### South Dakota State and North Dakota State Secure Top Spots in FCS Rankings

South Dakota State and North Dakota State continue to hold the top two positions in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, maintaining their dominance in college football. This marks another milestone for North Dakota State (NDSU) as they make their 195th consecutive appearance in the poll, equalling Montana's record from 1998 to 2002. The Bison have been mainstays in the rankings since November 1, 2010, preceding their run of nine national championships in the FCS.

South Dakota State (SDSU) has likewise been a consistent presence, appearing in the poll for the 167th straight time since October 29, 2012. This consistency is underscored by their recent 63-13 victory over Youngstown State and their upcoming clash with NDSU. The highly anticipated No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup is set for this Saturday in Fargo, North Dakota, marking only the third time these two powerhouse programs meet as the top-ranked teams in the regular season.

Behind the top two, Montana State remains in the third spot after a commanding 38-7 win over then-No. 7 Idaho. This performance solidifies their standing and narrows the points gap with SDSU and NDSU in the eyes of the national media panel that votes on the rankings.

Following close behind are South Dakota in fourth place and Villanova in the fifth spot. Both teams retained their previous rankings from last week after decisive wins, further demonstrating their strength this season. UC Davis, Mercer, and Southeast Missouri also moved up in the rankings, showing strong performances in their respective conferences.

Rounding out the top ten are North Dakota and Tarleton State, with notable performances keeping them in contention. Other teams making significant strides include Dartmouth and ETSU, now occupying the 22nd and 23rd spots, respectively. Illinois State saw a fall to 21st place following a heavy loss to Missouri State.

The national media panel comprises representatives from various conferences, providing a broad and comprehensive outlook on the FCS landscape each week. As the season progresses, the competition and stakes only get higher, promising thrilling matchups and possibly more shifts in the rankings.