Gridiron Power Index 10/30/2023 – Big Sky, Missouri Valley Dominate Upper Reaches of GPI, Seem Poised To Dominate FCS Playoff Seeding
BETHLEHEM, PA – If the Gridiron Power Index were used to seed the teams in the FCS playoffs, this week’s rankings seem to indicate that the top seeds would be dominated by Big Sky and Missouri Valley Football conference teams.
The Top 12 of the GPI this week has six Missouri Valley Football Conference teams (South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, and Northern Iowa) and four Big Sky teams (Idaho, Montana, Montana State and Sacramento State), dominating the top of the index. Only Delaware (CAA) at No. 5 and Furman (SoCon) at No. 7 break up the party.
The Missouri Valley and Big Sky autobids are not wrapped up yet, but with South Dakota State on the brink of clinching the MVFC title and Big Sky contenders Idaho, Montana State and Montana – ranked 2, 3, and 4 respectively in the GPI – are the front-runners to win the Big Sky. Both champions seem likely to have an ironclad lock on a Top 4 seed, especially if they win out.
The 2023 version of the GPI is comprised of five different human polls (FCS Stats Perform Top 25, FCS Coaches, Reddit FCS, Any Given Saturday, and the FCS Fans Nation Media) and five different historic and respected computer polls (Laz Index, Massey Ratings, Sagarin Ratings, Keeper Ratings, and Dwiggins Ratings). All five computer rankings were at one time a part of the original GPI.
The highest and lowest rankings are dropped, and the remaining polls are averaged. Whenever possible “Others Receiving Votes” have been included in the index.
GPI Top 25,Week of 10/30/2023
| GPI RANK | TEAM | CONF | W-L | LAST | RAW GPI SCORE |
| 1 | South Dakota State | MVFC | 7-0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Idaho | Big Sky | 6-2 | T4 | 3.25 |
| 3 | Montana State | Big Sky | 6-2 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Montana | Big Sky | 7-1 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | Delaware | CAA | 7-1 | 8 | 6.125 |
| 6 | Southern Illinois | MVFC | 6-2 | 7 | 6.875 |
| 7 | Furman | SoCon | 7-1 | T4 | 7 |
| 8 | Sacramento State | Big Sky | 6-2 | 10 | 7.125 |
| 9 | North Dakota State | MVFC | 6-2 | 9 | 8.5 |
| 10 | South Dakota | MVFC | 6-2 | 3 | 8.875 |
| 11 | Northern Iowa | MVFC | 5-3 | 19 | 14 |
| 12 | North Dakota | MVFC | 5-3 | 15 | 14.625 |
| 13 | Austin Peay | UAC | 6-2 | T13 | 15 |
| 14 | Incarnate Word | Southland | 7-1 | 12 | 15.375 |
| 15 | Youngstown State | MVFC | 5-3 | 17 | 15.75 |
| 16 | Villanova | CAA | 6-2 | 21 | 17.5 |
| 17 | Chattanooga | SoCon | 7-2 | 18 | 18.25 |
| 18 | North Carolina Central | MEAC | 7-1 | 22 | 18.875 |
| 19 | Lafayette | Patriot | 7-1 | 20 | 19.875 |
| 20 | UT Martin | BSC-OVC | 6-2 | 11 | 20 |
| 21 | Harvard | Ivy | 6-1 | T24 | 20.5 |
| 22 | Albany | CAA | 6-3 | 23 | 20.875 |
| 23 | Western Carolina | SoCon | 5-3 | T13 | 22.75 |
| 24 | Holy Cross | Patriot | 5-3 | T24 | 23.25 |
| 25 | Florida A&M | SWAC | 7-1 | NR | 23.375 |
