| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior | |
| 1 |  | James Madison | Dukes (1-0) go to FBS East Carolina and sink the Pirates. Host ETSU Bucs next week in their continuing pirate-themed season. | 1 |
| 2 |  | North Dakota State | Bison (1-0) roll to a 72-7 win over MVSU, as expcted. Shouldn't be that easy at Eastern Washington. | 2 |
| 3 |  | South Dakota State | Jackrabbits (1-0) cranked up offense in win over Duquesne. Will need a similar showing at Montana State next. | 3 |
| 4 |  | Sam Houston State | Bearkats (1-0) stomped on Richmond in their Harvey-delayed opener. They hit the road to nearby Prairie View A&M next. | 4 |
| 5 |  | Jacksonville State | Gamecocks (1-0) down Chattanooga in Week 0 opener. They took the week off to prepare for FBS Georgia Tech roadie. | 6 |
| 6 |  | Villanova | Wildcats (1-0) win big game over Lehigh. Now a crosstown game against FBS Temple. | 8 |
| 7 |  | Liberty | Flames (1-0) start their final year in FCS with a win at Baylor. Hosting Morehead State next week should be easier. | 19 |
| 8 |  | Samford | Bulldogs (1-0) slip by a very game Kennesaw State. Next is a non-Division I home game with West Alabama. | 14 |
| 9 |  | New Hampshire | Wildcats (1-0) win border war over Maine. Now they go south to play FBS Georgia Southern. | 15 |
| 10 |  | Wofford | Terriers (1-0) win their conference road opener at Furman. If they win next week at Mercer, they'll be early master in SoCon. | 17 |
| 11 |  | North Dakota | Fighting Hawks (0-1) lose at FBS Utah, no shocker. They host Missouri State next week. | 5 |
| 12 |  | Eastern Washington | Eagles (0-1) had their wings clipped at Texas Tech. It's okay, they only host NDSU next week...ouch! | 7 |
| 13 |  | Youngstown State | Penguins (0-1) gave FBS Pitt everything they had in a furious second half only to lose in OT. Robert Morris is next at home. | 13 |
| 14 |  | Lehigh | Mountain Hawks (0-1) lose tough game to 'Nova. Next they play at Monmouth who beat their rival, Lafayette. | 9 |
| 15 |  | Richmond | Spiders (0-1) were squashed in Texas, as SHSU are not good hosts. A road game at Colgate looks important now. | 10 |
| 16 |  | Chattanooga | Mocs (0-1) lose opener against JSU. No easier after this last week off when they travel to FBS Louisiana State. | 11 |
| 17 |  | Western Illinois | Leathernecks (1-0) win their first non-con roadie at Tennessee Tech. Northern Arizona is next on the itinerary. | 21 |
| 18 |  | Citadel | Bulldogs (1-0) beat Newberry, a Division II team. Hosting Presbyterian next week shouldn't be that much tougher. | 23 |
| 19 |  | Tennessee State | Tigers (1-0) win at FBS Georgia State. If they can take care of business against Jackson State, playoff aspirations will grow. | NR |
| 20 |  | Central Arkansas | Bears (0-1) lose to FBS Kansas State. Look to get on track at Murray State next week. | 12 |
| 21 |  | Colgate | Red Raiders (1-0) went cross country and beat Cal Poly last week. This week's rest preps them for Richmond next. | NR |
| 22 |  | Nicholls | Colonels (1-0) beat McNeese and took their spot as the Southland #3. But a roadie at FBS Texas A&M will be much tougher. | NR |
| 23 |  | Charleston Southern | Buccaneers (0-1) got waxed by FBS Mississippi State. Need to get it together next week at South Carolina State. | 16 |
| 24 |  | Northern Iowa | Panthers (0-1) lose at FBS Iowa State. A possible playoff eliminator next week when they host Cal Poly. | 20 |
| 25 |  | Howard | Bison (1-0) pull off huge upset at UNLV. Travel to Kent State next week, who was beaten by the MEAC's NC A&T last year. | NR |
