| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior | |
| 1 |  | North Dakota State | NDSU (9-0) got a spirited effort from Youngstown State. But they still won, of course. Go to Missouri State for their final road game. | 1 |
| 2 |  | UC Davis | UC-D (8-1) gets the bump to #2, the overall resume is too strong. Ask NAU. Perhaps the biggest road game in program history next. | 4 |
| 3 |  | Kennesaw State | KSU (8-1) thumped the two hump Camels, 49-0. The Big South auto-bid is on the line at Monmouth next week for the victor. | 2 |
| 4 |  | Weber State | WSU (7-2) smothered Sacramento State in their home finale. Road game to instate rival, Southern Utah next week. | 5 |
| 5 |  | Eastern Washington | EWU (7-2) started fast against NoCo and never let up. Playoff seeding game next week when they host UC-Davis. | 6 |
| 6 |  | Elon | Elon (6-2) held on late to beat Rhode Island. A tough home finale next week against Towson. | 7 |
| 7 |  | South Dakota State | SDSU (6-2) annihilated Missouri State. Finish their regular season road slate at Southern Illinois next week. | 8 |
| 8 |  | Colgate | Colgate (8-0) recorded their fifth shutout of the season, beating Fordham 41-0. They go to Lehigh next. | 9 |
| 9 |  | Delaware | UD (7-2) so much for less stress vs. Albany, scoring with less than 20 seconds to win. Huge road game at Stony Brook awaits. | 11 |
| 10 |  | James Madison | JMU (6-3) lost at UNH, what was correctly dubbed the Wildcats 2018 bowl game. Home vs. URI next. | 3 |
| 11 |  | Stony Brook | SB (6-3) had this week off, probably watching Delaware. Did Albany take enough starch out of the Hens for the Seawolves to poach? | 14 |
| 12 |  | SE Missouri State | SEMO (7-2) had no problems with TSU. Winning two guarantees playoffs. Winning one is still probably enough. At Murray State next. | 16 |
| 13 |  | Jacksonville State | JSU (7-2) beat UT-Martin but was very unimpressive, 21-14. | 13 |
| 14 |  | Nicholls | Nicholls (6-3) had a hiccup like most SLC contenders. But they've been winning since. SFA visits next week. | 17 |
| 15 |  | East Tennessee State | ETSU (8-2) did just enough to beat Mercer, but control their own destiny. A bye this week before finishing vs. Samford. | 18 |
| 16 |  | Wofford | Wofford (6-3) lost to the suddenly hot Samford, that was mentioned last week. At WCU next, that finishes their Socon schedule. | 10 |
| 17 |  | Towson | Tigers (6-3) lost late to Maine. Two weeks ago, the playoffs looked certain. A road game at Elon, now it's questions. | 12 |
| 18 |  | Princeton | Tigers (8-0) actually trailed to Dartmouth, but forged ahead in the fourth to stay undefeated. They travel to Yale next. | 20 |
| 19 |  | Western Illinois | WIU (5-4) trailed 31-14 entering the final quarter against SIU. A 20 point barrage saved their playoff hopes. Go to South Dakota next. | 24 |
| 20 |  | Northern Iowa | UNI (5-4) jumped all over Illinois State, then crusied to a 26-16 win. A trip to the Ice Castle next week to face Youngstown State. | 25 |
| 21 |  | Maine | Maine (6-3) may wish they had the W&M game back. With an FBS win in the bank, one more win might do it now. At Richmond next. | NR |
| 22 |  | Idaho State | ISU (6-3) won a shootout over Portland State. They may need to win out to make the playoffs. They'll start at Cal Poly first. | NR |
| 23 |  | Samford | Samford (5-4) beat Wofford for a fourth straight win. Guess who also controls their own destiny in the SoCon? | NR |
| 24 |  | Chattanooga | UTC (6-3) lost at Furman and it may eventually cost the Mocs the playoffs. Have to beat Mercer next week to stay alive. | 19 |
| 25 |  | McNeese State | McNeese (6-3) lost 38-24 to SE Louisiana and it wasn't as close as the score shows. Go to Northwetern State next. Any motivation left? | 15 |
