**North Dakota State and Montana State Top the In-Season FCS Rankings**

The race to the FCS playoffs is intensifying as the Division I Football Championship Committee has unveiled its in-season top 10 rankings. The announcement was made on Wednesday, Oct. 30 during ESPN2's College Football Live program, setting the stage for the final stretch of the regular season.

North Dakota State and Montana State have emerged as frontrunners, leading the pack based on their performance up to Oct. 26. These rankings provide a crucial look at how teams are positioned heading into the last four weeks before playoff selection. This early reveal helps to identify which teams are in line for the eight coveted first-round byes in the FCS playoff bracket.

The committee employs a set of criteria to evaluate teams, including win-loss records and strength of schedule. Additional scrutiny is given to teams with fewer than six Division I wins, which can jeopardize their chances of selection. Teams that have consistently faced Division I opponents may receive extra consideration. The use of two results-based metrics, the Kevin Pauga Index (KPI) and ESPN metrics, also plays a significant role in the evaluation process.

Unlike past seasons, the FCS Coaches Poll and FCS STATS Perform Poll are not factored into this year's rankings. This change emphasizes the committee’s reliance on direct results and performance metrics.

For the first time in 2024, teams seeded from Nos. 9-16 will also be ranked, increasing the significance of the committee’s in-season top 10. This shift underscores the importance of the last two ranked teams as it extends the competitive edge deeper into the playoffs.

As the season progresses, these rankings will be pivotal in determining which teams secure advantageous positions and which will face tougher roads ahead. The FCS playoff selection Sunday is now just 25 days away, and every game counts as teams vie for a top seed.