The 2025 FCS season was filled with perhaps more surprises than any year in recent memory and, a handful of those surprises came in the form of teams who blew past expectations. Several squads around the country
proved the preseason voters wrong by how well they did and where they ended up by season’s end. These ten, however, did an exceptionally good job and stamped themselves as teams to pay attention to moving forward.
10. Villanova
Last season was a magical one in many ways for Villanova as it bid farewell to the CAA. The Wildcats, as they typically seem to, quietly earned their way into the postseason, winning nine games. Once in the playoffs, though, they really turned it on, dismantling Harvard at home before winning back-to-back road games against top five-seeded Lehigh and Tarleton State alike. It all came to an end in the semifinals but that was as far as ‘Nova has been in 15 years. The future is looking bright for the Wildcats who are Patriot League bound as they have been able to retain some solid talent like running back Ja’briel Mace and linebacker Turner Inge. With Mark Ferrante still running the show, there is reason to believe that Villanova will be able to compete right away in their new conference.
9. Yale
Everyone knew that 2025 might be the year that the Ivy League snagged its first ever playoff win but few thought Yale would be the team that got it done. The Bulldogs, though, stole away the conference title on the last week of the regular season with a surprisingly convincing win over rival Harvard to get into the postseason and, once there, delivered one of the greatest playoff comebacks the FCS has ever seen. Yale rallied from a 42-14 deficit in a wild second half at Youngstown State to win 43-42. Star running back Josh Pitsenburger was the primary catalyst for the offense last year and was a huge reason why they got all the way to the second round where they gave eventual champion Montana State a heck of a showdown. Last season was a special one for the Bulldogs and has seemed to set a solid foundation for the program to make more playoff runs in the years to come.
8. Prairie View A&M
Lately it seems that everyone just pencils Jackson State in for the Celebration Bowl but last season it was Prairie View A&M, led by first year head coach Tremaine Jackson, that had something to say about that. The Panthers strung together an impressive 9-3 regular season record and made it to the SWAC Championship game for the third time in five years. This time, however, Prairie View won it and upset JSU to get to their first Celebration Bowl ever. Despite falling in an epic 4OT shootout with SC State, the Panthers still set a major new standard that program hasn’t really seen in quite sometime. The defense was stifling, especially up front and the offense tapped into their potential in a way they haven’t been able to as of late. Jackson has hopes high and, as of right now, there isn’t a whole lot of reason to think that they can’t get back to Atlanta in 2026.
7. Alabama State
Also making unexpected waves in the SWAC last season was Alabama State. The Hornets were right there in the conference race at the end and, with a 10-2 overall record, could have actually been considered for the FCS playoffs had they not had to play in the annual Turkey Day Classic at roughly the same time. Wins over Southern, Florida A&M and eventual league champ Prairie View A&M vaulted ASU into the Celebration Bowl conversation and, despite them falling just short in that chase, 2025 was still a season to write home about in many ways for Eddie Robinson Jr’s team. Alabama State’s offense finished atop the SWAC in several categories including points per game (42.4), yards per game (462) and total touchdowns (63). QB Andrew Body was sensational, only throwing one pick all season while running back Marcus Harris II found the end zone 15 times. All in all it was a terrific year for the Hornets.
6. Presbyterian
Even though they ended up missing out on a postseason bid, what Presbyterian managed to do last fall was nothing short of spectacular, especially by Pioneer League standards. The Blue Hose got themselves on the map early with huge wins over a pair of SoCon teams in back to back weeks at Mercer and Furman respectively. Usually non-scholarship teams from the PFL don’t even get one win like that in a year, let alone two. Presbyterian got outstanding seasons from players like signal caller Collin Hurst who threw for nearly 2,700 yards and 26 touchdowns. Defensive back Caleb Francis was one of the best in the country with five interceptions and a pair of pass breakups as well. The Blue Hose closed it with a 10-2 record and the country took notice. Head coach Steve Englehart got hired away by another team on this list in West Georgia for his successes in Clinton last year.
5. Lamar
Lamar made it clear early on that they would be a problem in the Southland when they upset a then-#4 South Dakota squad. That landmark win was the start of a seven-game win streak that propelled the Cardinals, who entered the season unranked, to as high at the #14 spot. Led by playmakers on both sides of the ball like defensive end Andrew Huff and running back Xavier Coleman, Lamar made only its second-ever playoff appearance last fall. It was a solid and unexpected building block for a program that doesn’t often find itself in the postseason conversation at all. Bright days seem to be ahead for the Cardinals.
4. UTRGV
To say UT Rio Grande Valley started its football era with a bang would be an understatement. The Vaqueros got their program off the ground officially in 2025 and it was wildly successful by nearly every measure. The team sold out every home game and then delivered an exciting product for its fans to boot. UTRGV won nine games and finished fourth in the Southland race last season, an outstanding accomplishment for a team in its inaugural campaign. What is also outstanding is the fact that the team checked in at the top of the league in several major offensive categories. Travis Bush has built a legitimate force and if last fall was any indication of what’s to come, the Vaqueros won’t be going away any time soon. Wins over Prairie View A&M, Incarnate Word and Nichols were the highlight moments in a season full of positives. The standard has been set down in Edinburg and the team has its fans oozing with excitement.
3. Delaware State
The DeSean Jackson effect is very real and it didn’t take long at all to realize that. Jackson, the former NFL star, took over as Delaware State’s head coach and, in Year One, had the Hornets knocking on the door of the Celebration Bowl. It’s been a long time since DSU has even been competitive in the MEAC let alone actually being in the mix for a conference crown, which they were all the way until the season finale. Jackson was able to snag some big names in the portal including former Sacramento State quarterback Kaiden Bennett and it made a difference right away. Delaware State went 8-4 last year, a vast improvement from their one-win season in 2024. As Jackson comes into his second season leading the program, there may be no other HBCU program with as much potential as DSU right now.
2. West Georgia
The rise for West Georgia has been truly stunning. After moving up from the Division II ranks not even two years ago, the Wolves turned heads in a major way in 2025, winning eight games in their second season as an FCS program. UWG did more than proved it belonged in the UAC last season, winning five conference games and appearing in the rankings for a good portion of the year. In fact, West Georgia ranked as high at #16 in the polls at one point. Success breeds success and because of their impressive showing, former head man Joel Taylor got hired away to take the reins for defending SoCon champion Mercer. The Wolves and their fans have to be beyond pleased with what went down last season and the excitement is rightfully high around the program for what lies ahead.
1. Illinois State
No team wowed more down the stretch than national runner-up Illinois State. Even though they entered the year at #6 in the polls, ISU was probably as far from anyone’s pick to make it to the national championship game as anyone when the postseason began. In fact, the Redbirds were one of the last teams into the playoff field after getting blown out by Southern Illinois in the regular season finale. All Brock Spack’s team did from there, though, was win four true road games (making them the first FCS team to ever accomplish the feat) and get to the big one where they darn-near beat Montana State. A shocking 29-28 win over defending champion North Dakota State on the road in the second round gave ISU it’s road warrior moniker that it carried to the very end. Despite not winning their conference and losing four regular season contests, Illinois State came inches away from pulling off the unthinkable in Nashville and, even though they came up on the wrong end of it, they will go down in history as probably the greatest Cinderella run the FCS has ever seen.
