Preseason FCS Football Top 25 Rankings

RankTeamCommentsPrior
1 James Madison LogoJames MadisonThe defending National Champions start their defense on the road against FBS East Carolina.1
2North Dakota State LogoNorth Dakota StateThe Bison will surely be unkind hosts on the field when they play Mississippi Valley State.3
3South Dakota State LogoSouth Dakota StateThe Jacks might have to get more offensive than they bargained for when Duquesne visits.5
4Sam Houston State LogoSam Houston StateThe Bearkats really bolstered the schedule this time around, although the Richmond game is delayed due to Hurricane Harvey.7
5 North Dakota LogoNorth DakotaHeavy pressure on the Fighting Hawks in 2017. And playing in SLC against Utah shouldn't be easy either.11
6Jacksonville State LogoJacksonville StateThe Gamecocks play a Week 0 game against neighbor, Chattanooga. They take the next weekend off before the grind.9
7Eastern Washington LogoEastern WashingtonAt Texas Tech. Win or lose, the scoreboard operater better be awake for this high-scoring affair.  Over/Under 80+?4
8Villanova LogoVillanovaThe post Coach Talley era begins with a huge CAA/Patriot match-up at Lehigh.14
9Lehigh LogoLehighLehigh gets a chance to make good on a Top Ten preseason ranking against a tough Villanova team at home.18
10Richmond LogoRichmondRichmond's huge FCS intersectional game against Sam Houston State will not be played this weekend.9
11Chattanooga LogoChattanoogaA Week 0 match-up with Jacksonville State earns the Mocs the right to take the traditional weekend off.15
12Central Arkansas LogoCentral ArkansasA very talented Bears squad goes to Kansas State. They might be an underdog but they expect to win.13
13Youngstown State LogoYoungstown State2017 starts across the border with a tilt at FBS Pittsburgh. The Penguins will be confident, upset special?2
14Samford LogoSamfordPlayoff hopefuls meet in a Big South/SoCon match-up when Samford hosts Kennesaw State.20
15New Hampshire LogoNew HampshireThe Wildcats start the season in a border war against fellow CAA brother, Maine. Almost always an interesting contest.16
16Charleston Southern LogoCharleston SouthernThe Buccos get right after it, traveling to FBS Mississippi State to begin 2017.17
17Wofford LogoWoffordThe Terriers travel to Furman, getting their 2017 campaign going in SoCon action early on.8
18Fordham LogoFordhamThe Rams travel upstate to play Army. They've upset Army before and this year's team may be better than those were.24
19Liberty LogoLibertyThe final year in the Big South and FCS for Liberty. They get a taste of the future in Waco, TX, when they play Baylor.NR
20 Northern Iowa LogoNorthern IowaThe Panthers won at Iowa State last year, then slumped to a rare losing season.NR
21Western Illinois LogoWestern IllinoisA trip to Tennessee Tech looks like WIU's easiest non-conference game this year. They need to make it count.NR
22McNeese State LogoMcNeese StateGoing to Nicholls. The winner could have the inside track to, at least, third place in the Southland in 2017.NR
23The Citadel LogoCitadelA rough ending last season shouldn't be an issue here when D-II Newberry travels to The Citadel.12
24Cal Poly LogoCal PolyMustangs get a jump on the season hosting Colgate. Then they travel to FBS San Jose State for the traditional weekend opener.21
25Northern Arizona LogoNorthern ArizonaThe Lumberjacks stay in state to play FBS Arizona. It's one of the few times they travel south.NR