| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior | |
| 1 |  | North Dakota State | The Bison are the defending FCS National Champions and start in the crow's nest in search of their seventh title in eight years | |
| 2 |  | James Madison | The Dukes are one team to derail the aforementioned Bison's would-have-been seven year run. | |
| 3 |  | Kennesaw State | The Owls bring back almost everybody from a 2017 quarterfinal run. The triple option will be running wild in 2018. | |
| 4 |  | New Hampshire | The Wildcats put their forever FCS playoff run back on the line. But 2018 looks like a potential national championship year. | |
| 5 |  | Eastern Washington | The Eagles return most of their starters, including QB Gubrud, from a team who should have made last year's playoffs. | |
| 6 |  | South Dakota State | The Jackrabbits lost some NFL-caliber weapons, but the cupboard isn't bare. There's a lot on QB Christian's shoulders. | |
| 7 |  | Samford | The Bulldogs and QB Hodges might be the best team the average fan is forgetting about. Not here, these guys are good. | |
| 8 |  | Jacksonville State | The Gamecocks haven't lost in the Ohio Valley in four years. A tough non-conference schedule looks to toughen them up prior. | |
| 9 |  | Elon | The Phoenix rose(bad pun) like a wildfire in 2017 before burning out at season's end. Some experience should help that problem. | |
| 10 |  | Sam Houston State | The Bearkats lost so many pieces from 2017. But so many have been waiting to play. The Southland is still SHSU country. | |
| 11 |  | Northern Arizona | The Lumberjacks have a favorable schedule and a top level QB in Cookus. Many pundits are sleeping on them. Be careful. | |
| 12 |  | Villanova | The Wildcats were highly rated last year, that hasn't changed. If this team is healthier than 2017, they could make a deep playoff run. | |
| 13 |  | McNeese State | The Cowboys were 9-2 in 2017, the best record of any team to miss the playoffs. 2018, they look to take the Southland automatic. | |
| 14 |  | North Carolina A&T | The Aggies were the only FCS team to go undefeated in 2017. A season opener with Jacksonville State will set 2018's tone. | |
| 15 |  | Montana | The Grizzlies brought back old coach Hauck, but lost QB Gresch. Still, a lot of talent, but transition comes with many question marks. | |
| 16 |  | Northern Iowa | The Panthers again play a grueling schedule, but how soon they can figure out the moving parts will determine their success. | |
| 17 |  | Nicholls | The Colonels emerged as a playoff participant last year and even advanced. 2018, they look to take another step forward. | |
| 18 |  | Delaware | The Blue Hens desperately want to return to playoff form, it's been too long. They get three home games to get it started right. | |
| 19 |  | Austin Peay | The Governors are the FCS' sexy pick to surprise this year. It really happened last year, when they should have made the playoffs. | |
| 20 |  | Furman | The Paladins look to return to the playoffs again in 2018. Interesting schedule; three of four road games to start and end the season. | |
| 21 |  | South Dakota | The Coyotes limped into the playoffs last year, then lost QB Streveler to the Canadian League. Good talent left but a rough schedule. | |
| 22 |  | Montana State | The Bobcats were a team of close calls in 2017. If those breaks go their way in 2018, a playoff bid is very likely. | |
| 23 |  | Wofford | The Terriers get two conference home games to start off as they look to improve on 2017's success. | |
| 24 |  | Illinois State | The Redbirds return a decent team that really underperformed to their standards last year. Won't be easy in the MVFC in 2018. | |
| 25 |  | Idaho | Welcome back to the FCS, Vandals. Coming down a classification with returning athletes from the FBS, a possible dynamo in hiding. | |
Final FCS Football Power Rankings
