Full Breakdown
Montana State and Montana Hold Steady at No. 1 and No. 3 in FCS Top 25
9/8/2026, 4:28:16 AM
Core Rankings Update
The latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll places Montana State at the unanimous No. 1 spot with 1,425 points and all 57 first-place votes. South Dakota State remains No. 2 with 1,303 points, while Montana holds No. 3 with 1,292 points. Seven Big Sky programs appear in the poll, underscoring the league’s depth.
Recent Performances
- Montana State (2-0, 1-0 Big Sky) opened with a 51-24 win over Butler, extending its program-record 16-game winning streak.
- Montana (2-0, 1-0 Big Sky) beat Drake 45-10, jumping to a 35-3 lead by the third quarter. Senior running back Eli Gillman posted a record-breaking day.
- Idaho State upset Utah State 29-17, its first win over an FBS opponent since 2017.
- Tarleton State (2-0) improved to No. 4 after a 20-13 win at Bowling Green.
- Illinois State (2-0) moved to No. 5 following a 41-10 victory over Western Illinois.
Other Big Sky teams receiving votes include Northern Arizona (now No. 24), Southern Utah, and Cal Poly.
Data & Statistics
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | First-place votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana State | 2-0 (1-0 Big Sky) | 1,425 | 57 of 57 |
| 2 | South Dakota State | 1-1 | 1,303 | — |
| 3 | Montana | 2-0 (1-0 Big Sky) | 1,292 | — |
| 4 | Tarleton State | 2-0 | 1,272 | — |
| 5 | Illinois State | 2-0 | 1,209 | — |
| 6 | North Dakota | 2-0 | 1,037 | — |
| 7 | UC Davis | 2-0 (1-0 Big Sky) | 1,003 | — |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1-1 | 994 | — |
| 9 | Lehigh | 2-0 (2-0 Patriot) | 941 | — |
| 10 | Youngstown State | 1-1 | 939 | — |
Idaho State sits at No. 17 with 478 points after its upset win.
Upcoming Schedule (Big Sky Week 2)
- Montana State at Nevada (Sat, 8:30 p.m. MT)
- Montana hosts Utah Tech (Sat, 1 p.m. MT, non-conference)
- Idaho State at San Diego (Sat, 4 p.m. MT)
- Northern Arizona at Incarnate Word (Sat, 3 p.m. MT, RV)
- Additional matchups: UC Davis at SMU, San Diego at Southern Utah, Eastern Washington at South Dakota.
Impact on the Big Sky and FCS Landscape
The poll highlights the Big Sky’s depth, with seven conference teams receiving votes for the second week. Montana State’s unbeaten record and dominant margins keep it the preseason favorite for the national title. Montana’s strong start, bolstered by Gillman’s performance, positions the Grizzlies as a contender. Idaho State’s win over an FBS opponent suggests growing competitiveness among lower-ranked Big Sky programs.
These early results set the stage for a tightly contested postseason, where rankings will influence playoff seeding and at-large bids.
