Monday links; New FCS top 25

Some market corrections this week, including a massive jump for Weber State and a decent fall for Elon. Wofford jumps Appalachian State for now, but we‘ll see who the better team is Friday night in Boone. The rankings:

1. JAMES MADISON (7-1)
Last week: beat No. 3 Villanova, 23-19
The scoop: Two walk-off wins for the Dukes on the road this season? JMU living a charmed life.
Next up: Nov. 1 vs. Delaware (3-5).

2. WOFFORD (6-1)
Last week: beat No. 5 Elon, 55-20
The scoop: Recipe for a road win—outgain the opponent by 135 yards and go plus-4 in turnover margin.
Next up: Oct. 31 at No. 3 Appalchian State (6-2).

3. APPALACHIAN STATE (6-2)
Last week: beat No. 17 Furman, 26-14
The scoop: Mountaineers host ESPN2 Halloween night game against Wofford, the only other unbeaten team in the SoCon.
Next up: Oct. 31 vs. No. 2 Wofford (6-1).

4. CAL POLY (5-1)
Last week: beat Southern Utah, 69-41
The scoop: Mustangs QB Jonathan Dally superb against Thunderbirds (22 for 26, 410 yards, 6 TDs).
Next up: Nov. 1 vs. Idaho State (0-8).

5. VILLANOVA (5-2)
Last week: lost to No. 1 James Madison, 23-19
The scoop: Proving again that the game isn’t over against JMU until the clock hits 0:00.
Next up: Nov. 1 at Northeastern (2-6).

6. WEBER STATE (7-2)
Last week: beat Northern Arizona, 42-14
The scoop: Held powerful NAU to one offensive touchdown.
Next up: Nov. 1 vs. Portland State (3-4).

7. MONTANA (7-1)
Last week: beat Northern Colorado, 41-20
The scoop: Griz hitting stride and finish with three of four at home.
Next up: Nov. 1 vs. No. 22 Northern Arizona (6-2).

8. NORTHERN IOWA (6-2)
Last week: beat Youngstown State, 21-20
The scoop: Missed PAT the margin of victory at Stambaugh.
Next up: Nov. 1 at No. 13 at Western Illinois (5-2).

9. NEW HAMPSHIRE (6-1)
Last week: beat Towson, 42-14
The scoop: One more home breather against Hofstra before closing at Villanova, vs. Massachusetts, at Maine.
Next up: Nov. 1 vs. Hofstra (3-5).

10. RICHMOND (6-3)
Last week: beat Georgetown, 48-0
The scoop: Playoff fate will likely be decided on season’s final day at William & Mary.
Next up: Nov. 8 at Hofstra (3-5).

11. ELON (7-2)
Last week: lost to No. 8 Wofford, 55-20
The scoop: Second convincing home loss to ranked team puts Elon’s playoff hopes in jeopardy. Phoenix will likely have to win at either Appalachian State or Liberty to gain bid.
Next up: Nov. 8 vs. Western Carolina (2-7).

12. CENTRAL ARKANSAS (7-1)
Last week: beat Southeastern Louisiana, 28-21
The scoop: Bears hold off furious fourth-quarter rally to beat Lions.
Next up: Nov. 1 at Nicholls State (1-4).

13. WESTERN ILLINOIS (5-2)
Last week: Idle
The scoop: WIU can forget about the playoffs if it loses Saturday to Panthers.
Next week: Nov. 1 vs. No. 8 Northern Iowa (6-2).

14. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (5-2)
Last week: beat Missouri State, 23-17
The scoop: Chris Dieker’s 51-yard TD pass to Marc Cheatham at the buzzer gives SIU walk-off win.
Next up: Nov. 1 vs. North Dakota (5-2).

15. MASSACHUSETTS (5-3)
Last week: beat Bryant, 42-7
The scoop: Minutemen must win out to earn playoff bid—8-4 won’t get it done.
Next up: Nov. 1 at Rhode Island (2-7).

16. WILLIAM & MARY (5-2)
Last week: beat Rhode Island, 34-24
The scoop: David Caldwell’s 62-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter the turning point against URI.
Next week: Nov. 1 at Towson (3-5).

17. FURMAN (6-3)
Last week: lost to No. 2 Appalachian State, 26-14
The scoop: Furman held a 14-13 fourth-quarter lead before App rallied.
Next up: Nov. 1 at Samford (4-3).

18. HARVARD (5-1)
Last week: beat Princeton, 24-20
The scoop: Gino Gordon’s 6-yard TD run late in the fourth gives Harvard the win.
Next up: Nov. 1 at Dartmouth (0-6).

19. LAFAYETTE (6-1)
Last week: beat Fordham, 48-13
The scoop: Leopards have averaged 41.5 points in last two road wins at Liberty, Fordham.
Next up: Nov. 1 at Colgate (6-2).

20. LIBERTY (7-1)
Last week: beat Charleston Southern, 42-0
The scoop: Telling quote from CSU coach Jay Mills: “I don’t know if we saw their best performance today, quite frankly.”
Next up: Nov. 1 at Presbyterian (3-5).

21. TENNESSEE-MARTIN (7-2)
Last week: beat Jacksonville State, 31-30
The scoop: Skyhawks need one more Tennessee State OVC loss to be in driver’s seat for auto bid.
Next up: Nov. 8 at Auburn (4-4).

22. NORTHERN ARIZONA (6-2)
Last week: lost to No. 12 Weber State, 42-14
The scoop: Not the sort of performance you want before heading up to Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Next up: Nov. 1 at No. 7 Montana (7-1).

23. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (6-2)
Last week: beat No. 25 Hampton, 35-13
The scoop: MEAC title is SCSU’s to lose, now.
Next up: Nov. 1 at Delaware State (3-4).

24. TEXAS STATE (5-3)
Last week: beat Stephen F. Austin, 62-21
The scoop: Bobcats continue to play their best football away from San Marcos.
Next up: Nov. 1 vs. Northwestern State (3-5).

25. MAINE (5-3)
Last week: beat Northeastern, 20-0
The scoop: Black Bears pick four passes and return one for a touchdown in shutout.
Next week: Nov. 1 vs. Iona (3-5).

DROPPED OUT: No. 13 McNeese State, No. 23 Tennessee State, No. 25 Hampton.

ON THE RADAR (in no particular order): Prairie View A&M, Florida A&M, Georgia Southern, Dayton, Colgate, South Dakota State.

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Coastal Carolina was in a giving mood Saturday night against Stony Brook, as four fumbles helped the Seawolves gain their first Big South road win. The Sun News’ Travis Sawchik notes that Coastal was none too happy about SBU’s on-field celebrations after the game.

The kick return game was a mess, the Sun News’ Sean Horgan notes.

Coastal kicker Justin Durham struggled Saturday night, and he was benched, Sawchik writes.

Here’s a good piece from the Winston-Salem Journal on VMI coach Sparky Woods.

Devin Campbell is back as Gardner-Webb’s starting quarterback, and he threw for 392 yards to lead the Bulldogs past VMI Saturday, the Shelby Star reports.