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The college football season is back in full swing and the FCS delivered some quality games for another action-packed weekend. Ahead of the upcoming week, we get a look at how each team stacks up against the competition.
On Monday, the AFCA Coaches Poll for Week 9 was announced with the top five remaining the same.
South Dakota State holds onto the top spot, followed by Montana State and Sacramento State. Rounding out the top five are FCS powerhouse North Dakota State and Deion Sanders’ Jackson State Tigers.
While the top five was unchanged, 10 losses by teams ranked No. 6 on down caused a shakeup in the poll. William & Mary and Samford enter the Top 10 for the first time this season, at 9 and 10 respectively. Furman upset then-No. 6 Chattanooga, 24-20, and enters the poll for the first time this season at No. 19. Elon knocked off then-No. 11 Delaware, 27-7, and reenters the poll at No. 23. St. Thomas (Minn.) won a shootout over San Diego, 49-42, and moves into the poll for the first time ever at No. 25. The Tommies were the first program ever to jump from Division III to FCS, and they did that just one year ago.
Where does your favorite team rank?
A full look at the Week 9 FCS AFCA Coaches Poll can be seen below.
Week 9 FCS AFCA Coaches Poll
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1 | South Dakota St. (25) | 8-1 | 673 | 1 |
| 2 | Montana St. | 7-1 | 638 | 2 |
| 3 | Sacramento St. (2) | 8-0 | 624 | 3 |
| 4 | North Dakota St. | 6-2 | 566 | 4 |
| 5 | Jackson St. | 8-0 | 553 | 5 |
| 6 | Weber St. | 7-1 | 542 | 7 |
| 7 | Holy Cross | 8-0 | 509 | 8 |
| 8 | UIW | 8-1 | 497 | 9 |
| 9 | William & Mary | 7-1 | 464 | 12 |
| 10 | Samford | 7-1 | 431 | 13 |
| 11 | Mercer | 7-2 | 372 | 16 |
| 12 | Chattanooga | 6-2 | 327 | 6 |
| 13 | Montana | 5-3 | 297 | 10 |
| 14 | Richmond | 6-2 | 285 | 20 |
| 15 | UT Martin | 5-3 | 245 | 18 |
| 16 | Delaware | 6-2 | 230 | 11 |
| 17 | Princeton | 7-0 | 228 | 22 |
| 18 | Fordham | 6-2 | 210 | 15 |
| 19 | Furman | 7-2 | 193 | NR |
| 20 | Southeast Missouri St. | 6-2 | 165 | 14 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | 6-2 | 132 | 25 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | 5-3 | 110 | 17 |
| 23 | Elon | 6-3 | 98 | NR |
| 24 | Idaho | 5-3 | 93 | 23 |
| 25 | St. Thomas (Minn.) | 7-1 | 69 | NR |
Dropped Out: Stephen F. Austin (19), Austin Peay (21), Southern Illinois (24)
Others Receiving Votes: Eastern Kentucky, 44; Florida A&M, 37; Merrimack, 26; Stephen F. Austin, 21; Austin Peay, 18; Villanova, 15; Southern Illinois, 13; Pennsylvania, 11; North Carolina Central, 9; Northern Iowa, 8; Lindenwood, 7; Davidson, 5; North Dakota, 5; Dayton, 3; St. Francis (Pa.), 2.
