For the first time in six years, there is a new team sitting atop the preseason FCS polls. After five straight years with North Dakota State taking the top spot in the preseason STATS FCS Top 25, the 2017 season will begin with James Madison ranked on top of the FCS world. The Dukes snapped the national championship run of the Bison last season, and once again are the ones bringing a North Dakota State streak to an end.
James Madison’s only loss a year ago came against North Carolina (James Madison opens the 2017 season at East Carolina on September 2). The CAA powerhouse marched to the school’s second football national championship with a 14-1 record and a key victory over North Dakota State and a championship game victory over Bo Pelini and Youngstown State. The Dukes return a loaded roster for the 2017 season and received 134 of 163 possible first-place votes. Youngstown State also appears in the top 10 of the preseason poll, coming in at No. 9.
North Dakota State is second in the poll, and Sam Houston State is ranked third. South Dakota State and Eastern Washington round out the top five.
STATS Preseason FCS Top 25
- James Madison
- North Dakota State
- Sam Houston State
- South Dakota State
- Eastern Washington
- Jacksonville State
- Richmond
- North Dakota
- Youngstown State
- Villanova
- Wofford
- Chattanooga
- New Hampshire
- Charleston Southern
- Central Arkansas
- The Citadel
- Lehigh
- Northern Iowa
- Samford
- Illinois State
- Grambling State
- Fordham
- Cal Poly
- Albany
- Western Illinois