Photo by: Alex Nabor
Lumberjacks Ranked No. 4 in FCS Committee’s Initial Top 10
10/20/2026 1:58:00 PM | Football
First of two releases in advance of playoff selections positions Lumberjacks among teams in contention for first-round byes
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee released the first of two FCS Top 10 rankings featuring the squads currently in contention for the eight first-round byes. Stephen F. Austin is ranked No. 4 in the initial listing. The second release, which is slated following Week 10 action, will again air live on ESPN2's College Football Live on Thursday, November 5.Â
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The Jacks are ranked No. 2 nationally in both major FCS polls and are receiving first-place votes in each marking the 17th-straight week that SFA has earned a national ranking and the fifth as a consensus top 10 team in the country. It's the highest such weekly ranking for the program since November 22, 2010, when SFA ranked No. 2 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 3 in The Sports Network Poll.Â
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On the field, the Jacks are currently leading the country in team sacks, rank second in total offense and are third nationally in team tackles for loss, scoring offense, scoring defense and rushing defense in addition to owning a top 10 rushing offense.Â
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SFA is one of three unbeaten teams in FCS and one of only two at 7-0. The Jacks are riding the nation's longest active regular season win streak at 17 games, have won 11 straight at Homer Bryce and are on the Southland Conference's fourth-longest conference win streak at 11 games. Additionally, the Jacks matched the 1995 team for the best start to a season in program history at 7-0 with last Saturday's road shutout at Nicholls; the first blanking of a league opponent in 15 years.
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FCS Top 10 Committee Rankings
NOV. 5: 1 PM CT on ESPN2
OCT. 20: #4
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FCS Top 10 – Ranking #1
1. Montana St.
2. Tarleton St.
3. Youngstown St.
4. SFA
5. South Dakota St.
6. North Dakota
7. Northern Ariz.
8. South Dakota
9. Austin Peay
10. Harvard
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This year in selecting at-large teams, the FCS championship committee will consider each team's won-lost record, their strength of schedule, Regional Advisory Committee rankings/feedback and games reviewed by the committee on video. A secondary tool are four metrics that may be considered, all including only games from the current season (KPI, Massey Ratings and ESPN's two Football Power Indexes).
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The 2026 championship field will consist of 11 automatic qualifiers and 13 at-large selections with the FCS Selection Show airing Sunday, November 22 at Noon ET on ESPNU.
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The 2027 FCS Championship game will be held January 11, 2027, at FirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University.  The Ohio Valley Conference and Nashville Sports Council will serve as co-hosts. Tickets are available now at NCAA.com.
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UP NEXT
SFA returns home to Homer Bryce Stadium for a pivotal Southland Conference matchup with Southeastern Louisiana. It will be the 23rd meeting all-time between the two teams, just the third in Carthel's tenure and the first in Nacogdoches since 2016. SFA leads the all-time series 11-10-1 with a 6-4 record at home but has dropped its last three meetings to the Lions and five out of the past seven.Â
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It will be the 86th Homecoming game (43-41-1) on the SFA campus. The Jacks are 3-3 in Homecoming contests under Carthel having won back-to-back games for the first time since 2014 and 2015 which capped a five-game homecoming win streak. The October 24 kickoff from inside Homer Bryce Stadium is set for 5 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.SFAjacks.com.Â
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TICKETS ON SALE NOW
There's never been a better time to lock in your seat at Homer Bryce Stadium! Don't miss a single snap as SFA looks to defend its Southland Conference title. Visit www.SFATickets.com to secure your tickets today and be part of the action all season long.Â
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FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA football, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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The Jacks are ranked No. 2 nationally in both major FCS polls and are receiving first-place votes in each marking the 17th-straight week that SFA has earned a national ranking and the fifth as a consensus top 10 team in the country. It's the highest such weekly ranking for the program since November 22, 2010, when SFA ranked No. 2 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 3 in The Sports Network Poll.Â
Â
On the field, the Jacks are currently leading the country in team sacks, rank second in total offense and are third nationally in team tackles for loss, scoring offense, scoring defense and rushing defense in addition to owning a top 10 rushing offense.Â
Â
SFA is one of three unbeaten teams in FCS and one of only two at 7-0. The Jacks are riding the nation's longest active regular season win streak at 17 games, have won 11 straight at Homer Bryce and are on the Southland Conference's fourth-longest conference win streak at 11 games. Additionally, the Jacks matched the 1995 team for the best start to a season in program history at 7-0 with last Saturday's road shutout at Nicholls; the first blanking of a league opponent in 15 years.
Â
FCS Top 10 Committee Rankings
NOV. 5: 1 PM CT on ESPN2
OCT. 20: #4
Â
FCS Top 10 – Ranking #1
1. Montana St.
2. Tarleton St.
3. Youngstown St.
4. SFA
5. South Dakota St.
6. North Dakota
7. Northern Ariz.
8. South Dakota
9. Austin Peay
10. Harvard
Â
This year in selecting at-large teams, the FCS championship committee will consider each team's won-lost record, their strength of schedule, Regional Advisory Committee rankings/feedback and games reviewed by the committee on video. A secondary tool are four metrics that may be considered, all including only games from the current season (KPI, Massey Ratings and ESPN's two Football Power Indexes).
Â
The 2026 championship field will consist of 11 automatic qualifiers and 13 at-large selections with the FCS Selection Show airing Sunday, November 22 at Noon ET on ESPNU.
Â
The 2027 FCS Championship game will be held January 11, 2027, at FirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University.  The Ohio Valley Conference and Nashville Sports Council will serve as co-hosts. Tickets are available now at NCAA.com.
Â
UP NEXT
SFA returns home to Homer Bryce Stadium for a pivotal Southland Conference matchup with Southeastern Louisiana. It will be the 23rd meeting all-time between the two teams, just the third in Carthel's tenure and the first in Nacogdoches since 2016. SFA leads the all-time series 11-10-1 with a 6-4 record at home but has dropped its last three meetings to the Lions and five out of the past seven.Â
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It will be the 86th Homecoming game (43-41-1) on the SFA campus. The Jacks are 3-3 in Homecoming contests under Carthel having won back-to-back games for the first time since 2014 and 2015 which capped a five-game homecoming win streak. The October 24 kickoff from inside Homer Bryce Stadium is set for 5 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.SFAjacks.com.Â
Â
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
There's never been a better time to lock in your seat at Homer Bryce Stadium! Don't miss a single snap as SFA looks to defend its Southland Conference title. Visit www.SFATickets.com to secure your tickets today and be part of the action all season long.Â
Â
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA football, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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Saturday, October 17
Saturday, October 17
Saturday, October 17
Saturday, October 17
