Lumberjacks Climb to No. 3 in FCS Committee’s Second Top 10 Release

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee released the second FCS Top 10 rankings featuring the squads currently in contention for the eight first-round byes. Stephen F. Austin is up one spot to No. 3, while Saturday's opponent Lamar checked in at No. 10.

The Jacks are ranked No. 2 nationally in both major FCS polls, receiving seven first-place votes in the Stats Perform poll and three in the AFCA Coaches Poll. It marks the 19^th-straight week that SFA has earned a national ranking, the seventh as a consensus top 10 team and fourth consecutive week inside the national top three.

On the field, the Jacks lead the FCS in sacks per game (4.11), rank second in scoring defense (13.4 points per game) and interceptions (13), and stand third in rushing defense (98.2 yards per game). SFA also ranks fourth in scoring offense (40.9 points per game), sixth in third-down defense, ninth in total offense and 10th in rushing offense. The Lumberjacks round out their major top 20 national marks with a No. 20 ranking in total defense (325.6 yards per game).

SFA is one of only two unbeaten FCS teams, joining Tarleton State at 9-0. The Jacks own Division I's longest active regular-season winning streak at 19 games, have claimed 14 consecutive Southland victories, the third-longest conference winning streak in league history and have won 13 straight at Homer Bryce Stadium to match the program record. SFA's 37-6 victory over Houston Christian extended the best start in program history and improved their conference record to 6-0.

FCS Top 10 Committee Rankings
NOV. 5: #3
OCT. 20: #4

FCS Top 10 – Ranking #2
1. Montana St.
2. Tarleton St.
3. SFA
4. South Dakota St.
5. Youngstown St.
6. Northern Ariz.
7. Austin Peay
8. South Dakota
9. Tennessee Tech
10. Lamar

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

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).

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.

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.

UP NEXT
The Jacks head to Beaumont as the top two teams in the Southland meet in the Stats Perform FCS National Game of the Week with regular season title and playoff implications on the line. It will be SFA's first road matchup as a top five team against a top 15 team since September of 1996. A win would ensure the Jacks a share of the SLC title and give SFA the conference's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.

The two sides meet for the 39th time on the gridiron. The Cardinals are the only team on the '26 schedule that was on SFA's very first in 1923. SFA is 8-2 in the last ten meetings and have won four-straight. The Jacks knocked off the Cardinals to claim the SLC title last fall in Nacogdoches. The Jacks are 10-11-1 all-time in Beaumont. The November 7 kickoff from inside Provost Umphrey Stadium is set for 3 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.SFAjacks.com.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE REGULAR SEASON HOME FINALE
The Lumberjacks have just one home game on the regular season schedule! Don't miss a single snap as SFA looks to defend its Southland Conference title. Visit www.SFATickets.comto secure your tickets today and be part of the action all season long.

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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