# 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings

Legend :
| | Increase in ranking |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| Italics | Number of first place votes |
| (#–#) | Win–loss record |
| т | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |

## The Sports Network Poll

| | Preseason Aug 15 | Week 1 Sep 5 | Week 2 Sep 12 | Week 3 Sep 19 | Week 4 Sep 26 | Week 5 Oct 3 | Week 6 Oct 10 | Week 7 Oct 17 | Week 8 Oct 24 | Week 9 Oct 31 | Week 10 Nov 7 | Week 11 Nov 14 | Week 12 Nov 21 | Week 13 Nov 28 | Week 14 Dec 5 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 10 | |
| 1. | Eastern Washington (90) | Eastern Washington (0–1) (111) | Georgia Southern (2–0) (102) | Georgia Southern (2–0) (115) | Georgia Southern (3–0) (124) | Georgia Southern (4–0) (128) | Georgia Southern (5–0) (132) | Georgia Southern (6–0) (125) | Georgia Southern (7–0) (131) | North Dakota State (8–0) (133) | North Dakota State (9–0) (143) | Montana State (9–1) (76) | | | | North Dakota State | 1. |
| 2. | Appalachian State (14) | Georgia Southern (1–0) (29) | Northern Iowa (1–1) (16) | Northern Iowa (1–1) (15) | Northern Iowa (2–1) (17) | Northern Iowa (3–1) (19) | Northern Iowa (4–1) (24) | Northern Iowa (5–1) (18) | Northern Iowa (6–1) (17) | Montana State (8–1) (19) | Montana State (9–1) (16) | Sam Houston State (10–0) (71) | | | | Sam Houston State | 2. |
| 3. | William & Mary (20) | Appalachian State (0–1) (2) | Appalachian State (1–1) (10) | Appalachian State (2–1) (9) | Appalachian State (3–1) (8) | Montana State (4–1) (3) | Montana State (5–1) (2) | North Dakota State (6–0) (9) | North Dakota State (7–0) (10) | Appalachian State (6–2) (5) | Sam Houston State (9–0) (1) | Georgia Southern (9–1) (8) | | | | Montana | 3. |
| 4. | Georgia Southern (11) | Northern Iowa (0–1) (1) | William & Mary (1–1) (5) | Montana State (2–1) (1) | Montana State (3–1) (2) | North Dakota State (4–0) (7) | North Dakota State (5–0) (6) | Montana State (6–1) (2) | Montana State (7–1) (1) | Sam Houston State (8–0) (1) | Georgia Southern (8–1) | Northern Iowa (8–2) | | | | Georgia Southern | 4. |
| 5. | Delaware (2) | William & Mary (0–1) (1) | Montana State (1–1) (2) | Richmond (3–0) (11) | North Dakota State (3–0) (8) | Wofford (3–1) | Wofford (4–1) (2) | Wofford (5–1) (3) | Appalachian State (5–2) | Georgia Southern (7–1) | Northern Iowa (7–2) | North Dakota State (9–1) (1) | | | | Lehigh | 5. |
| 6. | Montana State | Montana State (0–1) | Richmond (2–0) (9) | William & Mary (2–1) (1) | Delaware (3–1) (1) | New Hampshire (3–1) | New Hampshire (4–1) т | Appalachian State (4–2) | Sam Houston State (7–0) | Northern Iowa (6–2) | Lehigh (8–1) | Lehigh (9–1) | | | | Northern Iowa | 6. |
| 7. | Northern Iowa | Wofford (1–0) | Delaware (1–1) (1) | Delaware (2–1) (1) | New Hampshire (2–1) | James Madison (4–1) | Appalachian State (3–2) т | Sam Houston State (6–0) | Lehigh (6–1) | Maine (7–1) | New Hampshire (7–2) (1) | Montana (8–2) | | | | Montana State | 7. |
| 8. | Wofford | Delaware (0–1) | North Dakota State (2–0) (1) | North Dakota State (2–0) (1) | Wofford (2–1) | Appalachian State (3–2) | Lehigh (5–1) | Lehigh (6–1) | Maine (6–1) | Lehigh (7–1) | Montana (8–2) | Towson (8–2) | | | | Maine | 8. |
| 9. | Jacksonville State | Richmond (1–0) (2) | Wofford (1–1) | Wofford (1–1) | James Madison (3–1) | William & Mary (3–2) | Delaware (4–2) | Maine (5–1) | James Madison (5–2) | New Hampshire (6–2) | Wofford (7–2) | Appalachian State (7–3) | | | | Towson | 9. |
| 10. | New Hampshire (1) | Jacksonville State (1–0) | Eastern Washington (0–2) (2) | Montana (2–1) | Richmond (3–1) | Lehigh (4–1) | Sam Houston State (5–0) | Jacksonville State (5–1) | New Hampshire (5–2) | Montana (7–2) | Appalachian State (6–3) | Old Dominion (9–2) | | | | Old Dominion | 10. |
| 11. | North Dakota State | North Dakota State (1–0) | New Hampshire (1–1) | New Hampshire (1–1) | William & Mary (2–2) | Sam Houston State (4–0) | Jacksonville State (4–1) | James Madison (5–2) | Montana (6–2) | Wofford (6–2) | Old Dominion (8–2) | Maine (8–2) | | | | New Hampshire | 11. |
| 12. | Montana | Sacramento State (1–0) (3) | Montana (1–1) | James Madison (2–1) | Southern Illinois (2–1) | Jacksonville State (4–1) | Maine (4–1) | Montana (5–2) | Wofford (5–2) | Old Dominion (7–2) | Towson (7–2) | New Hampshire (7–3) | | | | Appalachian State | 12. |
| 13. | Lehigh | New Hampshire (0–1) | James Madison (1–1) | Chattanooga (2–1) | Lehigh (3–1) | Delaware (3–2) | James Madison (4–2) | New Hampshire (4–2) | Towson (6–1) | James Madison (5–3) | Maine (7–2) | Wofford (7–3) | | | | Wofford | 13. |
| 14. | Villanova (2) | Lehigh (1–0) | Chattanooga (1–1) | Southern Illinois (1–1) | Jacksonville State (3–1) | Richmond (3–2) | Montana (4–2) | William & Mary (4–3) | Jacksonville State (5–2) | Towson (6–2) | Illinois State (7–3) | Illinois State (7–3) | | | | Central Arkansas | 14. |
| 15. | James Madison | Montana (0–1) | Southern Illinois (1–1) | Lehigh (2–1) | Chattanooga (2–2) | McNeese State (3–1) | South Dakota (4–2) | Towson (5–1) | Old Dominion (6–2) | Jackson State (7–1) | Delaware (5–4) | Delaware (6–4) | | | | James Madison | 15. |
| 16. | Richmond | Stephen F. Austin (1–0) | Lehigh (1–1) | Jacksonville State (2–1) | Sam Houston State (3–0) | Montana (3–2) | William & Mary (3–3) | Delaware (4–3) | Alabama State (6–1) | Delaware (5–4) | Liberty (7–3) | Liberty (7–3) | | | | Harvard | 16. |
| 17. | Stephen F. Austin | Southern Illinois (1–0) | Jacksonville State (1–1) | Massachusetts (2–0) | Southern Utah (3–1) | Indiana State (4–1) | Towson (4–1) | Indiana State (5–2) | South Dakota (5–3) | Illinois State (6–3) | Furman (6–3) | Central Arkansas (8–3) | | | | Delaware | 17. |
| 18. | Central Arkansas | Central Arkansas (1–0) | Central Arkansas (1–1) | South Dakota (2–1) | McNeese State (2–1) | South Dakota (3–2) | Old Dominion (5–1) | Richmond (3–3) | William & Mary (4–4) | Jacksonville State (5–3) | Harvard (7–1) | Harvard (8–1) | | | | Stony Brook | 18. |
| 19. | Southern Illinois | James Madison (0–1) | Stephen F. Austin (1–1) | McNeese State (1–1) | Montana (2–2) | Maine (3–1) | Tennessee Tech (4–1) | Alabama State (6–1) | Jackson State (6–1) | William & Mary (4–4) | Central Arkansas (7–3) | James Madison (6–4) | | | | Norfolk State | 19. |
| 20. | McNeese State | Villanova (0–1) | Sacramento State (1–1) | Sam Houston State (2–0) | Massachusetts (2–1) | Southern Illinois (2–2) | Richmond (3–3) | North Dakota (4–2) | Indiana State (5–3) | Tennessee Tech (5–2) | James Madison (5–4) | Norfolk State (9–2) | | | | Illinois State | 20. |
| 21. | Chattanooga | Massachusetts (1–0) | Massachusetts (1–0) | Eastern Washington (0–3) | South Dakota (2–2) | Old Dominion (4–1) | Indiana State (4–2) | Old Dominion (5–2) | Delaware (4–4) | Indiana State (5–3) | Jackson State (7–2) | Jackson State (8–2) | | | | Tennessee Tech | 21. |
| 22. | Liberty | McNeese State (0–1) | Liberty (1–1) | Stephen F. Austin (1–2) | South Carolina State (2–2) | Southern Utah (3–2) | McNeese State (3–2) | Massachusetts (4–2) | Illinois State (5–3) | Liberty (6–3) | Norfolk State (8–2) | South Dakota (6–4) | | | | Jackson State | 22. |
| 23. | South Carolina State | Chattanooga (0–1) | McNeese State (0–1) | Southern Utah (2–1) | Towson (3–0) | Tennessee Tech (4–1) | North Dakota (4–2) | Jackson State (6–1) | Liberty (5–3) | Harvard (6–1) | Alabama State (7–2) | Tennessee Tech (6–3) | | | | North Dakota | 23. |
| 24. | Sacramento State | Liberty (0–1) | South Dakota (1–1) | Murray State (2–1) | Indiana State (3–1) | Chattanooga (2–3) | Alabama State (5–1) | Norfolk State (6–1) | Harvard (5–1) | South Dakota (5–4) | South Dakota (5–4) | Furman (6–4) | | | | Eastern Kentucky | 24. |
| 25. | Massachusetts | Bethune-Cookman (1–0) | South Carolina State (1–1) | South Carolina State (1–2) | Sacramento State (2–2) | Towson (3–1) | Jackson State (5–1) | South Dakota (4–3) | Tennessee Tech (4–2) | Central Arkansas (6–3) | Eastern Kentucky (6–3) | Portland State (7–3) | | | | Liberty | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 15 | Week 1 Sep 5 | Week 2 Sep 12 | Week 3 Sep 19 | Week 4 Sep 26 | Week 5 Oct 3 | Week 6 Oct 10 | Week 7 Oct 17 | Week 8 Oct 24 | Week 9 Oct 31 | Week 10 Nov 7 | Week 11 Nov 14 | Week 12 Nov 21 | Week 13 Nov 28 | Week 14 Dec 5 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 10 | |
| | | Dropped: South Carolina State | Dropped: ChattanoogaBethune-Cookman | Dropped: Central ArkansasSacramento StateLiberty | Dropped: North DakotaEastern WashingtonYoungstown State | Dropped: MassachusettsSouth Carolina StateSacramento State | Dropped: Southern IllinoisSouthern UtahChattanooga | Dropped: Tennessee TechMcNeese State | Dropped: RichmondNorth DakotaMassachusettsNorfolk State | Dropped: Alabama State | Dropped: Jacksonville StateWilliam & MaryTennessee TechJackson State | Dropped: Alabama StateEastern Kentucky | None | None | None | None | |

## The Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug 15 | Week 1 Sep 5 | Week 2 Sep 12 | Week 3 Sep 19 | Week 4 Sep 26 | Week 5 Oct 3 | Week 6 Oct 10 | Week 7 Oct 17 | Week 8 Oct 24 | Week 9 Oct 31 | Week 10 Nov 7 | Week 11 Nov 14 | Week 12 Nov 21 | Week 13 Nov 28 | Week 14 Dec 5 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 10 | |
| 1. | Eastern Washington (23) | Eastern Washington (0–1) (22) | Georgia Southern (2–0) (23) | Georgia Southern (2–0) (25) | Georgia Southern (3–0) (25) | Georgia Southern (4–0) (26) | Georgia Southern (5–0) (26) | Georgia Southern (6–0) (27) | Georgia Southern (7–0) (27) | North Dakota State (8–0) (22) | North Dakota State (9–0) (26) | Montana State (9–1) (18) | Sam Houston State (12–0) (17) | | | North Dakota State | 1. |
| 2. | Appalachian State (1) | Georgia Southern (1–0) (6) | Northern Iowa (1–1) (4) | Northern Iowa (1–1) (3) | Northern Iowa (2–1) (3) | Northern Iowa (3–1) (2) | Northern Iowa (4–1) (2) | Northern Iowa (5–1) (1) | Northern Iowa (6–1) (1) | Montana State (8–1) (2) | Montana State (9–1) (2) | Georgia Southern (9–1) (2) | Georgia Southern (10–2) (4) | | | Sam Houston State | 2. |
| 3. | Georgia Southern (3) | Appalachian State (0–1) т | Appalachian State (1–1) | Appalachian State (2–1) | Appalachian State (3–1) | Montana State (4–1) | Montana State (5–1) | Montana State (6–1) | North Dakota State (7–0) | Appalachian State (6–2) | Georgia Southern (8–1) | Sam Houston State (10–0) (8) | Northern Iowa (10–2) | | | Georgia Southern | 3. |
| 4. | William & Mary (1) | Northern Iowa (0–1) т | Montana State (1–1) | Montana State (2–1) | Montana State (3–1) | Wofford (3–1) | Wofford (4–1) | Wofford (5–1) | Montana State (7–1) | Georgia Southern (7–1) (4) | Sam Houston State (9–0) | Northern Iowa (8–2) | North Dakota State (11–1) (1) | | | Eastern Washington | 4. |
| 5. | Delaware | William & Mary (0–1) | William & Mary (1–1) | William & Mary (2–1) | Delaware (3–1) | North Dakota State (4–0) | North Dakota State (5–0) | North Dakota State (6–0) | Appalachian State (5–2) | Sam Houston State (8–0) | Northern Iowa (7–2) | North Dakota State (9–1) | Montana (10–2) | | | Montana State | 5. |
| 6. | Montana State | Montana State (0–1) | North Dakota State (2–0) | Delaware (2–1) | North Dakota State (3–0) т | James Madison (4–1) | New Hampshire (4–1) | Appalachian State (4–2) | Lehigh (6–1) | Northern Iowa (6–2) | Lehigh (8–1) | Lehigh (9–1) | Lehigh (11–1) | | | Old Dominion | 6. |
| 7. | Northern Iowa | Delaware (0–1) | Delaware (1–1) | Richmond (3–0) | Wofford (2–1) т | New Hampshire (3–1) | Appalachian State (3–2) | Lehigh (6–1) | Sam Houston State (7–0) | Lehigh (7–1) | Montana (8–2) | Montana (8–2) | Montana State (10–2) (1) | | | Wofford | 7. |
| 8. | Wofford | North Dakota State (1–0) | Wofford (1–1) | Wofford (1–1) | James Madison (3–1) | Appalachian State (3–2) | Delaware (4–2) | Jacksonville State (5–1) | Montana (6–2) | Montana (7–2) | Appalachian State (6–3) | Appalachian State (7–3) | Appalachian State (8–4) | | | Maine | 8. |
| 9. | Jacksonville State | Wofford (1–0) | Richmond (2–0) | Montana (2–1) | New Hampshire (2–1) | William & Mary (3–2) | Lehigh (5–1) | Montana (5–2) | Wofford (5–2) | Wofford (6–2) | Wofford (7–2) | Old Dominion (8–2) | Towson (9–3) | | | Towson | 9. |
| 10. | New Hampshire | Jacksonville State (1–0) | Eastern Washington (0–2) (1) | James Madison (2–1) | Richmond (3–1) т | Lehigh (4–1) | Jacksonville State (4–1) | Sam Houston State (6–0) | James Madison (5–2) | Maine (7–1) | New Hampshire (7–2) | Towson (8–2) | Old Dominion (10–3) | | | Old Dominion | 10. |
| 11. | North Dakota State | Richmond (1–0) | Montana (1–1) | New Hampshire (1–1) | William & Mary (2–2) т | Delaware (3–2) | Montana (4–2) | James Madison (5–2) | New Hampshire (5–2) | New Hampshire (6–2) | Old Dominion (8–2) | Maine (8–2) | Wofford (8–4) | | | Appalachian State | 11. |
| 12. | Montana | Stephen F. Austin (1–0) | New Hampshire (1–1) | North Dakota State (2–0) | Southern Illinois (2–1) | Jacksonville State (4–1) | Sam Houston State (5–0) | New Hampshire (4–2) | Maine (6–1) | Old Dominion (7–2) | Towson (7–2) | Wofford (7–3) | New Hampshire (8–4) | | | New Hampshire | 12. |
| 13. | Villanova | Montana (0–1) | Stephen F. Austin (1–1) | Southern Illinois (1–1) | Jacksonville State (3–1) | McNeese State (3–1) | James Madison (4–2) | Delaware (4–3) | Jacksonville State (5–2) | James Madison (5–3) | Maine (7–2) | New Hampshire (7–3) | Maine (9–3) | | | Wofford | 13. |
| 14. | Stephen F. Austin | Lehigh (1–0) | James Madison (1–1) | Chattanooga (2–1) | Lehigh (3–1) | Montana (3–2) | South Dakota (4–2) | Maine (5–1) | Towson (6–1) | Jackson State (7–1) | Harvard (7–1) т | Illinois State (7–3) т | Harvard (9–1) | | | James Madison | 14. |
| 15. | Lehigh | Southern Illinois (1–0) | Southern Illinois (1–1) | Jacksonville State (2–1) | McNeese State (2–1) | Sam Houston State (4–0) | William & Mary (3–3) | William & Mary (5–1) | South Dakota (5–3) | Tennessee Tech (5–2) | Liberty (7–3) т | Harvard (8–1) т | Central Arkansas (9–4) | | | Central Arkansas | 15. |
| 16. | James Madison | New Hampshire (0–1) | Jacksonville State (1–1) | Lehigh (2–1) | Montana (2–2) | Richmond (3–2) | Maine (4–1) | Indiana State (5–2) | Old Dominion (6–2) | Indiana State (5–3) | Illinois State (7–3) | Liberty (7–3) т | Delaware (7–4) | | | Stony Brook | 16. |
| 17. | Southern Illinois | James Madison (0–1) | Chattanooga (1–1) | Stephen F. Austin (1–2) | Chattanooga (2–2) | Southern Illinois (2–2) | McNeese State (3–2) | Towson (5–1) | Jackson State (6–1) | Towson (6–2) | Delaware (5–4) | Delaware (6–4) | Illinois State (7–4) | | | Harvard | 17. |
| 18. | Liberty | Sacramento State (1–0) | Central Arkansas (1–1) | McNeese State (1–1) | Sam Houston State (3–0) | South Dakota (3–2) | North Dakota (4–2) | North Dakota (4–2) | Indiana State (5–3) | Jacksonville State (5–3) | Jackson State (7–2) | Jackson State (8–2) | Jackson State (9–2) | | | Norfolk State | 18. |
| 19. | Richmond | Villanova (0–1) | Lehigh (1–1) | Massachusetts (2–0) | Southern Utah (3–1) | Indiana State (4–1) | Tennessee Tech (4–1) | South Dakota (4–3) | Tennessee Tech (4–2) | Delaware (5–4) | James Madison (5–4) | Central Arkansas (8–3) | James Madison (8–5) | | | Tennessee Tech | 19. |
| 20. | McNeese State | Central Arkansas (0–1) | Liberty (1–1) | South Dakota (2–1) | Massachusetts (2–1) | North Dakota (3–2) | Coastal Carolina (4–1) | Jackson State (6–1) | Delaware (4–4) | Harvard (6–1) | Tennessee Tech (5–3) | James Madison (6–4) | Tennessee Tech (7–4) | | | Delaware | 20. |
| 21. | South Carolina State | Liberty (0–1) | South Carolina State (1–1) | North Dakota (1–2) | South Dakota (2–2) | Tennessee Tech (4–1) | Indiana State (4–2) | Richmond (3–3) | William & Mary (4–4) | William & Mary (4–4) | Furman (6–3) | Tennessee Tech (6–3) | North Dakota (8–3) | | | Eastern Kentucky | 21. |
| 22. | Central Arkansas | McNeese State (0–1) | McNeese State (0–1) | Eastern Washington (0–3) | South Carolina State (2–2) | Southern Utah (3–2) | Old Dominion (5–1) | Old Dominion (5–2) | Alabama State (6–1) | Liberty (6–3) | North Dakota (6–3) | North Dakota (7–3) | Norfolk State (9–3) | | | Illinois State | 22. |
| 23. | Chattanooga | South Carolina State (0–1) | South Dakota (1–1) | Liberty (1–2) | Indiana State (3–1) | Chattanooga (2–3) | Towson (4–1) | Tennessee Tech (4–2) | Harvard (5–1) | South Dakota (5–4) | Indiana State (5–4) | Indiana State (6–4) | Liberty (7–4) | | | Albany | 23. |
| 24. | Penn | Bethune-Cookman (1–0) | Sacramento State (1–1) | Youngstown State (2–1) | North Dakota (2–2) | Coastal Carolina (3–1) | Jackson State (5–1) | McNeese State (3–3) | Liberty (5–3) | Illinois State (6–3) | South Dakota (5–4) | South Dakota (6–4) | Stony Brook (9–4) | | | Jackson State | 24. |
| 25. | Bethune-Cookman | Chattanooga (0–1) | Massachusetts (1–0) | South Carolina State (1–2) | Sacramento State (2–2) | Jackson State (4–1) | Richmond (3–3) | Norfolk State (6–2) | North Dakota (4–3) | North Dakota (5–3) | Central Arkansas (7–3) | Norfolk State (9–2) | San Diego (9–2) | | | Liberty | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 15 | Week 1 Sep 5 | Week 2 Sep 12 | Week 3 Sep 19 | Week 4 Sep 26 | Week 5 Oct 3 | Week 6 Oct 10 | Week 7 Oct 17 | Week 8 Oct 24 | Week 9 Oct 31 | Week 10 Nov 7 | Week 11 Nov 14 | Week 12 Nov 21 | Week 13 Nov 28 | Week 14 Dec 5 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 10 | |
| | | Dropped: Penn | Dropped: VillanovaBethune-Cookman | Dropped: Central ArkansasSacramento State | Dropped: Stephen F. AustinEastern WashingtonLibertyYoungstown State | Dropped: MassachusettsSouth Carolina StateSacramento State | Dropped: Southern IllinoisSouthern UtahChattanooga | Dropped: Coastal Carolina | Dropped: RichmondMcNeese StateNorfolk State | Dropped: Alabama State | Dropped: Jacksonville StateWilliam & Mary | Dropped: Furman | Dropped: Florida A&MStephen F. AustinJacksonville | None | None | None | |

## Preseason polls

Various publications release their preseason top 25 months before the season commences.
| | Athlon |
| 1. | Georgia Southern |
| 2. | William & Mary |
| 3. | Eastern Washington |
| 4. | Montana State |
| 5. | Appalachian State |
| 6. | Delaware |
| 7. | Richmond |
| 8. | Wofford |
| 9. | Jacksonville State |
| 10. | Northern Iowa |
| 11. | North Dakota State |
| 12. | Massachusetts |
| 13. | New Hampshire |
| 14. | Lehigh |
| 15. | Sacramento State |
| 16. | Chattanooga |
| 17. | Villanova |
| 18. | Southern Illinois |
| 19. | Montana |
| 20. | Liberty |
| 21. | Northwestern State |
| 22. | Eastern Kentucky |
| 23. | Indiana State |
| 24. | Central Arkansas |
| 25. | Jacksonville |
| | Athlon |