South Dakota State takes over first place in my FCS power and Elo ratings after Week 10. Montana State moves into second in both systems, followed by Youngstown State and Stephen F. Austin. Tarleton State remains unbeaten at 10–0, ranking sixth in power and seventh in Elo.
This edition uses the reports generated November 8. Weekly comparisons use the November 1 Week 9 reports preserved in the site’s history. These are my model ratings, not a national poll.
FCS Power Ratings Top 25
South Dakota State leads at 122.918, a 0.501 advantage over Montana State. The Jackrabbits rise from second to first despite a 0.296 decline in their rating, with an 8–2 record and a 369–162 scoring margin. Montana State climbs from fourth to second at 9–1, adding 0.123 rating points.
| Rank | School | W | L | T | PF | PA | Power | SOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  South Dakota State |
8 | 2 | 0 | 369 | 162 | 122.918 | 114.299 |
| 2 |  Montana State |
9 | 1 | 0 | 405 | 196 | 122.417 | 115.184 |
| 3 |  Youngstown State |
8 | 2 | 0 | 406 | 248 | 122.078 | 115.689 |
| 4 |  Stephen F. Austin |
9 | 1 | 0 | 396 | 166 | 121.524 | 113.265 |
| 5 |  Northern Arizona |
8 | 2 | 0 | 325 | 278 | 120.740 | 117.108 |
| 6 |  Tarleton State |
10 | 0 | 0 | 403 | 232 | 120.631 | 110.755 |
| 7 |  Lamar |
8 | 2 | 0 | 343 | 231 | 120.612 | 115.107 |
| 8 |  South Dakota |
7 | 3 | 0 | 360 | 249 | 120.474 | 116.706 |
| 9 |  North Dakota |
7 | 4 | 0 | 393 | 279 | 118.620 | 115.770 |
| 10 |  Austin Peay |
8 | 2 | 0 | 360 | 199 | 118.439 | 111.428 |
| 11 |  Montana |
7 | 3 | 0 | 401 | 281 | 118.287 | 114.195 |
| 12 |  Incarnate Word |
6 | 4 | 0 | 385 | 256 | 118.270 | 114.769 |
| 13 |  Harvard |
7 | 1 | 0 | 222 | 101 | 118.077 | 111.663 |
| 14 |  Tennessee Tech |
9 | 1 | 0 | 356 | 203 | 117.631 | 110.289 |
| 15 |  Idaho |
5 | 5 | 0 | 339 | 348 | 117.415 | 118.579 |
| 16 |  Idaho State |
6 | 4 | 0 | 327 | 221 | 117.227 | 113.555 |
| 17 |  Weber State |
6 | 4 | 0 | 361 | 325 | 116.922 | 115.104 |
| 18 |  Illinois State |
7 | 3 | 0 | 337 | 193 | 116.857 | 21.288 |
| 19 |  Abilene Christian |
5 | 5 | 0 | 261 | 242 | 116.809 | 117.209 |
| 20 |  Mercer |
8 | 2 | 0 | 287 | 163 | 116.572 | 110.458 |
| 21 |  Northern Iowa |
4 | 5 | 0 | 231 | 260 | 116.003 | 117.334 |
| 22 |  Princeton |
6 | 2 | 0 | 164 | 120 | 115.814 | 111.725 |
| 23 |  North Alabama |
6 | 4 | 0 | 233 | 215 | 115.335 | 114.422 |
| 24 |  Southern Illinois |
5 | 5 | 0 | 240 | 257 | 115.237 | 116.173 |
| 25 |  Campbell |
8 | 2 | 0 | 346 | 279 | 115.201 | 110.943 |
Stephen F. Austin falls from first to fourth after its record moves from 9–0 to 9–1. Its power rating drops 1.987, from 123.511 to 121.524. Youngstown State remains third at 8–2, although its rating also declines, from 122.925 to 122.078.
Lamar gains 1.430 points to reach 120.612, moving from eighth to seventh. Only 0.019 separates Lamar from Tarleton State in sixth. Northern Arizona is fifth at 120.740, putting those three teams within 0.128 points of each other.
Austin Peay enters the top ten, moving from 12th to tenth at 8–2. Tennessee Tech falls from ninth to 14th despite improving to 9–1. Its power rating declines by 0.863 as its published schedule rating falls from 112.749 to 110.289. These are opponent-adjusted ratings, so record alone does not determine position.
Idaho rises from 19th to 15th at 5–5. North Alabama and Southern Illinois enter the top 25, while East Tennessee State and Monmouth NJ drop out. Illinois State falls from 11th to 18th after moving to 7–3.
FCS Elo Ratings Top 25
South Dakota State moves from third to first in Elo at 1627.622, gaining 1.293 points. Montana State climbs from fourth to second at 1625.897, up 3.198. The gap between them is 1.725.
| Rank | School | W | L | T | PF | PA | ELO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota State |
8 | 2 | 0 | 369 | 162 | 1627.622 |
| 2 | Montana State |
9 | 1 | 0 | 405 | 196 | 1625.897 |
| 3 | Youngstown State |
8 | 2 | 0 | 406 | 248 | 1624.421 |
| 4 | Stephen F. Austin |
9 | 1 | 0 | 396 | 166 | 1622.639 |
| 5 | Northern Arizona |
8 | 2 | 0 | 325 | 278 | 1616.494 |
| 6 | Lamar |
8 | 2 | 0 | 343 | 231 | 1615.937 |
| 7 | Tarleton State |
10 | 0 | 0 | 403 | 232 | 1615.782 |
| 8 | South Dakota |
7 | 3 | 0 | 360 | 249 | 1615.342 |
| 9 | Harvard |
7 | 1 | 0 | 222 | 101 | 1606.759 |
| 10 | North Dakota |
7 | 4 | 0 | 393 | 279 | 1604.622 |
| 11 | Austin Peay |
8 | 2 | 0 | 360 | 199 | 1603.344 |
| 12 | Incarnate Word |
6 | 4 | 0 | 385 | 256 | 1602.974 |
| 13 | Tennessee Tech |
9 | 1 | 0 | 356 | 203 | 1601.714 |
| 14 | Montana |
7 | 3 | 0 | 401 | 281 | 1600.789 |
| 15 | Idaho |
5 | 5 | 0 | 339 | 348 | 1596.782 |
| 16 | Illinois State |
7 | 3 | 0 | 337 | 193 | 1595.051 |
| 17 | Abilene Christian |
5 | 5 | 0 | 261 | 242 | 1594.737 |
| 18 | Idaho State |
6 | 4 | 0 | 327 | 221 | 1594.632 |
| 19 | Princeton |
6 | 2 | 0 | 164 | 120 | 1593.494 |
| 20 | Mercer |
8 | 2 | 0 | 287 | 163 | 1593.364 |
| 21 | Weber State |
6 | 4 | 0 | 361 | 325 | 1593.262 |
| 22 | Campbell |
8 | 2 | 0 | 346 | 279 | 1589.135 |
| 23 | Northern Iowa |
4 | 5 | 0 | 231 | 260 | 1589.105 |
| 24 |  Monmouth NJ |
8 | 2 | 0 | 305 | 271 | 1588.478 |
| 25 | Southern Illinois |
5 | 5 | 0 | 240 | 257 | 1586.680 |
Stephen F. Austin drops from first to fourth as its Elo falls 8.783, from 1631.422 to 1622.639. Youngstown State moves from second to third. The two models now agree on the top five in the same order.
Lamar rises from eighth to sixth with a 9.698 gain, reaching 1615.937. Tarleton State adds 6.035 to reach 1615.782 and remains seventh. Lamar is just 0.155 ahead in Elo, reversing their order in power.
Harvard stays ninth in Elo at 7–1 but ranks 13th in power. Incarnate Word climbs from 15th to 12th in both systems, adding 5.861 Elo points. North Dakota moves from 11th to tenth in Elo and from tenth to ninth in power.
Both systems select 24 of the same top 25 teams. Monmouth NJ is 24th in Elo and 26th in power; North Alabama is 23rd in power and 26th in Elo. The rating scales differ, so power and Elo point gaps should not be compared directly.
Strength of Schedule Through Week 10
These lists use published SOS from my FCS power ratings. They measure schedules already played, not remaining opponents. Higher values indicate tougher opposition, and values change as the season’s results develop.
Top 5 Toughest Schedules
| Rank | School | Record | Power Rank | SOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Portland State |
2–8 | 44 | 118.855 |
| 2 | Idaho |
5–5 | 15 | 118.579 |
| 3 |  Eastern Washington |
2–8 | 38 | 118.246 |
| 4 |  Murray State |
1–9 | 88 | 118.076 |
| 5 |  Utah Tech |
1–9 | 75 | 117.911 |
Northern Arizona’s 117.108 SOS is the highest among the power top ten. Tarleton State’s 110.755 is lower, providing context for why its unbeaten record does not put it ahead of every team with losses.
Some low-end SOS values remain unusual, including Illinois State at 21.288. They need verification before being interpreted as the easiest schedules, so this edition lists only the toughest five.
South Dakota State leads both ratings, but Montana State is close behind. With Lamar and Tarleton State separated by tiny margins in both models, the middle of the top ten remains tightly packed.
All rankings can be found on the 2026 FCS rankings page.