News/Commentary

FCS Final 2023 Coaches' Poll: South Dakota State Goes Wire-to-Wire

January 8, 2024 by AFCA.com

No. 1 South Dakota State used a dominant defense that caused three turnovers while their offense exploded for 16 points in the third quarter to beat No. 2 Montana, 23-3, in the FCS national championship game. It was the second straight title for the Jackrabbits who are now riding a 29-game winning streak. South Dakota State was ranked No. 1 for every AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 Poll during the 2023 season.

Montana finishes at No. 2 with a 13-2 record and had to survive two straight overtime games to make the championship game. The Grizz are followed by No. 3 North Dakota State, who jumped four spots in the final poll thanks to their trip to the semifinals. Idaho and South Dakota both made it to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs and end the season tied at No. 4.

UAlbany made the biggest jump in the final Top 25, moving up eight places to No. 7. The Great Danes made the semifinals for the first time in school history and recorded 11 wins on the season, another program best. Florida A&M dropped five spots to No. 10 despite finishing the season at 12-1 with a victory over Howard in the Celebration Bowl.

Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Last
1 South Dakota St. (23) 15-0 575 1 D. (2) Montana, 23-3, championship
2 Montana 13-2 552 2 L. (1) South Dakota St., 23-3, championship
3 North Dakota St. 11-4 513 7 L. (2) Montana, 31-29 2OT, semifinals
4t. Idaho 9-4 448 4 L. (15) UAlbany, 30-22, quarterfinals
4t. South Dakota 10-3 448 3 L. (7) North Dakota St., 45-17, quarterfinals
6 Furman 10-3 447 6 L. (2) Montana, 35-28 OT, quarterfinals
7 UAlbany 11-4 429 15 L. (1) South Dakota St., 59-0, semifinals
8 Montana St. 8-4 411 8 L. (7) North Dakota St., 35-34 OT, 2nd round
9 Villanova 10-3 407 9 L. (1) South Dakota St., 23-12, quarterfinals
10 Florida A&M 12-1 400 5 D. Howard, 30-26, Celebration Bowl
11 Delaware 9-4 278 12 L. (2) Montana, 49-19, 2nd round
12 Austin Peay 9-3 264 10 L. (19) Chattanooga, 24-21, 1st round
13 Southern Illinois 8-5 258 17 L. (4) Idaho, 20-17 OT, 2nd round
14 UIW 9-2 254 11 DNQ Playoffs
15 Sacramento St. 8-5 238 16 L. (3) South Dakota, 34-24, 2nd round
16 North Dakota 7-5 223 14 L. (16) Sacramento St., 42-35, 1st round
17 Chattanooga 8-5 203 19 L. (6) Furman, 26-7, 2nd round
18 NC Central 9-3 185 13 L. (25) Richmond, 49-27, 1st round
19 Lafayette 9-3 178 18 L. (12) Delaware, 36-34, 1st round
20 Mercer 9-4 175 20 L. (1) South Dakota St., 41-0, 2nd round
21 Youngstown St. 8-5 138 23 L. (9) Villanova, 45-28, 2nd round
22 Richmond 9-4 130 25 L. (15) UAlbany, 41-13, 2nd round
23 UT Martin 8-3 100 21 DNQ Playoffs
24 Eastern Illinois 8-3 65 24 DNQ Playoffs
25 Holy Cross 7-4 56 22 DNQ Playoffs

Dropped Out: none

Others Receiving Votes: UC Davis, 28; Harvard, 14; Gardner-Webb, 11; Tarleton, 8; Central Arkansas, 7; Nicholls, 7; Western Carolina, 7; Illinois St., 6; Yale, 4; William & Mary, 3; Rhode Island, 2; Samford, 2; Bryant, 1.