Every week, the top teams in the FCS are ranked nationally by both FCS coaches and FCS media. I, Stan Becton, am obviously not a coach, but I am a part of the FCS media and I do have a vote in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. I’ll be submitting my ballot weekly, ranking my top 25 FCS teams.
With the FCS Playoff Committee adding the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll to its selection criteria for the first time in 2023, the media poll is of even more importance moving forward. In an effort to be transparent with my readers, fans and more, I have decided that I will reveal my ballot, with explanations for selections, every week.
Remember, this is my one ballot out of 56 total Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll voters — and just one ballot from the 23 national representatives that vote. That’s to say, yes, my ballot does impact the poll, but it’s in no way the end-all-be-all factor.
Nonetheless, here is my Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot for this week.
Preseason: Stan Becton’s Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll ballot
1. South Dakota State
The back-to-back defending FCS Champions have the reigning Walter Payton Award winner plus plenty more impact players back in 2024. I hope the Jackrabbits are unanimously No. 1 to open the year.
2. North Dakota State
I wouldn’t be surprised if North Dakota State is the unanimous No. 2 to open the year, even with new head coach Tim Polasek. Polasek is back with the Bison for the first time since an offensive coordinator role in 2016 after most recently being the OC and quarterbacks coach at Wyoming under former NDSU title-winning coach Craig Bohl.
The reason I have the Bison No. 2 to open the year is because numerous coaches from the previous staff — particularly on the defensive side of the ball — are back to provide stability.
From a player-based analysis, quarterback Cam Miller is back and has shown the ability to navigate rough…
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