Sam Herder's Top 25

HEROSPORTS: FCS Top 25: Sam Herder’s Ballot For The Week Of 10-27-2025
by Sam Herder October 26, 2025

Notes at the bottom.

Week 9 Top 25 FCS Scoreboard

1. North Dakota State
2. Montana
3. Montana State
4. Tarleton State
5. North Dakota
6. South Dakota State
7. UC Davis
8. Tennessee Tech
9. Lehigh
10. Harvard
11. Monmouth
12. Mercer
13. Youngstown State
14. Villanova
15. Illinois State
16. Southern Illinois
17. Abilene Christian
18. Northern Arizona
19. Austin Peay
20. Rhode Island
21. SFA
22. Southeastern Louisiana University
23. Jackson State
24. Lamar
25. Western Carolina

"The most notable move is South Dakota State going from No. 2 to No. 6 after its 38-7 home loss to No. 1 North Dakota State."

NDSU stands out again.

https://herosports.com/fcs-top-25-sam-herder-ballot-10-27-2025-bzbz/

Is it related to covfefe?

If we get the Connors back for next year, wow.

Does SDSU drop since they were spanked, and do we move up?

No. 1/1 North Dakota State 38
No. 2/2 South Dakota State 7

Top FCS scores.

https://herosports.com/2025-week-9-top-25-fcs-scoreboard-bzbz/

Montana, ugh. But I guess by the quarters everyone is solid.

If we're seeded high, don't we get a Bye in playoff week #1?

Agreed.

I'm not up on the intricacies of it all, but one argument might be we don't want a Bye Week if we want to maximize playoff games in order to qualify to bring the Connors Brothers back. Their return would certainly be huge and set us up for a top-8 ranking next year.

On AST we still show that we close out 2026 w Sac State. (We end next year w a lot of home cooking and a Bye.)

"Pinnick did not make the trip after coming down with tonsillitis."

Caden could be out another week, depending on how they treated his condition.

I like the rivalry, low travel cost, local enthusiasm and full house.

Was it played at Hughes a few times? If so, how was that?

Yes, Thursday night, didn't travel. Ags played well in the first half, then hung on.

Plough presser.

https://youtu.be/3PsuanYsi7o?si=ZtkWKqqMuXBwZF1E

Tackles
Rutchena - 11 - Grad Trans
Sievers - 8 - So
Stanley - 7 - Sr
Goligoski - 7, 3 TFL / 16 yds, 2 sacks - So
Riddick - 5 - GT
Cofield - 5 - Fr
Bell - 5 - Jr
Batson - 4 - GT
Carrade - 4 - Jr
Psyk - 3, 2 TFL / 4 yds, 1 sack - GT
Smith-Porter - 2 - GT

Rushing
Vargas - 16 / 90
Fisher - 11 / 87

Rushing - NC
Johnson - 65
Guin - 25

Five significant Grad Transfers on defense.

It looks like their rushing game has been up and down this year. We held them to 76 yards rushing, which nobody seems to gave commented on. Are their RBs hurt?

Not Plough's best OC calls?

Defense took a break?

Yes.

3-0 Ags.

Broadcast team said Pinnick "injured".

Harper threw a pick they couldn't catch. Why didn't we down the punt?

Backup can move, too. Example of why the #2 needs reps. Go Ags.

Local DHS product.