| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior |
| 1 |  | Jacksonville State | Jacksonville State (2-1) have had a difficult early schedule and walloped Tennessee State on Saturday. | 2 |
| 2 |  | North Dakota State | The Bison (2-1) took care of business against in-state foe North Dakota in their first meeting since 2003. | 4 |
| 3 |  | Coastal Carolina | The Chanticleers (3-0) hold off Western Illinois, 34-27, before a record crowd of 10,311 in Conway, S.C. | 5 |
| 4 |  | Sam Houston State | Sam Houston State's (0-2) season is starting out the way the 2014 campaign went. Houston Baptist visits next. | 1 |
| 5 |  | Illinois State | The Redbirds (2-1) avoid Eastern Illinois' upset bid. After a bye week, Illinois State hosts Northern Iowa on Oct. 3. | 3 |
| 6 |  | James Madison | The Dukes (3-0) move to 3-0 for the first time since 2010 with a 42-28 CAA victory over Albany. | 6 |
| 7 |  | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa (2-1) jump on Cal Poly and cruise to a relatively easy victory. | 7 |
| 8 |  | Eastern Washington | The Eagles (1-2) top Montana State, 55-50, in what was designated a nonconference contest. Sacramento State is next. | 8 |
| 9 |  | Villanova | Nova (2-1) got all they could handle from Delaware before emerging, 28-21, but QB John Robertson suffers knee injury. | 9 |
| 10 |  | Chattanooga | The Mocs (2-1) defeat Samford, 31-21, in a key early SoCon contest between the league's top two teams. | 11 |
| 11 |  | Montana State | The Bobcats (1-1) can't outscore EWU in a game that featured 1,385 yards of offense, 58 first downs and 105 points. | 10 |
| 12 |  | South Dakota State | The Jackrabbits (2-0) enjoy a bye week before hosting Robert Morris next weekend. | 12 |
| 13 |  | Youngstown State | Youngstown State (2-1) has an easy time with St. Francis, Pa., 48-3. After a bye week, YSU visits South Dakota. | 13 |
| 14 |  | Fordham | The Rams (2-1) top Columbia, 44-24. Monmouth comes to the Bronx next week. | 14 |
| 15 |  | Liberty | Liberty (2-1) register a huge victory over visiting Montana before 22,551 in Lynchburg, Virginia. | 23 |
| 16 |  | Portland State | The Vikings (2-0) enjoy an off week before hosting Western Oregon next week. | 17 |
| 17 |  | Stony Brook | Stony Brook (2-0) stun New Hampshire, 31-6, for their first victory ever over the Wildcats. W&M and JMU are next. | NR |
| 18 |  | Samford | Samford (2-1) jumped out early against Chattanooga but couldn't sustain it as they fall to Mocs. A visit to Louisville awaits. | 18 |
| 19 |  | Montana | The Grizzlies (1-2) have had a tough schedule and it doesn't get any easier with NAU visiting Missoula next week. | 16 |
| 20 |  | Eastern Kentucky | The Colonels (1-1) had a bye this weekend with Austin Peay coming to town next Saturday. Then it's on to Kentucky. | 20 |
| 21 |  | William & Mary | William & Mary (1-1) give Virginia all it can handle before losing 35-29. A pivotal contest against Stony Brook awaits. | 21 |
| 22 |  | McNeese State | The Cowboys (2-0) win a big league contest against Stephen F. Austin. Mississippi College is up next. | NR |
| 23 |  | Harvard | Harvard (1-0) gets its season started with a bang as the Ivy Leaguers defeat Rhode Island 41-10. | NR |
| 24 |  | Indiana State | The Sycamores (2-1) nip Southeast Missouri, 29-28, for a must-win game if they hope to sniff the playoffs. | 24 |
| 25 |  | Cal Poly | The tough early schedule catches up to the Mustangs against Northern Iowa. Montana State is next. | 15 |
