SDSU tops season ending football polls

Two time National Champion South Dakota State claimed the top spot in the final two FCS College football polls released on Monday (Jan. 8, 2024). Joining SDSU in the top 5 is the University of South Dakota which is ranked fourth in both the Stats Perform poll and AFCA poll to conclude the 2023 season. It’s the second consecutive season that South Dakota State finished number 1 following their 23-3 win over Montana in the FCS championship game on Sunday. For the Coyotes it is the highest finish  at the FCS level. It follows a record-10 wins and the team’s first trip to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. SDSU finished 15-0 and is currently on a 29 game winning streak dating back to last year. Three of the top-four teams represent the Missouri Valley Football Conference, which claimed its 12^th national title. No other conference has more than eight championships. Six MVFC teams are featured in the final rankings.

Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll
1.    South Dakota State                 15-0
2.    Montana                                 13-2
3.    North Dakota State                 11-4
4.    South Dakota                       10-3
5.    Albany                                   11-4
6.    Villanova                                10-3
7.    Furman                                  10-3
8.    Idaho                                     9-4
9.    Montana State                        8-4
10.    Delaware                               9-4
11.    Florida A&M                           12-1
12.    Southern Illinois                     8-5
13.    Sacramento State                   8-5
14.    Chattanooga                           8-5
15.    Richmond                               9-4
16.    North Dakota                          7-5
17.    Mercer                                   9-4
18.    Austin Peay                            9-3
19.    Youngstown State                   8-5
20.    North Carolina Central             9-3
21.    Lafayette                                9-3
22.    Incarnate Word                      8-2
23.    Western Carolina                    7-4
24.    UC Davis                                7-4
25.    UT Martin                               8-3

AFCA Top 25 Poll
1.    South Dakota State                 15-0
2.    Montana                                 13-2
3.    North Dakota State                 11-4
t4.    South Dakota                       10-3
t4.    Idaho                                     9-4
6.    Furman                                  10-3
7.    Albany                                   11-4
8.    Montana State                        8-4
9.    Villanova                                10-3
10.    Florida A&M                           12-1
11.    Delaware                               9-4
12.    Austin Peay                            9-3
13.    Southern Illinois                     8-5
14.    Incarnate Word                      9-2
15.    Sacramento State                   8-5
16.    North Dakota                          7-5
17.    Chattanooga                           8-5
18.    North Carolina Central             9-3
19.    Lafayette                                9-3
20.    Mercer                                   9-4
21.    Youngstown State                   8-5
22.    Richmond                               9-4
23.    UT Martin                               8-3
24.    Eastern Illinois                        8-3
25.    Holy Cross                              7-4

(Story courtesy of Rod Fisher and goyotes.com.)