# 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings

The 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football rankings consists of two human polls, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), college football's governing body, the NCAA, bestows the national championship title through a 24-team tournament. The following weekly polls determine the top 25 teams at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level of college football for the 2023 season. The STATS poll is voted by media members while the Coaches' Poll is determined by coaches at the FCS level.

## Legend

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

## STATS poll

| | Preseason August 7 | Week 1 September 4 | Week 2 September 10 | Week 3 September 18 | Week 4 September 25 | Week 5 October 2 | Week 6 October 9 | Week 7 October 16 | Week 8 October 23 | Week 9 October 30 | Week 10 November 6 | Week 11 November 13 | Week 12 November 20 | Final January 8 | |
| 1. | South Dakota State (56) | South Dakota State (1–0) (55) | South Dakota State (2–0) (52) | South Dakota State (3–0) (52) | South Dakota State (3–0) (54) | South Dakota State (4–0) (56) | South Dakota State (5–0) (56) | South Dakota State (6–0) (56) | South Dakota State (7–0) (56) | South Dakota State (8–0) (56) | South Dakota State (9–0) (56) | South Dakota State (10–0) (56) | South Dakota State (11–0) (56) | South Dakota State (15–0) (56) | 1. |
| 2. | North Dakota State | North Dakota State (1–0) (1) | North Dakota State (2–0) (3) | North Dakota State (3–0) (3) | North Dakota State (3–0) (2) | Montana State (4–1) | Montana State (4–1) | Montana State (5–1) | Montana State (6–1) | Furman (7–1) | Furman (8–1) | Furman (9–1) | Montana (10–1) | Montana (13–2) | 2. |
| 3. | Montana State | Montana State (1–0) | Montana State (1–1) | Montana State (2–1) | Montana State (3–1) | Idaho (4–1) | Idaho (5–1) | Sacramento State (5–1) | Furman (6–1) | Idaho (6–2) | Montana (8–1) | Montana (9–1) | South Dakota (9–2) | North Dakota State (11–4) | 3. |
| 4. | William & Mary | William & Mary (1–0) | William & Mary (2–0) | Sacramento State (3–0) (1) | Idaho (3–1) | Sacramento State (4–1) | Sacramento State (4–1) | Furman (5–1) | South Dakota (6–1) | Montana (7–1) | Idaho (7–2) | Montana State (8–2) | Idaho (8–3) | South Dakota (10–3) | 4. |
| 5. | Holy Cross | Holy Cross (1–0) | Idaho (2–0) (1) | William & Mary (3–0) | William & Mary (4–0) | Furman (3–1) | Furman (4–1) | Incarnate Word (5–1) | Delaware (6–1) | Delaware (7–1) | Montana State (7–2) | South Dakota (8–2) | Montana State (8–3) | Albany (11–4) | 5. |
| 6. | Furman | Furman (1–0) | Holy Cross (1–1) | Holy Cross (2–1) | Holy Cross (3–1) | Southern Illinois (4–0) | North Dakota State (4–1) | South Dakota (5–1) | Sacramento State (5–2) | Montana State (6–2) | South Dakota (7–2) | Idaho (7–3) | Villanova (9–2) | Villanova (10–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Incarnate Word | Idaho (1–0) | Furman (1–1) | Idaho (2–1) | Furman (3–1) | North Dakota State (3–1) | Incarnate Word (4–1) | Delaware (5–1) | Montana (6–1) | Sacramento State (6–2) | North Carolina Central (8–1) | Delaware (8–2) | Furman (9–2) | Furman (10–3) | 7. |
| 8. | Idaho | Samford (1–0) | Sacramento State (2–0) | Furman (2–1) | Sacramento State (3–1) | Incarnate Word (3–1) | Delaware (4–1) | Western Carolina (5–1) | Incarnate Word (6–1) | Incarnate Word (7–1) | Delaware (7–2) | Sacramento State (7–3) | North Dakota State (8–3) | Idaho (9–4) | 8. |
| 9. | Samford | Sacramento State (1–0) | Weber State (2–0) | Incarnate Word (2–1) | Incarnate Word (3–1) | Delaware (3–1) | Western Carolina (5–1) | Montana (6–1) | Idaho (5–2) | South Dakota (6–2) | Sacramento State (6–3) | North Dakota State (7–3) | Albany (9–3) | Montana State (8–4) | 9. |
| 10. | Sacramento State | Incarnate Word (0–1) | Incarnate Word (1–1) | Weber State (2–1) | Southern Illinois (3–0) | William & Mary (4–1) | South Dakota (4–1) | Idaho (5–2) | Western Carolina (5–2) | Southern Illinois (6–2) | North Dakota (6–3) | Villanova (8–2) | Florida A&M (10–1) | Delaware (9–4) | 10. |
| 11. | New Hampshire | New Hampshire (1–0) | New Hampshire (1–1) | New Hampshire (2–1) | Delaware (3–1) | Western Carolina (4–1) | William & Mary (4–2) | North Dakota (4–2) | Southern Illinois (5–2) | North Dakota State (6–2) | Southern Illinois (6–3) | Florida A&M (9–1) | Delaware (8–3) | Florida A&M (12–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Southeast Missouri State | Weber State (1–0) | Montana (2–0) | Southern Illinois (3–0) | North Dakota (2–1) | Holy Cross (3–2) | Holy Cross (4–2) | Southern Illinois (5–1) | North Dakota State (5–2) | North Carolina Central (7–1) | North Dakota State (6–3) | Albany (8–3) | North Dakota (7–4) | Southern Illinois (8–5) | 12. |
| 13. | Weber State | Montana (1–0) | Southeast Missouri State (1–1) | Montana (3–0) | Weber State (2–2) | Weber State (3–2) | Southern Illinois (4–1) | William & Mary (4–2) | North Carolina Central (6–1) | North Dakota (5–3) | Florida A&M (8–1) т | North Dakota (6–4) | Austin Peay (9–2) | Sacramento State (8–5) | 13. |
| 14. | Montana | Southeast Missouri State (0–1) | North Dakota (2–0) | North Dakota (2–1) | New Hampshire (2–2) | North Carolina Central (4–1) | North Carolina Central (5–1) | North Dakota State (4–2) | UT Martin (6–1) | Chattanooga (7–2) | Villanova (7–2) т | Western Carolina (7–3) | Southern Illinois (7–4) | Chattanooga (8–5) | 14. |
| 15. | Southeastern Louisiana | UC Davis (1–0) | Southern Illinois (2–0) | UC Davis (2–1) | North Carolina Central (3–1) | South Dakota (3–1) | North Dakota (3–2) | Holy Cross (4–2) | North Dakota (4–3) | Florida A&M (7–1) | Northern Iowa (6–3) | Austin Peay (8–2) | Sacramento State (7–4) | Richmond (9–4) | 15. |
| 16. | UC Davis | Southeastern Louisiana (0–1) | UC Davis (1–1) | Southeast Missouri State (1–2) | Villanova (3–1) | North Dakota (2–2) | Montana (5–1) | North Carolina Central (5–1) | Florida A&M (6–1) | Western Carolina (5–3) | Incarnate Word (7–2) | Southern Illinois (6–4) | North Carolina Central (9–2) | North Dakota (7–5) | 16. |
| 17. | North Dakota | North Dakota (1–0) | North Carolina Central (2–0) | Rhode Island (2–1) | Western Carolina (3–1) | Montana (4–1) | UT Martin (5–1) | UT Martin (5–1) | Chattanooga (6–2) | Villanova (6–2) | Western Carolina (6–3) | North Carolina Central (8–2) | Mercer (8–3) | Mercer (9–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Richmond | North Carolina Central (1–0) | Samford (1–1) | North Carolina Central (2–1) | Montana (3–1) | UT Martin (4–1) | Florida A&M (5–1) | Harvard (5–0) | Central Arkansas (5–2) | Northern Iowa (5–3) | Albany (7–3) | Chattanooga (7–3) | Chattanooga (7–4) | Austin Peay (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | North Carolina Central | Delaware (1–0) | Southeastern Louisiana (0–2) | Delaware (2–1) | Eastern Washington (2–2) | Florida A&M (4–1) | Harvard (4–0) | Florida A&M (5–1) | Villanova (5–2) | Austin Peay (6–2) | Chattanooga (7–3) | UT Martin (8–2) | Incarnate Word (8–2) | Youngstown State (8–5) | 19. |
| 20. | Mercer | Mercer (1–1) | Mercer (2–1) | Samford (1–2) | Florida A&M (3–1) | UC Davis (3—2) | Central Arkansas (4–2) | Central Arkansas (5–2) | Austin Peay (5–2) | Lafayette (7–1) | Austin Peay (7–2) | Incarnate Word (7–2) | Lafayette (9–2) | North Carolina Central (9–3) | 20. |
| 21. | Rhode Island | Northern Iowa (1–0) | Rhode Island (1–1) | Mercer (2–1) | UC Davis (2–2) | Harvard (3–0) | Eastern Washington (2–3) | Chattanooga (5–2) | Lafayette (6–1) | UT Martin (6–2) | UT Martin (7–2) | Mercer (8–3) | Youngstown State (7–4) | Lafayette (9–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Delaware | Rhode Island (0–1) | Delaware (1–1) | Florida A&M (2–1) | UT Martin (3–1) | Eastern Washington (2–3) | Weber State (3–3) | Villanova (5–2) | William & Mary (4–3) | Youngstown State (5–3) | Youngstown State (6–3) | Northern Iowa (6–4) | Richmond (8–3) | Incarnate Word (8–2) | 22. |
| 23. | Northern Iowa | Florida A&M (1–0) | Florida A&M (1–1) | Western Carolina (2–1) | Youngstown State (2–1) | Central Arkansas (3–2) | Youngstown State (3–2) | UC Davis (4–3) | Northern Iowa (4–3) | Albany (6–3) | Mercer (7–3) | Harvard (8–1) | Western Carolina (7–4) | Western Carolina (7–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Eastern Kentucky | Southern Illinois (1–0) | Villanova (2–0) | Youngstown State (2–1) | Rhode Island (2–2) | Chattanooga (4–1) | Albany (4–2) | Austin Peay (4–2) | Youngstown State (4–3) | William & Mary (5–3) | Harvard (7–1) | Lafayette (8–2) | UT Martin (8–3) | UC Davis (7–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Gardner–Webb | Youngstown State (1–0) | Youngstown State (1–1) | Villanova (2–1) | Central Arkansas (2–2) | Elon (3–2) | Chattanooga (4–2) | Youngstown State (3–3) | UC Davis (4–3) | Mercer (6–3) | Lafayette (7–2) | Youngstown State (6–4) | UC Davis (7–4) | UT Martin (8–3) | 25. |
| | Preseason August 7 | Week 1 September 4 | Week 2 September 10 | Week 3 September 18 | Week 4 September 25 | Week 5 October 2 | Week 6 October 9 | Week 7 October 16 | Week 8 October 23 | Week 9 October 30 | Week 10 November 6 | Week 11 November 13 | Week 12 November 20 | Final January 8 | |
| | | Dropped: No. 18 RichmondNo. 24 Eastern KentuckyNo. 25 Gardner–Webb | Dropped: No. 21 Northern Iowa | Dropped: No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana | Dropped: No. 16 Southeast Missouri StateNo. 20 SamfordNo. 21 Mercer | Dropped: No. 14 New HampshireNo. 16 VillanovaNo. 23 Youngstown StateNo. 24 Rhode Island | Dropped: No. 20 UC DavisNo. 25 Elon | Dropped: No. 21 Eastern WashingtonNo. 22 Weber StateNo. 24 Albany | Dropped: No. 15 Holy CrossNo. 18 Harvard | Dropped: No. 18 Central ArkansasNo. 25 UC Davis | Dropped: No. 24 William & Mary | None | Dropped: No. 22 Northern IowaNo. 23 Harvard | None | |

## Coaches' poll

| | Preseason August 14 | Week 1 September 5 | Week 2 September 10 | Week 3 September 18 | Week 4 September 25 | Week 5 October 2 | Week 6 October 9 | Week 7 October 16 | Week 8 October 23 | Week 9 October 30 | Week 10 November 6 | Week 11 November 13 | Week 12 November 20 | Final | |
| 1. | South Dakota State (24) | South Dakota State (1–0) (25) | South Dakota State (2–0) (26) | South Dakota State (3–0) (26) | South Dakota State (3–0) (26) | South Dakota State (4–0) (26) | South Dakota State (5–0) (26) | South Dakota State (6–0) (26) | South Dakota State (7–0) (26) | South Dakota State (8–0) (25) | South Dakota State (9–0) (26) | South Dakota State (10–0) (26) | South Dakota State (11–0) (24) | | 1. |
| 2. | North Dakota State (1) | North Dakota State (1–0) | North Dakota State (2–0) | North Dakota State (3–0) | North Dakota State (3–0) | Montana State (4–1) | Montana State (4–1) | Montana State (5–1) | Montana State (6–1) | Furman (7–1) | Furman (8–1) | Furman (9–1) | Montana (10–1) | | 2. |
| 3. | Montana State | Montana State (1–0) | Montana State (1–1) | Montana State (2–1) | Montana State (3–1) | Idaho (4–1) | Idaho (5–1) | Furman (5–1) | Furman (6–1) | Montana (7–1) | Montana (8–1) | Montana (9–1) | South Dakota (9–2) | | 3. |
| 4. | William & Mary | William & Mary (1–0) | William & Mary (2–0) | Sacramento State (3–0) | William & Mary (4–0) | Furman (3–1) | Furman (4–1) | Sacramento State (5–1) | Incarnate Word (6–1) | Incarnate Word (7–1) | Idaho (7–2) | Montana State (8–2) | Idaho (8–3) | | 4. |
| 5. | Holy Cross | Holy Cross (1–0) | Holy Cross (1–1) | William & Mary (3–0) | Holy Cross (3–1) | Southern Illinois (4–0) | Sacramento State (4–1) | Incarnate Word (5–1) | Montana (6–1) | Idaho (6–2) | Montana State (7–2) | South Dakota (8–2) | Florida A&M (10–1) | | 5. |
| 6. | Furman | Furman (1–0) | Sacramento State (2–0) | Holy Cross (2–1) | Idaho (3–1) | Incarnate Word (3–1) | Incarnate Word (4–1) | Montana (6–1) | Delaware (6–1) | Delaware (7–1) | South Dakota (7–2) | Delaware (8–2) | Furman (9–2) | | 6. |
| 7. | Incarnate Word | Samford (1–0) | Weber State (2–0) | Furman (2–1) | Furman (3–1) | Sacramento State (4–1) | North Dakota State (4–1) | Delaware (5–1) | Sacramento State (5–2) | Sacramento State (6–2) | North Carolina Central (8–1) | Florida A&M (9–1) | North Dakota State (8–3) | | 7. |
| 8. | Sacramento State | Sacramento State (1–0) | Furman (1–1) | Weber State (2–1) | Incarnate Word (3–1) | North Dakota State (3–1) | Delaware (4–1) | Idaho (5–2) | Idaho (5–2) | Montana State (6–2) | Delaware (7–2) | Idaho (7–3) | Montana State (8–3) | | 8. |
| 9. | Samford | Weber State (1–0) | Incarnate Word (1–1) | Incarnate Word (2–1) | Sacramento State (3–1) | William & Mary (4–1) | North Carolina Central (5–1) | North Dakota (4–2) | South Dakota (6–1) | North Carolina Central (7–1) | Florida A&M (8–1) | North Dakota State (7–3) | Villanova (9–2) | | 9. |
| 10. | Weber State | Incarnate Word (0–1) | Idaho (2–0) | Idaho (2–1) | Southern Illinois (3–0) | Delaware (3–1) | Montana (5–1) | North Carolina Central (5–1) | North Carolina Central (6–1) | North Dakota State (6–2) | Incarnate Word (7–2) | Sacramento State (7–3) | Austin Peay (9–2) | | 10. |
| 11. | Southeast Missouri State | New Hampshire (1–0) | Montana (2–0) т | Montana (3–0) | North Dakota (2–1) | North Carolina Central (4–1) | Holy Cross (4–2) | Holy Cross (4–2) | North Dakota State (5–2) | Southern Illinois (6–2) | Sacramento State (6–3) | Incarnate Word (7–2) | Incarnate Word (8–2) | | 11. |
| 12. | New Hampshire | Idaho (1–0) | New Hampshire (1–1) т | New Hampshire (2–1) | Delaware (3–1) | Holy Cross (3–2) | William & Mary (4–2) | Southern Illinois (5–1) | Southern Illinois (5–2) | South Dakota (6–2) | North Dakota (6–3) | Austin Peay (8–2) | Delaware (8–3) | | 12. |
| 13. | Idaho | Montana (1–0) | North Dakota (2–0) | Southern Illinois (3–0) | North Carolina Central (3–1) | Montana (4–1) | Southern Illinois (4–1) | William & Mary (4–2) | UT Martin (6–1) | Chattanooga (7–2) т | North Dakota State (6–3) | UT Martin (8–2) | North Carolina Central (9–2) | | 13. |
| 14. | Montana | UC Davis (1–0) | Samford (1–1) | North Dakota (2–1) | Weber State (2–2) | Weber State (3–2) | Western Carolina (5–1) | Western Carolina (5–1) | Florida A&M (6–1) | Florida A&M (7–1) т | Austin Peay (7–2) | North Carolina Central (8–2) | North Dakota (7–4) | | 14. |
| 15. | Southeastern Louisiana | North Dakota (1–0) | Southeast Missouri State (1–1) | UC Davis (2–1) | Fordham (3–1) | North Dakota (2–2) | North Dakota (3–2) | North Dakota State (4–2) | Chattanooga (6–2) | North Dakota (5–3) | Southern Illinois (6–3) | Villanova (8–2) | Albany (9–3) | | 15. |
| 16. | Richmond | Southeast Missouri State (0–1) | UC Davis (1–1) | Delaware (2–1) | Montana (3–1) | Florida A&M (4–1) | Florida A&M (5–1) | South Dakota (5–1) | Western Carolina (5–2) | Lafayette (7–1) | UT Martin (7–2) | Chattanooga (7–3) | Sacramento State (7–4) | | 16. |
| 17. | UC Davis | Southeastern Louisiana (0–1) | North Carolina Central (2–0) | Samford (1–2) | New Hampshire (2–2) | Western Carolina (4–1) | South Dakota (4–1) | Harvard (5–0) | North Dakota (4–3) | Austin Peay (6–2) | Chattanooga (7–3) | North Dakota (6–4) | Southern Illinois (7–4) | | 17. |
| 18. | North Dakota | North Carolina Central (1–0) | Southern Illinois (2–0) | Rhode Island (2–1) | Florida A&M (3–1) | UC Davis (3–2) | Harvard (4–0) | Florida A&M (5–1) | Central Arkansas (5–2) | UT Martin (6–2) | Villanova (7–2) | Western Carolina (7–3) | Lafayette (9–2) | | 18. |
| 19. | North Carolina Central | Delaware (1–0) | Delaware (1–1) | North Carolina Central (2–1) | Youngstown State (2–1) | Harvard (3–0) | UT Martin (5–1) | UT Martin (5–1) | Lafayette (6–1) | Harvard (6–1) | Harvard (7–1) | Harvard (8–1) | Chattanooga (7–4) | | 19. |
| 20. | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa (0–1) | Rhode Island (1–1) | Southeast Missouri State (1–2) | UC Davis (2–2) | Chattanooga (4–1) | Chattanooga (4–2) т | Chattanooga (5–2) | Austin Peay (5–2) т | Western Carolina (5–3) | Northern Iowa (6–3) | Central Arkansas (7–3) т | Mercer (8–3) | | 20. |
| 21. | Delaware | Florida A&M (1–0) | Mercer (2–1) | Mercer (2–1) | Western Carolina (3–1) | South Dakota (3–1) | Youngstown State (3–2) т | Central Arkansas (5–2) | New Hampshire (4–3) т | Holy Cross (5–3) | Western Carolina (6–3) | Southern Illinois (6–4) т | UT Martin (8–3) | | 21. |
| 22. | Mercer | Rhode Island (0–1) | Fordham (2–1) т | Fordham (2–1) | Chattanooga (3–1) | Illinois State (3–1) | Rhode Island (4–2) | New Hampshire (3–3) | Holy Cross (4–3) | Villanova (6–2) | Holy Cross (6–3) | Lafayette (8–2) | Holy Cross (7–4) | | 22. |
| 23. | Rhode Island | Southern Illinois (1–0) | Southeastern Louisiana (0–2) т | Florida A&M (2–1) | Villanova (3–1) | UT Martin (4–1) | Weber State (3–3) | UC Davis (4–3) | Harvard (5–1) | Northern Iowa (5–3) | Lafayette (7–2) | Albany (8–3) | Youngstown State (7–4) | | 23. |
| 24. | Gardner-Webb | Mercer (1–1) | Florida A&M (1–1) | Youngstown State (2–1) | Harvard (2–0) | New Hampshire (2–3) | New Hampshire (2–3) | Austin Peay (4–2) | William & Mary (4–3) | William & Mary (5–3) | Central Arkansas (6–3) | Mercer (8–3) | Eastern Illinois (8–3) | | 24. |
| 25. | Florida A&M | Youngstown State (1–0) | Illinois State (2–0) | Harvard (1–0) | Eastern Washington (2–2) | Eastern Illinois (4–1) т Rhode Island (3–2) т | Central Arkansas (4–2) | Illinois State (4–2) | UC Davis (4–3) | Central Arkansas (5–3) | Albany (7–3) | Holy Cross (6–4) | Richmond (8–3) | | 25. |
| | Preseason August 14 | Week 1 September 5 | Week 2 September 10 | Week 3 September 18 | Week 4 September 25 | Week 5 October 2 | Week 6 October 9 | Week 7 October 16 | Week 8 October 23 | Week 9 October 30 | Week 10 November 6 | Week 11 November 13 | Week 12 November 20 | Final | |
| | | Dropped: No. 16 RichmondNo. 24 Gardner–Webb | Dropped: No. 20 Northern IowaNo. 25 Youngstown State | Dropped: No. 22t Southeastern LouisianaNo. 25 Illinois State | Dropped: No. 17 SamfordNo. 18 Rhode IslandNo. 20 Southeast Missouri StateNo. 21 Mercer | Dropped: No. 15 FordhamNo. 19 Youngstown StateNo. 23 VillanovaNo. 25 Eastern Washington | Dropped: No. 18 UC DavisNo. 22 Illinois StateNo. 25t Eastern Illinois | Dropped: No. 20t Youngstown StateNo. 22 Rhode IslandNo. 23 Weber State | Dropped: No. 25 Illinois State | Dropped: No. 20t New HampshireNo. 25 UC Davis | Dropped: No. 24 William & Mary | Dropped: No. 20 Northern Iowa | Dropped: No. 18 Western CarolinaNo. 19 HarvardNo. 20t Central Arkansas | None | |