| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior | |
| 1 |  | Jacksonville State | Jax State (9-1) beat Murray State, setting up the unlikely OVC title game against Tennessee-Martin. | 1 |
| 2 |  | Sam Houston State | SHSU (10-0) took care of Northwestern State. Now, the week has come, Southland championship at home vs. UCA. | 2 |
| 3 |  | North Dakota State | The Bison (9-1) whipped Indiana State. The playoff bound champs look to avenge a 2015 loss at South Dakota next. | 3 |
| 4 |  | Eastern Washington | EWU (9-1) crushed Idaho State to stay unbeaten in the Big Sky. They go to Portland State next weekend. | 4 |
| 5 |  | Citadel | The Citadel (10-0) finished their FCS schedule unblemished. Now they travel to FBS UNC to finish up overall. | 5 |
| 6 |  | James Madison | JMU (9-1) clinched the CAA title. A big win over Elon will have them in the talk for a top 4 seed in the playoffs. | 6 |
| 7 |  | Central Arkansas | UCA (9-1) beat a dangerous Nicholls State, setting up their chance at Sam Houston State for all the Southland's marbles. | 8 |
| 8 |  | North Dakota | UND (9-2) trailed NAU, but owned the 4th quarter and end the regular season with at least a shared Big Sky title. | 9 |
| 9 |  | Richmond | Richmond (8-2) is safely in the playoff field now, but a win over W&M next week might get them a seed and a bye. | 10 |
| 10 |  | South Dakota State | SDSU (7-3) should have clinched a bid with a win over South Dakota. Tough roadie at Northern Iowa to finish. | 12 |
| 11 |  | Chattanooga | The Mocs (8-2) made a lot of enemies on the bubble by losing to Wofford. Reward? Now they go to FBS Alabama. | 7 |
| 12 |  | Coastal Carolina | CCU (8-2) beats an overmatched Bryant. If they beat Liberty next week, they could cost the Flames an at-large bid. | 14 |
| 13 |  | Youngstown State | YSU (7-3) should have clinched a third bid for the MVFC. They go to Missouri State next week. | 15 |
| 14 |  | Samford | Samford (7-3) got back on the winning track. Winning on the road at ETSU next week will secure a playoff bid. | 16 |
| 15 |  | Lehigh | Lehigh (8-2) has already clinched the Patriot. They go to rival Lafayette to finish the regular season. | 18 |
| 16 |  | Villanova | Nova (7-3) is probably in the playoffs even if they lost to Delaware next week. But they don't want to tempt the Committee. | 11 |
| 17 |  | Charleston Southern | CSU (6-3) beat Liberty. Now, if they beat Kennesaw State next week, they win the Big South automatic bid. | 19 |
| 18 |  | Wofford | Wofford (7-3) finally got the signature win they needed, beating Chatty. A win over VMI next clinches the playoffs. | 24 |
| 19 |  | North Carolina A&T | A&T (9-1) plays for the MEAC title and Celebrations Bowl next week. If they lose, would they get an at-large to the playoffs? | 25 |
| 20 |  | Albany | Albany (6-4) is back from the dead. When all appeared lost, they beat UNH. A win over Stony Brook gets them in next week. | NR |
| 21 |  | Montana | Montana (6-4) has lost 3 of 4 and now have to beat Montana State, who would love to cost the Griz the playoffs. | 13 |
| 22 |  | Western Illinois | WIU (6-4) lose at home to Northern Iowa. As good as they've been, a third straight loss to finish will kill their playoff chances. | 17 |
| 23 |  | Maine | Maine (6-4) jumped Stony Brook, then hold on for the win. They host UNH in a Week 12 "playoff game" next week. | NR |
| 24 |  | Fordham | The Rams (7-3) haven't exactly beaten the cream of the crop, but they've won 5 of 6. A win at Bucknell would help. | NR |
| 25 |  | New Hampshire | UNH (6-4) got ground up by Albany's rushing game in the second half. "Playoffs" start next week at Maine. | 20 |
