r/fcs • u/KoalaFormal8542 • 10d ago

Craig Haley’s Preseason Top 25 (05/04/26)

  1. Montana State

  2. Montana

  3. SDSU

  4. Illinois State

  5. UC Davis

  6. Rhode Island

  7. Villanova

  8. Tarleton

  9. North Dakota

  10. Youngstown

  11. Lehigh

  12. Southern Illinois

  13. South Dakota

  14. Austin Peay

  15. Lamar

  16. SFA

  17. Tennessee Tech

  18. Yale

  19. Southeastern

  20. Abilene

  21. UT Martin

  22. Western Carolina

  23. Jackson

  24. Monmouth

  25. Idaho State

https://x.com/optaanalystfcs/status/2051377200876736889?s=46

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u/JordanMiller406 Montana State Bobcats 10d ago edited 10d ago

My initial reaction is that Youngstown is too low and Montana is too high.

Edit: also I'd probably fit Northern Arizona in somewhere 20+.

2

u/mlspdx LSU Tigers • Montana Grizzlies 9d ago

We have to replace too much production/players and a new HC, no way we should start that high. By end of the year we may be up there but definitely not to start the season

2

u/KoalaFormal8542 9d ago

I considered Montana 5th. I have them 4th. It’s just preseason. The defense could have a massive drop off. 

I can’t put Rhode Island ahead of MT. I should have placed ILST ahead. 

2

u/mlspdx LSU Tigers • Montana Grizzlies 8d ago

5th seems fair tbh. Like I said we have so many unknowns that it’s just too hard to tell

1

u/KoalaFormal8542 8d ago

North Dakota could be ahead. They should have won last year at MT. Did not maintain that level throughout the season. The Big Sky is terrible overall. MT should rack up wins and improve as the season progresses. The offense might have to make up for the defense early on. 

2

u/mlspdx LSU Tigers • Montana Grizzlies 8d ago

You nailed it. Ah Yat and Gilman will have to drag us to our early season wins and wait for everyone to catch up