Each week, we will break down the FCS national poll vote by FanBuzz CFB writer Brian McLaughlin, an annual participant in the poll of note — the STATS/Perform national poll.
This top three thing in the FCS is brutal.
North Dakota State hasn't played an opponent as tough as South Dakota State and Montana State played tonight, but let's be honest — MSU lost their stud quarterback early in the game, and SDSU still needed the fourth quarter to survive the Bobcats on their own homefield.
NDSU, SDSU and MSU are all incredibly legit, and there are others in the FCS apparently gaining on the elite.
The next tier was pretty static this week from No. 4 to No. 7. You can mix and match. The Idaho and Southern Illinois wins over FBS teams make them interesting to keep an eye on, and propel them into the Top 10 on my ballot - for now. Holy Cross giving Boston College hell interests me, and New Hampshire, Eastern Washington and Northern Iowa?
Folks, don't be lemmings here — look at the body of work. Those three programs? They did some things this weekend, and last weekend.
But yes, there's a ton ahead. Catch you around this time next weekend.
PS — Monday morning, we will begin our annual look at building the FCS playoff bracket — which absolutely is no replica of this poll vote.
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BMAC'S WEEK'S FCS NATIONAL POLL VOTE
EDITOR'S NOTE: Folks, remember — an FBS loss or a D-2 win do not have an effect on an FCS team's position in the postseason picture. The playoff committee throws those results out.
| RK | BMACS VOTE | WEEK 2 RESULTS (S9) | WK1 |
| 1 | NDSU | Beat Maine by 37 | 1 |
| 2 | SDSU | Beat Montana St by 4 | 2 |
| 3 | Montana St | Lost to SDSU by 4 | 3 |
| 4 | Wm & Mary | Beat Wofford by 17 | 4 |
| 5 | Furman | lost to P5 South Car. by 26 | 5 |
| 6 | Weber St. | Beat UNI by 17 | 9 |
| 7 | Montana | beat Utah Tech by 30 | 11 |
| 8 | Idaho | Beat G5 Nevada by 27 | 13 |
| 9 | SIU | beat G5 No. Illinois by 4 | 19 |
| 10 | Holy Cross | Lost to P5 BostColl by 3 | 14 |
| 11 | UC Davis | lost to P5 Oregon St. by 48 | 7 |
| 12 | Sac St | beat TAMU-Commerce by 28 | 8 |
| 13 | UIW | Beat No. Colorado by 35 | 10 |
| 14 | New Hamp | Lost to G5 CentMich by 3 | 12 |
| 15 | Villanova | beat Colgate by 23 | 21 |
| 16 | Mercer | beat Morehead St by 26 | 18 |
| 17 | SE La. | Lost to G5 SoAlab by 18 | 15 |
| 18 | SEMO | beat Lindenwood by 38 | 17 |
| 19 | UNI | lost to Weber St. by 17 | 20 |
| 20 | East. Wash | lost to G5 Fresno in OT | no |
| 21 | Delaware | Lost to P5 Penn St by 56 | 16 |
| 22 | Yale | DNP | 22 |
| 23 | Campbell | beat the Citadel by 49 | no |
| 24 | N.C. Cent | beat No. Carolina A&T by 14 | 24 |
| 25 | Illinois St. | beat West. Illinois by 16 | no |
NOTE: FanBuzz national Group of Five college football editor Brian McLaughlin has had a vote in the STATS-Perform FCS National Poll and end-of-year awards since 2016. He submitted his initial 2023 preseason FCS poll on Aug. 7. And his previous week's vote is noted above to show any changes that happened based on this past week's Week Two results.
