FCS Top-25: The Bluebloods Week 1 Ballot

We have the honor of being one of the 54 voters in the FCS STATS Perform Top-25 for the 2022 season. Each week we will release our official ballot and provide some explanation for the biggest movers in our FCS Top-25 each week at the FCS level. You can also hear the rationale on our weekly FCS Recap on our YouTube channel every Sunday night.

Week 1 Top-25 Ballot:

25. North Carolina Central (1-0)

Week 1: 28-13 Win over North Carolina A&T

24. Northern Iowa (0-1)

Week 1: 48-17 Loss to Air Force

23. Weber State (1-0)

Week 1: 41-5 Win over Western Oregon

22. Kennesaw State (0-1)

Week 1: 27-17 Loss to Samford

21. William & Mary (1-0)

Week 1: 41-24 Win over Charlotte

20. Southeastern Louisiana (0-1)

Week 1: 24-7 Loss to Louisiana 

19. Eastern Kentucky (0-1)

Week 1: 42-34 Loss to Eastern Michigan

18. Mercer (1-1)

Week 1: 42-16 Loss to Auburn

17. Southern Illinois (0-1)

Week 1: 64-29 Loss to #10 Incarnate Word

16. Stephen F. Austin (1-1)

Week 1: 31-27 Win over Alcorn State

15. Holy Cross (1-0)

Week 1: 31-17 Win over Merrimack

14. Eastern Washington (1-0)

Week 1: 36-29 Win over Tennessee State

13. UT Martin (1-0)

Week 1: 42-25 Win over Western Illinois

12. Chattanooga (1-0)

Week 1: 31-0 Win over Wofford

11. East Tennessee State (1-0)

Week 1: 44-7 Win over Mars Hill

10. Incarnate Word (1-0)

Week 1: 64-29 Win over #17 Southern Illinois

9. Jackson State (1-0)

Week 1: 59-3 Win over Florida A&M

8. Villanova (1-0)

Week 1: 45-17 Win Over Lehigh

7. Delaware (1-0)

Week 1: 14-7 Win over Navy

6. Sacramento State (1-0)

Week 1: 56-33 Win over Utah Tech

5. Missouri State (1-0)

Week 1: 27-14 Win over Central Arkansas

4. Montana State (1-0)

Week 1: 40-17 Win over McNeese State

3. Montana (1-0)

Week 1: 47-0 Win over Northwestern State

2. South Dakota State (0-1)

Week 1: 7-3 Loss to Iowa

1.North Dakota State (1-0)

Week 1: 56-14 Win over Drake

Honorable Mentions: Richmond, South Dakota, Campbell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Furman

Analysis On Week 1 Performances:

The top six teams in my ballot stayed the same after some impressive performances in Week 1. South Dakota State did lose a close game to Iowa, but held the Hawkeyes to only 3 offensive points. I do not penalize FCS programs for losing competitive games against FBS programs and South Dakota State had an outstanding performance against Iowa on the road this weekend.

Delaware, Incarnate Word, & Jackson State were some of the biggest movers in my ballot from the Preseason Top-25 ballot that I submitted. Delaware had the 2nd FCS over FBS upset of the season over Navy in a 14-7 win, in which the Blue Hens looked like the more talented team for the entire game. Incarnate Word put on an offensive clinic against Southern Illinois in GJ Kinne’s head coaching debut and Lindsey Scott Jr. did not miss a beat in his first start for the Cardinals. Jackson State put the country on notice with their dominant win over Florida A&M on Sunday afternoon, in which Shedeur Sanders set the Jackson State school record with 5 passing touchdowns.

Kennesaw State, Southern Illinois, and Stephen F. Austin suffered the biggest drops after suffering losses in Week 0 and Week 1. Kennesaw State was upset by Samford and the offense failed to find any consistency as Xavier Shepherd struggled to replicate his success from his impressive 2021 season. Southern Illinois came out flat against Incarnate Word, while Stephen F. Austin bounced back this week against Alcorn State but the 42-17 loss to Jacksonville State was the reason for their drop in the Week 1 ballot.

William & Mary and North Carolina Central are the newest additions to the ballot. William & Mary picked up an impressive FCS over FBS upset with their 41-24 win over Charlotte on Friday night. The Tribe scored 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter and Bronson Yonder had a spectacular game with over 120 yards rushing. North Carolina Central put on a show in the Duke’s Mayo Classic against rival North Carolina A&T and ended a 4-game win streak for the Aggies in the Aggie-Eagle Classic. QB Davius Richard was the MVP after scoring 4 total touchdowns and producing over 250 yards of total offense.