Gridiron Power Index 11/6/2023 – Youngstown State, Chattanooga, Albany and UT Martin Well Poised In the Final Two Weekends, According to GPI
BETHLEHEM, PA – If the Gridiron Power Index were to be used to seed the teams in the FCS playoffs, this week’s rankings show Delaware clinging to the final seed at No. 8.
There was little movement in the Top 12 of the GPI this week. Still dominated by Missouri Valley Football Conference teams (South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, North Dakota State, South Dakota, and Northern Iowa) and Big Sky teams (Idaho, Montana, Montana State and Sacramento State), Villanova only edged out North Dakota to slot in at 12 in this week’s GPI thanks to their 45-33 win over New Hampshire.
The Missouri Valley and Big Sky autobids are still 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.
If the GPI were being used to determine at-large capability outside of the Top 12, it would seem like very good news for Youngstown State (15), Albany (16), UT Martin (18) and Chattanooga (21), who are scoring well in the GPI with only two weekends of regular season football to go.
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 11/6/2023
| GPI RANK | TEAM | CONF | W-L | LAST | RAW GPI SCORE |
| 1 | South Dakota State | MVFC | 9-0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Montana | Big Sky | 8-1 | 4 | 3.25 |
| T3 | Montana State | Big Sky | 7-2 | 3 | 3.875 |
| T3 | Idaho | Big Sky | 7-2 | 2 | 3.875 |
| 5 | South Dakota | MVFC | 7-2 | 10 | 5.25 |
| 6 | Furman | SoCon | 8-1 | 7 | 7.25 |
| 7 | Southern Illinois | MVFC | 6-3 | 6 | 9.125 |
| 8 | Delaware | CAA | 7-2 | 5 | 10.375 |
| 9 | North Dakota State | MVFC | 6-3 | 9 | 11.125 |
| 10 | Sacramento State | Big Sky | 6-3 | 8 | 11.25 |
| 11 | Northern Iowa | MVFC | 6-3 | 11 | 11.75 |
| 12 | Villanova | CAA | 7-2 | 16 | 12.875 |
| 13 | North Dakota | MVFC | 6-3 | 12 | 13.25 |
| 14 | Austin Peay | UAC | 7-2 | 13 | 13.5 |
| 15 | Youngstown State | MVFC | 6-3 | 15 | 14.625 |
| 16 | Albany | CAA | 7-3 | 22 | 15.625 |
| 17 | North Carolina Central | MEAC | 8-1 | 18 | 16/375 |
| 18 | UT Martin | BSC-OVC | 7-2 | 20 | 19.75 |
| 19 | Florida A&M | SWAC | 8-1 | 25 | 20.375 |
| 20 | Harvard | Ivy | 7-2 | 21 | 21 |
| 21 | Chattanooga | SoCon | 7-3 | 17 | 22.125 |
| 22 | Central Arkansas | UAC | 6-3 | NR | 23.5 |
| 23 | Holy Cross | Patriot | 6-3 | 24 | 24.5 |
| 24 | Incarnate Word | Southland | 7-2 | 14 | 24.75 |
| 25 | Western Carolina | SoCon | 6-3 | 23 | 25.125 |
