FCS Football Rankings Week 8: Tarleton State Takes No. 1 As Top 10 Shakes Up

See the Week 8 FCS football rankings for 2026, including the AFCA Coaches Poll Top 25, Tarleton State at No. 1 and the biggest changes.

Oct 20, 2026 by Ajay Shah

Replay: Towson vs Campbell | Oct 17 @ 3 PM2:29:56

The No. 1 spot in FCS football has changed hands again.

South Dakota State's reign lasted just two weeks before North Dakota knocked off the Jackrabbits 21-10, opening the door for undefeated Tarleton State to claim the top spot in the latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.

Tarleton State received 24 of 26 first-place votes, while Stephen F. Austin claimed the other two and moved to No. 2.

Montana State climbed to No. 3, North Dakota jumped seven spots and Lehigh tumbled eight places after its first loss.

Here's how the Top 25 looks entering Week 8.

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AFCA FCS Football Rankings: Week 8 Top 25

Poll released Oct. 19, 2026. Records through games played Oct. 18. Previous rankings included.

Tarleton State (7-0) - Prev. 2
Stephen F. Austin (7-0) - Prev. 3
Montana State (6-1) - Prev. 5
Youngstown State (6-2) - Prev. 6
South Dakota State (5-2) - Prev. 1
South Dakota (6-2) - Prev. 9
Northern Arizona (6-2) - Prev. 10
North Dakota (6-2) - Prev. 15
Austin Peay (6-2) - Prev. 11
Illinois State (5-2) - Prev. 13
Tennessee Tech (6-1) - Prev. 14
Lehigh (6-1) - Prev. 4
Mercer (6-2) - Prev. 16
Montana (5-3) - Prev. 7
Lamar (5-2) - Prev. 8
Campbell (6-1) - Prev. 18
Harvard (5-0) - Prev. 17
Monmouth (5-2) - Prev. 20
Richmond (5-2) - Prev. 22
East Tennessee State (5-2) - Prev. 24
UC Davis (4-3) - Prev. 12
Jackson State (6-1) - Prev. NR
West Florida (4-2) - Prev. NR
Southeastern Louisiana (4-3) - Prev. NR
South Carolina State (5-2) - Prev. NR

Dropped Out: Colgate (19), Idaho State (21), Yale (23), Northern Iowa (25).

Who Made The Biggest Moves In The FCS Rankings?

North Dakota delivered one of the biggest statements of Week 7, defeating then-No. 1 South Dakota State 21-10 and climbing seven spots to No. 8.

Lehigh suffered an eight-place drop to No. 12 after falling 48-38 to Cornell, while Montana slipped seven spots to No. 14 following its 42-35 loss to Idaho.

UC Davis experienced the steepest fall, dropping nine places to No. 21 after losing 38-17 to Southern Utah.

Four teams also entered the Top 25: Jackson State, West Florida, Southeastern Louisiana and South Carolina State.

Who Is No. 1 In FCS Football?

Tarleton State is the new No. 1 team in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll after improving to 7-0 with a 49-35 victory over Central Arkansas.

The Texans received 24 first-place votes and 648 total points, while Stephen F. Austin collected two first-place votes and 623 points after shutting out Nicholls 56-0.

The two undefeated programs now occupy the top spots, followed by Montana State, Youngstown State and South Dakota State.

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