The 2024 FCS Top 25 Power Rankings showcase programs that prove FCS football is far more than just the little brother to the FBS. Amid the chaos of conference realignment, transfer portal transactions, and the College Football Playoff expansion, this season is set to be one of the most thrilling in recent memory.
While the majority of the country will have their eyes on powerhouses like Georgia and Ohio State, true die-hard fans know that the heart of the game beats strongest with teams like Florida A&M and Tarleton State.
CFN’s Official FCS Top 25 Power Rankings
First things first, a quick primer on the FCS landscape for the uninitiated. The postseason bracket features 24 teams, with 10 automatic bids and 14 at-large teams as voted on by the FCS Playoff Committee.
In prior years, the top eight teams were seeded, but to provide more balanced early-round matchups, further transparency on who hosts in the first round, and introduce less regionalization, the Committee will now seed the top 16.
Also of note, Delaware and Missouri State will join the CUSA next year, meaning they are not eligible to receive Top 25 votes this season.
So, without further ado, the CFN FCS Top 25!
Teams on the Outside Looking In
- Youngstown State
- North Dakota
- Nicholls
- Weber State
- Mercer
25) Florida A&M
The reigning Celebration Bowl champions kicked off their season with a 24-23 win over Norfolk State in the MEAC/SWAC challenge. While the contest was closer than it should’ve been, FAU transfer QB Daniel Richardson proved he could keep the offense humming with Kelvin Dean in the backfield and Jamari Gassett on the outside.
After going 12-1 last year, Florida A&M lost head coach Willie Simmons and SWAC Players of the Year QB Jeremy Moussa and LB Isaiah Major in the offseason. The turnover didn’t stop there, with DBs coach-turned-HC James Colzie III adding36 players from the portal (30 FBS, 6 FCS).
Alabam State and Jackson State will give FAMU a run for its money in the SWAC, and MEAC representatives North Carolina Central and Howard could be in the running for a Top 25 spot down the road. However, it’s important to remember that SWAC/MEAC champions have the option of participating in the FCS playoff or the Celebration Bowl (the Rattlers chose the latter last season).
24) Elon Pheonix
Elon isn’t running from competition in 2024, with six of its first seven opponents coming off winning seasons. The non-conference schedule includes Duke, North Carolina Central, and Western Carolina (who we’ll discuss shortly), but if the Pheonix can escape the gauntlet with a win or two, they should have no issue in the CAA, where they went 6-2 in 2023.
QB1 Matthew Downing returns with WR1 Chandler Brayboy, and star DB Caleb Curtain is back to anchor the defense. It won’t be easy, but Elon has the talent to make the playoffs for the second time in Tony Trisciani’s six-year tenure.
23) UT Martin Skyhawks
Although the Skyhawks went 8-3 overall and 5-1 in the Big South-OVC, they missed out on the playoffs. They’ll attempt to course correct in 2024 with 14 starters returning, including all-conference performers G Drake Carroll (first-team), DB Oshae Baker (first), DeVonte Tanksley (second), C Vance Van Every (second), LB Jaylon Sharpe (second) and DB JaMichael McGoy (second).
UT Martin ranked 20th in the FCS in scoring offense (31.7) and tied for 37th in scoring defense (24.0) last year. Losing All-American RB Sam Franklin and DE Daylan Dotson will sting, but an infusion of 17 FBS transfers will mitigate the blow. If QB Kinkead Dent can improve on his impressive debut as a starter (2,295 yards, 25 TDs, and eight INTs), the Skyhawks will finish the season in the playoffs.
22) Eastern Illinois Panthers
Eastern Illinois narrowly missed the playoffs with an 8-3 record, finishing ranked No. 24 in the coaches poll. Yet, that sentence is missing important context: the Panthers went 2-9 in 2022. That was the highest year-over-year increase in winning percentage in the FCS last year, and the program is poised for even more success in 2024.
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Several key players return, including QB Pierce Holley, who was named the Big South-OVC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 2,741 yards and 17 TDs last season. Additionally, the defense, which ranked second in the nation in turnovers, will have eight first-teamers back, led by standout LB Elijawah Tolbert.
21) Tarleton State Texans
The Texans moved up to the Division I level in 2020 and have recorded four straight winning seasons under HC Todd Whitten. The 2024 campaign will be the first in which they are eligible for the postseason, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
The offense, which averaged 33.3 points per game last year, will once again feature UAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Kayvon Britten, QB Victor Gabalis, and the top three WRs. If the defense can once again hold its own after allowing 24.5 points per game, the Texans will be well-positioned to make a significant run.
20) Illinois State Redbirds
The Redbirds are looking to build on their 6-5 record and earn a playoff berth for the first time since 2019 this season. They lost four games by eight points or fewer in 2023, but they have the talent to flip those results. Junior Tommy Rittenhouse will take over for Zack Annexstad under center after playing well in relief down the stretch.
The offense, which ranked 12th in scoring (32.8 PPG), also returns first-team All-MVFC running back Mason King and the top three pass catchers, namely WR1 Daniel Sobkowicz (68-933-10 receiving line in 2023). Quietly, the defense did more than carry its weight, ranking 22nd in the FCS in scoring (20.5).
With a potent offense and a solid defensive foundation, Illinois State can make noise early, beginning with late-September matchups against Eastern Illinois and North Dakota State.
19) Lafayette Leopards
Outside of a 2-1 record in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Leopards’ last winning season came in 2009 … until last year. Under the tutelage of HC John Troxell, Lafayette went 9-3 and narrowly lost to Delaware in the first round (36-34).
QB Dean DeNobile and RB Jamar Curtis were revelations in Easton, powering the offense to 30 PPG. Curtis’ 1,460 yards and 15 TDs resulted in All-American honors and will have defenses loading the box in 2024. The defense has its pair of stars in All-American safety Saiku White and All-Conference DE Jaylon Joseph to go along with six other starters.
The Leopards open the season against FBS-level Buffalo, who has lost to Patriot League programs in each of the past two years (Holy Cross in 2022 and Fordham in 2023).
18) William & Mary Tribe
There is only one place to start William & Mary’s write-up: Charles Grant. The 6’4″, 300-pound OT isthe best offensive lineman in FCS football and should be one of the highest-drafted players from the subdivision next April. But the ball doesn’t stop there.
After missing significant time due to injury last season, RB Bronson Yoder and WR/return man DreSean Kendrick are back to ignite the offense alongside QB Darius Wilson. The impact of All-World EDGE John Pius’ departure to Wisconsin can’t be understated, but the defense isn’t bereft of talent. After barely missing the playoffs a year ago, the Tribe is hungry for redemption.
17) UAlbany Great Danes
UAlbany’s 2024 season is a compelling reload story after posting a program-record 11 wins and reaching the semifinals last year. Despite losing handfuls of players to the portal and graduation, longtime HC Greg Gattuso aggressively recruited newcomers to bridge the gap.
With favorable matchups against Maine, Bryant, and Stony Brook, the Great Danes will have time to mesh with Wisconsin transfer Myles Burkett taking the keys from Reese Poffenbarger under center.
16) Southern Illinois Salukis
How much will the loss of longtime QB Nic Baker impact the Salukis? That’s the biggest question troubling the program entering the 2024 campaign, but it’s not the only one.
Top two RBs? Gone. Two of the top three WRs? Gone. Seven of 11 defensive starters? Gone. The only unit the Salukis return any semblance of experience is along the offensive line, which allowed 40 sacks last season.
The present looks shaky on paper, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Head coach Nick Hill is one of the best in the FCS, leading the Salukis to three playoff appearances and four winning seasons in the last five years. With a solid mix of rising talent and transfers, Southern Illinois should remain a threat in the loaded MVFC.
15) Furman Paladins
Prolific QB Tyler Huff is not at Jacksonville State, but SoCon Co-Freshman of the Year Carson Jones will pick up the mantle of QB1. The receiving corps is intact, and LB Luke Clark headlines a unit that led the conference in scoring defense, total defense, sacks, and forced turnovers last season.
To improve on their 10-3 campaign with a quarterfinal finish, the Paladins will need a new-look offensive line and rushing attack to fire on all cylinders quickly.
14) Incarnate Word Cardinals
Zach Calzada. That’s the write-up.
In all seriousness, Incarnate Word has one of the best passers in the country under center. But he didn’t lead the program to an 8-2 record on his own, as the offense (11th) and defense (15th) both ranked in the top 15 last season.
The Cardinals will want to expunge the disappointing taste in their mouths after missing the postseason due to a late-season loss to Nicholls, costing them the Southland title. Clint Killough’s squad should be favored in every conference game, but last season proved that they’ll likely need to win all of them to make the dance.
13) Western Carolina Catamounts
Western Carolina shattered records last season, racking up 5,545 total yards and leading the FCS with a staggering 504.1 yards per game. The Catamounts were just one win away from snapping a 40-year playoff drought but saw their hopes dashed when star QB Cole Gonzales — an Offensive Player of the Year pick and Walter Payton Award finalist — went down in the season finale at VMI.
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The loss cost them a shot at the postseason, but it underscored just how close they were to breaking through — which could happen in 2024. The Sept. 21 showdown at Montana will be pivotal in shaping the trajectory of Western Carolina’s season.
12) Central Arkansas Bears
Central Arkansas hasn’t seen playoff action since 2019, but this year, they’re the hot pick to dethrone Austin Peay and claim the UAC title. With the return of 1,000-yard RB ShunDerrick Powell and QB Will McElvian, the Bears’ offense is a powder keg.
On the other side of the ball, EDGE David Walker is the premier defender in the FCS, generating 40 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
11) Richmond Spiders
After a slow start to 2023, the Spiders surged to six straight wins, finishing 7-1 in the CAA and sharing the conference title. However, an unbalanced schedule left them a step behind the FCS elite, culminating in a blowout loss to UAlbany in the second round of the playoffs.
Returning 15 starters will undoubtedly aid the Spiders in making a postseason rebound. Richmond is the only FCS team bringing back two QBs, Kyle Wickersham and Camden Coleman, who each threw for 1,000+ yards and 10+ TDs in 2023. A favorable conference schedule, with only four FCS opponents who finished above .500 last season, also works in their favor.
10) UC Davis Aggies
Just how good is RB Lan Larison? In only eight games, he generated 1,299 total yards and 15 scores on 199 touches. When he’s healthy, he is UC Davis’ entire offense. But Larison isn’t the Aggies’ only returner, with 11 offensive and eight defensive starters in the fold, which should make the transition from HC Dan Hawkins to Tim Plough relatively seamless.
9) Sacramento State Hornets
The Hornets have been to playoffs every year Andy Thompson has been on staff (joined as the defensive coordinator in 2019 before becoming the head coach in 2023). Despite losing nine defensive starters, the Hornets reloaded through the transfer portal, bringing in the likes of All-Conference LB Will Leota and Idaho safety Murvin Kenion III.
Meanwhile, the offense is loaded, with QB Kaiden Bennett leading one of the most experienced units in the Big Sky, including top targets Jared Gipson, Anderson Grover, and Devin Gandy. With All-American Jackson Slater securing the O-line, Sacramento State should continue its playoff streak in 2024.
8) Idaho Vandals
Despite starting the season with tough games at Oregon and Wyoming, potentially leading to an 0-2 record, the Vandals should remain in the top 25. Their home schedule offers a likely 4-0 run, and they benefit from avoiding Montana and Sacramento State due to the schedule rotation.
The biggest storyline for Idaho entering the year is the loss of its big four: first-team All-Big Sky QB Gevani McCoy (Oregon State), first-team RB Anthony Woods (Utah), first-team WR Hayden Hatten (NFL), and second-team WR Jermaine Jackson (NFL).
Redshirt sophom*ore QB Jack Layne doesn’t need to be elite, with Elisha Cummings and South Dakota transfer Nate Thomas alongside him in the backfield and four starters remaining up front. The Vandals will play old-school football, leaning on their ground game and defense, which allowed just 22.1 points per game last season (28th in the FCS) and returns eight starters en route to another playoff push.
7) Chattanooga Mocs
Was last year’s second-round exit Chattanooga’s ceiling or a sign of things to come? QB Chase Artopoeus reconnects with WRs Javin Whatley and Sam Phillips, who combined for over 1,600 receiving yards in 2023.
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The defense brings back its top four tacklers and DT Marlon Taylor, who is widely considered one of the best interior defensive linemen in the FCS. With road battles with Tennessee, Furman, and Western Carolina on tap, the Mocs will need to earn their top-10 placement.
6) Villanova Wildcats
Villanova joins Chattanooga as the only team outside the MVFC or Big Sky that would receive a first-round playoff bye based on our 2024 FCS Top 25 Power Rankings. Last year, the Wildcats gave South Dakota State a run for their money in the postseason (23-12), putting up a bigger fight than Montana did in the championship (23-3).
With dual-threat QB Connor Watkins, five all-conference FCS transfers, four returning All-CAA defenders on the roster, and one of the easiest conference schedules in the country, Nova is poised to be a formidable contender once again this season.
5) South Dakota Coyotes
South Dakota’s eye-opening 2023 run, which included an early-season victory over North Dakota State, ended in a one-sided 45-17 loss to the Bison in the quarterfinals. With the terrifying trio of QB Aidan Bouman, RB Travis Theis, and WR Carter Bell back and owning a defense that allowed an eight-ranked 17.7 points per game last year, the Coyotes could break into the top four quickly in 2024.
4) Montana State Bobcats
Remember the number 23 — that’s how many senior players Montana State returns this season, including dynamic QB Tommy Mellott. The Bobcats boast FBS-level talent across the board and proved as much by upsetting New Mexico in Week 1, 35-31.
The Bobcats have ranked second in the FCS in rushing yards per game over the last three seasons under HC Brent Vigen, and after hitting the ground running with 362 yards against the Lobos, they should be able to pound their way to the playoff.
3) Montana Grizzlies
After struggling a few years ago, Montana has become a powerhouse. The program returns 16 starters, including an overwhelming offensive line and WR Junior Bergen, the most electrifying player in the FCS.
The Grizzlies’ schedule sets them up well, though the toughest Big Sky game will be a road match against rival Montana State in Bozeman. With national title aspirations, the Griz must avoid slip-ups like last year’s unexpected loss to Northern Arizona.
2) North Dakota State Bison
Last year was an anomaly for the Bison, as they struggled with inconsistency and dropped four games. With HC Matt Entz off to be an assistant at USC, NDSU brought in Tim Polasek, who was a part of the program’s four FCS championship-winning teams during the 2010s. The two-headed QB monster of Cam Miller and Cole Payton lead the offense, and the veteran-laden defense should bounce back to their dominant form.
Expectations are always high in Fargo, but with nine of 12 All-MVFC performers running it back, they’re attainable in 2024.
1) South Dakota State Jackrabbits
South Dakota State’s No. 1 ranking on nearly every FCS Top 25 list isn’t just a nod to their back-to-back national titles — it’s a reflection of their ability to dominate every year.
Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback Mark Gronowski spurned the FBS to return to Brookings, and while there are holes to fill on offense, the defense left the offseason largely unscathed.
KEEP READING: 2024 FBS College Football Power Rankings
The Jackrabbits’ opener at Oklahoma State will be a crucial test of their ability to sustain their success. But with a roster brimming with seasoned talent ready to step up, SDSU is well-equipped to chase a historic three-peat in 2024.
Projected Automatic Bids for the 2024 FCS Playoffs
- Big Sky: Montana
- Big South/OVC: Eastern Illinois
- CAA: Villanova
- MVFC: South Dakota State
- Northeast: Duquesne
- Patriot League: Lafayette
- Pioneer Football League: Drake
- SoCon: Chattanooga
- Southland: Incarnate Word
- United Athletic Conference: Tarleton State
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