Monday links, New FCS top 25

Not much movement in the Top 25 this week. North Dakota State remains No. 1 despite the loss at Wyoming. I'm just not going to get into the habit of penalizing teams for losing tight games at FBS schools. Appalachian State's loss at LSU was a different animal. The Mountaineers were never in that game. Yes, LSU is much better than Wyoming. I realize that. For now, NDSU is still my top team.

No one moves in, no one drops out this week. Very much looking forward to seeing how Furman-Delaware shakes out. That game will tell us a lot about both teams. Also, an App State win at JMU would almost certainly make the Mountaineers No. 1 in my mind, no matter what North Dakota State does against at Youngstown State team that hasn't looked very good so far. So again, patience. It will all work itself out.

1. NORTH DAKOTA STATE (2-1)
Last week: lost to Wyoming, 16-13
The scoop: Led 10-0 at halftime and lost on a field goal with four seconds left to an FBS team. Tough to drop the Bison after that showing.
Next up: Sept. 20 at Youngstown State (1-2).

2. APPALACHIAN STATE (1-1)
Last week: Idle.
The scoop: Considering what happened in last year’s playoffs, James Madison will be more than ready for Mountaineers. One of the most anticipated matchups of the season.
Next up: Sept. 20 at No. 8 James Madison (2-1).

3. MONTANA (2-0)
Last week: beat Southern Utah, 46-10
The scoop: Griz get huge day from receiver Marc Mariani (8 receptions, 208 yards, 4 TDs) in rout of Thunderbirds.
Next up: Sept. 20 vs. UC Davis (1-2).

4. RICHMOND (2-1)
Last week: beat Towson, 45-14
The scoop: Spiders return two interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter to turn Towson game into rout.
Next up: Sept. 20 vs. Maine (2-1).

5. JAMES MADISON (2-1)
Last week: beat No. 3 Massachusetts, 52-38
The scoop: No Eugene Holloman? No problem. QB Rodney Landers rushes for 206 yards, 2 TDs against UMass.
Next up: Sept. 20 vs. No. 2 Appalachian State (1-1).

6. DELAWARE (1-1)
Last week: beat West Chester, 48-20
The scoop: Hens led 34-6 at halftime in prep game for matchup against improving Furman.
Next up: Sept. 20 at Furman (2-1).

7. MASSACHUSETTS (2-1)
Last week: lost to No. 8 James Madison, 52-38
The scoop: WR Victor Cruz has huge game in loss to JMU (13 receptions, 263 yards, 2 TDs)
Next up: Sept. 20 at Texas Tech (3-0).

8. EASTERN WASHINGTON (0-2)
Last week: Idle
The scoop: Rested Eagles should get in rhythm against Vikings.
Next up: Sept. 20 vs. Western Washington (1-1).

9. NORTHERN IOWA (1-1)
Last week: Idle
The scoop: Panthers beat Jackrabbits last year in Brookings.
Next up: Sept. 20 vs. No. 14 South Dakota State (2-1).

10. CAL POLY (1-1)
Last week: at No. 11 McNeese State, cancelled
The scoop: Ike washed out one of best games of the week. Good news: Potential tropical storm in the Atlantic looks like it’ll stay away from Louisiana.
Next up: Sept. 20 at Northwestern State (2-1).

11. MCNEESE STATE (1-1)
Last week: vs. No. 10 Cal Poly, cancelled
The scoop: Ike gives Cowboys two weeks to prepare for Southern Virginia, which just got blown out at Ferrum.
Next up: Sept. 27 vs. Southern Virginia (1-2).

12. NEW HAMPSHIRE (2-0)
Last week: beat Rhode Island, 51-43
The scoop: URI scored 10 points in last five minutes to make score respectable.
Next up: Sept. 20 vs. Albany (1-1).

13. ELON (2-1)
Last week: beat Presbyterian, 66-12
The scoop: Elon hung half a hundred on Presby by halftime. Barry Switzer would be proud.
Next up: Sept. 20 at No. 25 Georgia Southern (2-1).

14. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (2-1)
Last week: beat No. 19 Western Illinois, 24-22
The scoop: Jackrabbits led 24-0 at halftime and avoided overtime when Western Illinois’ two-point conversion failed with 2:04 left.
Next up: Sept. 20 at No. 9 Northern Iowa (1-1).

15. WOFFORD (2-0)
Last week: Idle
The scoop: In last trip to Columbia in 2006, lost 27-20 to Gamecocks.
Next up: Sept. 20 at South Carolina (1-2).

16. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (1-1)
Last week: lost to Northwestern, 33-7
The scoop: Northwestern scored 27 unanswered points after SIU took 7-6 lead.
Next up: Sept. 27 vs. No. 9 Northern Iowa (1-1).

17. HOLY CROSS (0-1)
Last week: Idle
The scoop: Broke five-game losing streak against Crimson with three-point win in Worcester last year.
Next up: Sept. 19 at No. 23 Harvard (0-0).

18. VILLANOVA (1-1)
Last week: beat Lehigh, 33-14
The scoop: Wildcats forced four Lehigh turnovers.
Next up: Sept. 20 at Pennsylvania (0-0).

19. EASTERN ILLINOIS (1-2)
Last week: beat Indiana State, 38-3
The scoop: Much tougher Missouri Valley test awaits Panthers this week.
Next up: Sept. 20 at Illinois State (1-1).

20. WESTERN ILLINOIS (1-2)
Last week: lost to No. 16 South Dakota State, 24-22
The scoop: Leathernecks nearly rallied from 24 down to tie in the fourth quarter.
Next week: Sept. 20 vs. Stephen F. Austin (1-1).

21. CENTRAL ARKANSAS (3-0)
Last week: beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 41-17.
The scoop: Hey, look! It’s our old pal Quincy! The Hawks haven’t scored in two games.
Next up: Sept. 20 vs. Quincy (0-2).

22. LIBERTY (3-0)
Last week: beat Western Carolina, 19-16
The scoop: A win is a win, but the Flames’ offense struggled to mount big numbers against improved Catamounts.
Next up: Sept. 27 at Youngstown State (1-2).

23. HARVARD (0-0)
Last week: Idle
The scoop: Junior tailback Cheng Ho looks for fast start against Crusaders.
Next up: Sept. 19 vs. No. 17 Holy Cross (0-1).

24. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (2-1)
Last week: beat Bethune-Cookman, 28-19
The scoop: Bulldogs never trailed against BCC and rode the legs of William Ford (28 carries, 175 yards, TD) to victory.
Next week: Sept. 20 at Clemson (2-1).

25. GEORGIA SOUTHERN (2-1)
Last week: beat Northeastern, 34-27 (OT)
The scoop: Eagles needed a 65-yard TD pass with a minute left to force overtime. Northeastern outgained Georgia Southern 452-423.
Next week: Sept. 20 vs. No. 13 Elon (2-1).

DROPPED OUT: None

ON THE RADAR (in no particular order): Northern Arizona, Yale, Dayton, Northwestern State, Prairie View A&M, Sam Houston State, Tennessee State, Hampton, Albany, Jacksonville State, Sacramento State, The Citadel, Furman, Savannah State (just for fun, Tigers snapped 11-game road skid against Division I opponents by beating Winston-Salem State -- last win came at Norfolk State in 2004).

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On to the links ...

Coastal Carolina made a statement with its win at Monmouth, six days after a heartbreaking loss at home to Colgate. Zach MacDowall has finally taken the lead in the quarterback rotation, Travis Sawchik reports. The NCAA cleared CCU tailback Jamie Fordham, and he played at Monmouth.

Big plays helped Miami of Ohio stave off Charleston Southern's upset bid.

William & Mary piled on the yards and points and beat VMI for the 23rd straight time. The take from the Newport News Daily Press.

Gardner-Webb kept Austin Peay winless. Details in the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle here.

Maine's passing game took Stony Brook by surprise, the Kennebec Journal reports.

Elon embarrassed Presbyterian, rolling up a school-record 667 yards. "We were pretty much faster than them," Elon receiver Bo Williamson told the Burlington Times News.