| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior | |
| 1 |  | North Dakota State | NDSU (8-0) shellacked South Dakota. A home game with Youngstown State figures to be the same, if they want it to be. | 1 |
| 2 |  | Kennesaw State | KSU (7-1) made Charleston Southern walk the plank then took their bounty. Next week they'll ask Campbell, one hump or two? | 2 |
| 3 |  | James Madison | JMU (6-2) won a defensive battle with Stony Brook. Now a road game to New Hampshire in what should be their "bowl" game. | 3 |
| 4 |  | UC Davis | UC-D (7-1) went to Montana and took care of business. A home game with NAU comes next week before the big one. | 4 |
| 5 |  | Weber State | WSU (6-2) went to UND and hosed down the red hot Hawks. Home game vs. Sacramento State net week shouldn't sting at all. | 5 |
| 6 |  | Eastern Washington | EWU (6-2) took the extra week of rest then disposed of Idaho. A road game at NoCo precedes a potential national seeding game. | 6 |
| 7 |  | Elon | Elon (5-2) had the week off. Now the tough three game stretch to end the year begins. First, a home date with Rhode Island. | 7 |
| 8 |  | South Dakota State | SDSU (5-2) jumped all over Illinois State, then hung on to win by 10. The schedule eases up some with Missouri State visiting next. | 8 |
| 9 |  | Colgate | Colgate (7-0) has all but clinched the Patriot automatic already. A win at Fordham would make it official. | 10 |
| 10 |  | Wofford | Wofford (6-2) beat Mercer and controls the SoCon race. But, a loss this week at a suddenly hot Samford opens the door for everyone. | 12 |
| 11 |  | Delaware | UD (6-2) came up big late and stole a win from Towson in a shootout. This week's road game to Albany should be less stressful. | 16 |
| 12 |  | Towson | Tigers (6-2) lost that 40-36 shootout to Delaware. And Maine visits this week. It just doesn't let up. | 9 |
| 13 |  | Jacksonville State | JSU (6-2) bounced back from the SEMO loss and raced circles around Murray State. Home next week with UT-Martin. | 15 |
| 14 |  | Stony Brook | SB (6-3) came up just short to James Madison, 13-10. They'll finally get their bye this week and prepare for Delaware. | 11 |
| 15 |  | McNeese State | McNeese (6-2) beat Central Arkansas, putting them back in the front of the Southland's heirarchy. Now just beat Lamar and stay there. | 18 |
| 16 |  | SE Missouri State | SEMO (6-2) beat UT-Martin. Winning two of their final three should land them at least an at-large bid. Whoulda thunk it?! | 20 |
| 17 |  | Nicholls | Nicholls (5-3) whipped Incarnate Word. McNeese can't say that. Even with the shortened leash, the Colonels are the SLC's #2 now. | 22 |
| 18 |  | East Tennessee State | ETSU (7-2) rebounded after the Wofford loss nicely, beating WCU. With only two games left, this week's game at Mercer is important. | 23 |
| 19 |  | Chattanooga | UTC (6-2) handled VMI, as expected. Winning at Furman this coming week AND home against Mercer, might be needed for a bid. | 24 |
| 20 |  | Princeton | Tigers (7-0) beat Cornell, 66-0! If they do the same to a good Dartmouth team next week, we need to petition the Ivy for the playoffs. | 21 |
| 21 |  | Illinois State | ISU (5-3) couldn't come back after digging a huge hole to SDSU. Next week they travel to an equally irritated Northern Iowa. | 13 |
| 22 |  | North Dakota | UND (5-3) lost to Weber State and a real shot at making the seed line. Last three are all winnable, starting at Idaho. | 14 |
| 23 |  | Dartmouth | Dartmouth (7-0) beat Harvard, but not like Princeton beat Cornell. But next week, they go to Princeton for the Ivy League title. | 25 |
| 24 |  | Western Illinois | WIU (4-4) is done with the tough part of their schedule and look good for the playoffs. But no let down or Southern Illinois gets 'em. | NR |
| 25 |  | Northern Iowa | UNI (4-4) came out flat at WIU in the second half and got rolled. Next week's home game vs. Illinois State might be a de facto playoff. | 17 |
