Week 1 FCS Football Top 25 Rankings
September 6, 2021 · CSM Staff
| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior | |
| 1 |  |
South Dakota State |
SDSU (1-0) went to FBS Colorado State and won 42-23, in a game not as close as score showed. Lower class Lindenwood comes next. | 3 |
| 2 |  |
Montana | UM (1-0) was super impressive, beating FBS Washington, 13-7. Home date with Western Illinois should be easier. | 6 |
| 3 |  |
Sam Houston | SHSU (1-0) picked up where they left off,winning at Northern Arizona. Desperate Southeast Missouri State comes to Huntsville next week. | 1 |
| 4 |  |
James Madison | JMU (1-0) hosted Morehead State and did what they always do – blowout in opener. CAA opener at home with Maine next week. | 2 |
| 5 |  |
North Dakota State | NDSU (1-0) hosted Albany and won, 28-6. Coming home game with Valparaiso should be over in first quarter. | 4 |
| 6 |  |
Eastern Washington | EWU (1-0) rolled into Vegas and beat FBS UNLV in double overtime. Sneaky D-II Central Washington visits next weekend. | 10 |
| 7 |  |
Southern Illinois | SIU (1-0) was very rude company, pounding Southeast Missouri State. Road game at FBS Kansas State will be tough. Upset special? | 8 |
| 8 |  |
Delaware | UD (1-0) won a tough, conference road opener at Maine. Get to come home and play St. Francis next. | 5 |
| 9 |  |
Weber State | WSU (0-1) lead early against FBS Utah, but wore down eventually. Different in-state road opponent this week, Dixie State. | 7 |
| 10 |  |
UC Davis | UC-D (1-0) went to the midwest and beat FBS Tulsa. They come back to California to play at San Diego next. | 18 |
| 11 |  |
North Dakota | UND (1-0) won comfortably at Idaho State. Travel to FBS Utah State next. Could they be thinking upset also? | 14 |
| 12 |  |
Montana State | MSU (0-1) was winning right up until the end against FBS Wyoming. Home game with Drake should be a clearer and cleaner result. | 12 |
| 13 |  |
Central Arkansas | UCA (0-1) just didn’t have the firepower to stay with Arkansas State. A tough roadie coming, across the northern border, Missouri State. | 11 |
| 14 |  |
East Tennessee State | ETSU (1-0) won at FBS Vanderbilt. Next two home games are almost 100% gimmes. Lower class Virginia-Wise comes first. | NR |
| 15 |  |
VMI | VMI (1-0) won at home, as expected, against Davidson. This road game at FBS Kent State is a potential win also. | 17 |
| 16 |  |
Southeastern Louisiana | SLU (1-0) had to change venue to North Alabama. Still won big. Travel to FBS Louisiana Tech next in a likely mega shootout. | 15 |
| 17 |  |
Villanova |
VU (1-0) took a short ride to Lehigh and plucked the Hawks. Home date with Bucknell should produce more of the same. | 20 |
| 18 |  |
Monmouth | MU (0-1) was more or less steamrolled by FBS MTSU. It happens. Need to rebound next week at Fordham. | 13 |
| 19 |  |
Jacksonville State | JSU (0-1) kicked off their season and didn’t score against FBS Alabama-Birmingham. No easier next week at FBS Florida State. | 9 |
| 20 |  |
Sacramento State | CSU-S (1-0) went on the road and beat FCS newcomer Dixie State. Probably expected a bigger win. Northern Iowa comes next. | 25 |
| 21 |  |
UNI | UNI (0-1) lost a defensive battle to FBS Iowa State, 16-10. Will the offense show up at Sacramento State? Likely the defense will. | 21 |
| 22 |  |
Austin Peay | APSU (1-0) won a huge road non-con at Chattanooga. Travel to FBS Mississippi next, in another will-testing roadie. | NR |
| 23 |  |
Richmond | UR (1-0) thoroughly beat Howard. Next week the Spiders host Lehigh, who should be a very similar experience. | NR |
| 24 |  |
Missouri State | MSU (0-1) played Oklahoma State tougher than most expected. Are the Bears for real again? Home game with UCA will say a lot. | NR |
| 25 |  |
Murray State |
MSU (1-0) shutout MVSU, 35-0. First of two FBS road games awaits. Cincinnati is not going to be fun to play. | 23 |
