dakota at Youngstown State — The Fighting Hawks bring a four-game winning streak into the UNI-Dome to face the Penguins. North Dakota quarterback Jerry Kaminski has thrown for multiple touchdowns in consecutive games and the offense ranks among the MVFC's most explosive units. Youngstown State (3-3) is coming off a 35-30 loss to South Dakota State and needs a signature victory to stay in the playoff conversation. This Missouri Valley Football Conference clash features two teams capable of making playoff runs if they can string together victories down the stretch. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ at 2 p.m. Saturday.​

No. 11 Monmouth vs Stony Brook — The Hawks host homecoming looking to extend their unbeaten streak in Coastal Athletic Association play to 3-0. Monmouth running back Rodney Nelson has rushed for over 150 yards in consecutive games while quarterback Derek Robertson has been efficient with a 26-of-31 performance last week. Stony Brook (3-4, 1-2 CAA) is coming off a loss but always plays Monmouth tough in this rivalry matchup. The Hawks need to continue winning to position themselves for a potential playoff at-large bid if they can't win the CAA automatic qualifier. Game time is 1 p.m. Saturday at Kessler Stadium.​

The FCS playoff picture is taking clear shape as conference races intensify across the subdivision. North Dakota State and South Dakota State remain the clear favorites for the top two seeds, while Montana, Tarleton State, and Montana State have all proven they belong in the championship conversation. With seven weeks remaining in the regular season, every game carries playoff implications as teams jostle for position in both automatic qualifier and at-large berths. The FCS Top 25 rankings reflect a competitive and unpredictable landscape where each Saturday brings new drama and shifts the postseason outlook.