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