Final Spring FCS Football Top 25
May 17, 2021 · Jason Groomes
| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior | |
| 1 |  |
Sam Houston State | SHSU (10-0) ended the spring season as the FCS National Champion with a last second victory over SDSU. Congratulations! | 1 |
| 2 |  |
South Dakota State | SDSU (8-2) was literally 16 seconds from a banner to raise. It just wasn’t in the cards. Still, a better season than all but one. | 4 |
| 3 |  |
James Madison | JMU (7-1) made the semifinals and were a half away from the title game, but SHSU roared, sending the Dukes back to Virginia with a loss. | 3 |
| 4 |  |
Delaware | UD (7-1) after a couple tough playoff wins, South Dakota State put the Blue Hens run to an end. Still a great lead into this coming fall. | 5 |
| 5 |  |
Jacksonville State | JSU (10-3) another good season for Gamecocks, but surely wanted more as a quarterfinal home loss to Delaware stings. | 8 |
| 6 |  |
North Dakota State | NDSU (7-3) losing at SHSU in the playoffs is something, literally, everyone does. And still, they were hanging ’til the end. Same ol’ Bison. | 9 |
| 7 |  |
North Dakota |
UND (5-2) played a little sloppy in the quarterfinals and JMU made them pay. A very good effort for year one in the MVFC. | 6 |
| 8 |  |
Southern Illinois |
SIU (6-4) lost for a second time to SDSU in the Quarterfinals. A much better showing the second time around, almost pulling the upset. | 18 |
| 9 |  |
Weber State | WSU (5-1) lost to Southern Illinois in First Round. On again, off again season, didn’t ever materialize in a consistent product. | 2 |
| 10 |  |
Eastern Washington | EWU (5-2) was beaten badly at North Dakota State in First Round. Had a great season otherwise and should be strong this fall. | 7 |
| 11 |  |
Monmouth | MU (3-1) lost to Sam Houston State in First Round, but showed better than anyone expected. They’re the “big” team in the Big South. | 10 |
| 12 |  |
Virginia Military | VMI (6-2) great season cut down at in-state James Madison in First Round. Terrific turnaround in spring, means nothing without fall follow up. | 11 |
| 13 |  |
Kennesaw State | KSU (4-1) no playoffs. | 12 |
| 14 |  |
East Tennessee State | ETSU (4-2) no playoffs. | 13 |
| 15 |  |
Murray State | MSU (5-2) no playoffs. | 14 |
| 16 |  |
Richmond | UR (3-1) no playoffs. | 15 |
| 17 |  |
UC Davis | UC-D (3-2) no playoffs. | 16 |
| 18 |  |
Missouri State |
MSU (5-5) was dominated by North Dakota in the First Round. Maybe a four loss team really didn’t belong in the playoffs? | 17 |
| 19 |  |
Southeastern Louisiana | SLU (4-3) no playoffs. | 19 |
| 20 |  |
Villanova | Nova (2-2) no playoffs. | 20 |
| 21 |  |
Alabama A&M | AA&M (4-0) won the SWAC Championship and the HBCU National Championship by finishing off a solid Arkansas-Pine Bluff. | NR |
| 22 |  |
Sacred Heart | SH (3-2) lost in the First Round to Delaware. Gave a great effort. Should have a lot of momentum headed into fall in the Northeast. | 22 |
| 23 |  |
Holy Cross | HC (3-1) was overwhelmed by South Dakota State, to no real surprise. Can they repeat in the Patriot this fall? | 21 |
| 24 |  |
Samford | SU (4-3) no playoffs. | 23 |
| 25 |  |
Nicholls | NSU (4-3) no playoffs. | 24 |
