Week 3 gave FCS voters plenty to think about ... and plenty for us to question.
No. 1 Montana State survived its biggest scare of the season, Stony Brook demolished a ranked Rhode Island team and West Florida got its first real taste of adversity since making the jump from Division II.
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There also was a shakeup near the top, while three teams joined the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll for the first time this season.
Here are six things to know about the FCS rankings after Week 3.
No. 1 Montana State Survives A Serious Scare
Montana State is still No. 1, but Central Connecticut made the Bobcats work for it.
CCSU built a 21-7 lead in the third quarter before Montana State responded, eventually escaping with a 35-30 victory.
Running back Adam Jones was everywhere for the Bobcats, rushing for 122 yards while adding 92 receiving yards and scoring twice. Quarterback Justin Lamson completed 23 of 28 passes for 239 yards.
The close call didn't cost Montana State much with voters. The Bobcats received 25 of the 26 first-place votes and remained comfortably atop the poll at 4-0.
Bobcats can't relax though, as another challenge arrives immediately. No. 17 Northern Arizona visits Montana State on Sept. 26.
Stony Brook Blows Out Rhode Island And Still Isn't Ranked
Kentucky fans, meet Stony Brook fans. I think you'll get along since you were both robbed last weekend.
Rhode Island entered Week 3 ranked No. 13. Stony Brook then beat the Rams 56-24, snapping Rhode Island's 11-game CAA winning streak in the process.
The Seawolves didn't sneak out with an upset, either.
Stony Brook piled up 519 yards of offense, including 321 on the ground. CJ Hester rushed for four touchdowns, Jeremiah Coney added three, and quarterback Quinn Boyd accounted for 351 total yards, including a career-high 153 rushing yards.
The performance earned Boyd CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Stony Brook was named the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week.
The result sent Rhode Island tumbling eight spots from No. 13 to No. 21.
Stony Brook?
Still unranked.
The Seawolves received only 12 points in the AFCA poll, putting them among the teams receiving votes after their first Top 10 victory since 2019.
Montana's Loss Shakes Up The Top Five
Montana's trip to FBS Oregon State didn't go particularly well.
The Grizzlies trailed 35-3 at halftime and eventually lost 52-17, sending the previous No. 2 team sliding into a tie for No. 4.
Oregon State threw for 366 yards and generated 14 plays of at least 15 yards against the Montana defense.
There were some bright spots for the Grizzlies. Eli Gillman rushed for 81 yards, while quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
But the result opened the door for movement near the top of the rankings.
South Dakota State moved from No. 3 to No. 2, Tarleton jumped from No. 5 to No. 3 and Montana now shares No. 4 with undefeated Illinois State.
Montana doesn't have much time to recover.
Next up is a trip to No. 9 UC Davis on Sept. 26.
It's Harder Than It Looks, West Florida
West Florida didn't arrive in FCS quietly.
The Argonauts went 10-2 in their final Division II season in 2025 and entered their first season at the Division I level with a résumé that already included a D2 national championship.
Then they immediately started beating ranked FCS teams.
West Florida opened its new era by beating No. 16 Southern Illinois 34-31 and followed that by beating then-No. 24 Central Arkansas 42-14. The Argos became the first transitioning Division II program to begin its first Division I season with two victories over ranked opponents.
No. 14 Austin Peay provided a reminder that life in FCS won't always be that easy.
The Governors beat No. 17 West Florida 38-16, rushing for 235 yards, recording 10 tackles for loss and four sacks and forcing three turnovers.
The 22-point victory was Austin Peay's largest road win over a ranked opponent in program history.
Voters noticed.
Austin Peay jumped three spots to No. 11, while West Florida fell three spots to No. 20.
One important note as West Florida continues its first FCS season: The Argonauts are not eligible for the FCS playoffs during their NCAA reclassification process.
Don't Count This Waddle Of Penguins Out
Beau Brungard and his waddle of Penguins are now 2-2, with Youngstown State dropping four spots from No. 9 to No. 13.
But the Penguins didn't exactly get exposed in Brookings.
Youngstown State led South Dakota State 10-7 in the second quarter before the Jackrabbits eventually pulled away for a 27-20 victory.
Quarterback Beau Brungard completed 27 of 35 passes for 292 yards, while Lynn Wyche-El caught a touchdown for his fourth consecutive game.
South Dakota State running back Josiah Johnson was the difference.
Johnson carried the ball 30 times for 238 yards and two touchdowns, becoming SDSU's first 200-yard rusher since 2021 and earning national and Missouri Valley Football Conference offensive player of the week honors.
SDSU quarterback Chase Mason suffered an apparent lower-body injury on the final offensive snap of the first half and did not return.
Watch Out! No. 12 South Dakota visits No. 13 Youngstown State on Sept. 26.
Richmond, Colgate And Harvard Crash The Top 25
Three teams joined the rankings this week, and all three gave voters a reason to notice.
No. 19 Richmond enters after beating Georgetown 24-21 in dramatic fashion. Freshman kicker Kyle Bitsko had missed his first four field-goal attempts before drilling a 49-yarder as time expired. It was the first made field goal of his college career.
No. 23 Colgate joins the poll after beating Cornell 20-7. Danny Shaban rushed for 134 yards, Matt Fogler caught eight passes for 137 yards and a touchdown, and the Raiders intercepted three passes.
Then there's No. 25 Harvard.
The Crimson had to wait longer than most of the FCS to begin their season, then made their debut count with a 31-7 win over New Hampshire.
Harvard's first three touchdowns of the season were scored by first-years, while its defense overwhelmed UNH with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
Sean Line led that effort with 10 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble, earning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Richmond, Colgate and Harvard replace William & Mary, Furman and Southern Illinois in the Top 25.
And with conference play beginning to take over the FCS schedule, there should be plenty more movement coming.
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