| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior |
| 1 |  | North Dakota State | If Iowa can't stop the Bison (3-0), will they run the table for a sixth straight championship? They rest next week. | 1 |
| 2 |  | Jacksonville State | An impressive win for the Gamecocks (2-1) over Coastal Carolina. Travel to Liberty next week for their final non-conference tilt. | 5 |
| 3 |  | Sam Houston State | The Bearkats (2-0) dispatched of Lamar at the end. Only two potential hiccups remain on the schedule and neither comes until November. | 3 |
| 4 |  | Chattanooga | Chattanooga (3-0) got more than they wanted at Furman, but gritted it out. A home game against a well-rested Samford comes next week. | 4 |
| 5 |  | Montana | The Grizzlies (2-0) took this week off but visit a Cal Poly team who upset South Dakota State next week. Upset alert? | 8 |
| 6 | 
| Eastern Washington | The Eagles (2-1) found a little bit of defense and roared back to beat Northern Iowa. Next week they play at NAU - here come the points! | 10 |
| 7 |  | Richmond | Hmmm? Stony Brook was not concerned with the Spiders (2-1) early season reputation. They host Colgate next week. | 2 |
| 8 |  | Citadel | The Bulldogs (3-0) go into their bye week undefeated and in the Top 10. Who would have thought that? A team from Charleston, SC, that's who. | 13 |
| 9 |  | Western Illinois | Considering who the Leathernecks (2-0) have beaten, there's no way to keep them out of the Top Ten now. Northern Illinois waits for them next. | 14 |
| 10 |  | Illinois State | The Redbirds (2-1) lost a close one to Eastern Illinois this week. They still hold an FBS win in their pocket. Open MVFC play at Indiana State next. | 6 |
| 11 |  | Coastal Carolina | Coastal Carolina (2-1) loses to Jacksonville State. No harm there, right? Their two wins are against teams that are both 0-3. | 7 |
| 12 |  | William & Mary | The Tribe (2-1) successfully beats another overmatched opponent in Norfolk State. You have to wonder if they're prepared for CAA play. | 15 |
| 13 |  | Northern Iowa | UNI (1-2) lost their second straight game after an FBS win in the opener. But losses to #5 and #6 are not shameful. They need this week off. | 9 |
| 14 |  | James Madison | Much like their in-state brother above, the Dukes (2-1) have beaten two overmatched teams then were throttled by UNC. They go to Maine next. | 11 |
| 15 |  | Eastern Illinois | EIU (2-1) beat FBS Miami (OH) last week and Illinois State this week. Only that loss to Western Illinois keeps them from the Top 5, perhaps. | NR |
| 16 |  | South Dakota State | The Jacks (1-2) knew Cal Poly's style was dangerous. And losing to them confirms it. They'll take a week off before opening MVFC play. | 12 |
| 17 |  | Charleston Southern | The Buccs (1-2) had this week off, but still move up, just because of the schedule they've played. They visit a game Monmouth squad next week. | 18 |
| 18 |  | Wofford | Wofford (2-1) hammered a lower division opponent this week, but host a surprising undefeated East Tennessee State next week. | 19 |
| 19 |  | Albany | Albany (3-0), what size slipper do you wear? Cinderella smashed Holy Cross and host St. Francis next week. Start believing, because they are! | 20 |
| 20 |  | Samford | Samford (2-0) had to be pleased to see Chattanooga struggle with Furman. They will have had two weeks to prepare for the Mocs next week. | 22 |
| 21 |  | Youngstown State | The Penguins (2-1) join the list of contenders who have under-scheduled. They'll take this week off and start conference play after that. | 23 |
| 22 |  | McNeese State | The Cowboys (1-2) lose an unexpected game at home to Stephen F. Austin. Another loss like this could be playoff fatal with SHSU still looming. | 16 |
| 23 |  | New Hampshire | A loss to Dartmouth isn't necessarily bad, but the Wildcats (1-2) don't think so. A trip to Rhode Island might be just what they need. | 17 |
| 24 |  | Northern Arizona | The Lumberjacks (1-2) get the win this week, but did it against a lower division foe. EWU comes calling next week. Again - here come the points! | 24 |
| 25 |  | Colgate | The Raiders (1-1) beat what most thought would be a decent Yale team and did it very handily. Can they take advantage of Richmond next week? | NR |
