| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior |
| 1 |  | North Dakota State | Bison might have been peeking ahead to this week and got scared by Indiana State. This is "Marker" week. Here come the Jackrabbits. | 1 |
| 2 |  | South Dakota State | Jackrabbits thoroughly beat their little brother, South Dakota, 28-3. Motivation will not be a problem in Fargo next week. SDSU @ NDSU - this is FCS! | 2 |
| 3 |  | Montana | Grizzlies have a date at home with Idaho this coming week before a two week road trip to the next two teams ranked here. Wow! | 3 |
| 4 |  | Weber State | Wildcats had a battle with Eastern Washington early before pulling away. They go to Portland State next week. | 5 |
| 5 |  | Sacramento State | Hornets didn't have any problems with Northern Colorado. They travel to a desperate Eastern Washington, who needs to win out to make playoffs. | 6 |
| 6 |  | Montana State | Bobcats whooped Idaho State. Now they go to Northern Colorado before a massive home game with Weber State. No looking ahead. | 7 |
| 7 |  | Holy Cross | Crusaders destroyed Bucknell, 57-0. Won't win like that this week - they don't play. May the week after, when they travel to Lafayette. | 8 |
| 8 |  | Mercer | Bears have been beating up everyone. This week a home date with East Tennessee State should be tougher. We'll see. | 9 |
| 9 |  | Incarnate Word | Cardinals smashed Lamar, 56-17. This week's trip to Nicholls should not be a problem either, but that's why they play them. | 11 |
| 10 |  | Delaware | Blue Hens couldn't solve William & Mary. With the loss, they get a week off to stew. Morgan State looks to feel their wrath in a couple Saturdays. | 4 |
| 11 |  | Chattanooga | Mocs won at East Tennessee State, 24-16. Good solid win. Home date with VMI should serve as a tune-up before playing Mercer. | 12 |
| 12 |  | Jackson State | Tigers had a tougher than expected time at Alabama A&M, but still won by two touchdowns. This week with Bethune-Cookman should be much easier. | 10 |
| 13 |  | Samford | Bulldogs had troubles for a second straight week. Against Furman is one thing, against Wofford is concerning. They get a bye to work it out. | 13 |
| 14 |  | Southeast Missouri | Redhawks took down Tennessee Tech to stay perfect in the OVC. They've been perfect for five weeks. Time for a bye. | 14 |
| 15 |  | William & Mary
| Tribe won their big home date against Delaware, 27-21. They get to breathe a little, take a week off and wait to play at Towson in a couple weeks. | 17 |
| 16 |  | Elon | Phoenix turned Towson away, sending them back home with a loss. A road game to Rhode Island next. This team is hot, five straight wins. | 18 |
| 17 |  | UT Martin | Skyhawks kept Murray State winless with an easy 45-16. They get a bye week before a mid-season money game at FBS Tennessee. | 16 |
| 18 |  | Southern Illinois
| Salukis have won four straight since starting 0-2. Missouri State wasn't an issue and you figure Western Illinois won't be either. But you never know. | 19 |
| 19 |  | Idaho | Vandals had the week off to prepare for Montana. Need this one if they want to become a major player in 2022. | 21 |
| 20 |  | Eastern Kentucky | Colonels had the week off to prepare for next week's game hosting Sam Houston. | 20 |
| 21 |  | North Dakota | Fightin' Hawks won at Youngstown State, 35-30. That might be an important win come Selection Sunday. But now, they get a bye before SDSU visits. | 22 |
| 22 |  | Fordham | Rams beat Lehigh, "only" 40-28. That's their worst offensive and best defensive effort all season. Home game against winless CAA Stony Brook next. | 24 |
| 23 |  | Austin Peay | Governors took a siesta this week. They'll host winless Murray State next before a second bye week. | 25 |
| 24 |  | Rhode Island | Rams took their bye after beating Brown. A good time for it as they welcome the red hot Elon to the Little Rhodie. | 23 |
| 25 |  | New Hampshire | Wildcats have alternated wins and losses for five weeks now. 4-0 in CAA, 0-2 OOC. Their last non-con comes this week at nearby Dartmouth. | NR |
