The preseason FCS top 25 poll has been released, and two-time defending champion North Dakota State begins the season at the top of the heap. The Bison took 23 of the 26 first place votes, with second-ranked Montana State, fourth-ranked Sam Houston State, and 19th-ranked Eastern Kentucky (I know, what?) claiming the other three votes. North Dakota State opens the season on Aug. 30 at Kansas State.
2013 FCS football top 25 poll topped by North Dakota State
The Bison will begin their quest for a third straight FCS title atop the polls.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Here is the full poll:
| Rank | School (First place votes) | Points |
| 1 | North Dakota State (23) | 645 |
| 2 | Montana State (1) | 591 |
| 3 | Eastern Washington | 549 |
| 4 | Sam Houston State (1) | 534 |
| 5 | Wofford | 450 |
| 6 | Central Arkansas | 428 |
| 7 | South Dakota State | 410 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 386 |
| 9 | Villanova | 381 |
| 10 | Illinois State | 379 |
| 11 | Cal Poly | 348 |
| 12 | Towson | 347 |
| 13 | Stony Brook | 326 |
| 14 | Richmond | 274 |
| 15 | James Madison | 235 |
| 16 | Northern Iowa | 218 |
| 17 | Lehigh | 198 |
| 18 | Northern Arizona | 196 |
| 19 | Eastern Kentucky (1) | 188 |
| 20 | Bethune-Cookman | 159 |
| 21 | Coastal Carolina | 140 |
| 22 | Montana | 135 |
| 23 | Eastern Illinois | 120 |
| 24 | Youngstown State | 107 |
| 25 | Chattanooga | 104 |
Also receiving votes: Wagner (87), Colgate (67), Tennessee State (52), Harvard (48), Delaware (47), The Citadel (39), Liberty (39), Arkansas Pine-Bluff (35), Indiana State (27), Stephen F. Austin (19), McNeese State (16), Penn (13), Alcorn State (12), Jacksonville State (11), Samford (10), Norfolk State (7), Alabama State (7), UC Davis (7), Southern Illinois (6), Maine (5), Albany (5), Tennessee Tech (5), UT Martin (4), Gardner Webb (4), Sacramento State (3), Hampton (3), San Diego (2), Jackson State (1), Missouri State (1), Brown (1).
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