Who would have ever guessed UT-Martin would upset Jacksonville State on the road last weekend in a 34-31 thriller. No one right? Not quite. If you had tuned in to last week's upset pick, you would have known that result was a possibility. Skyhawks quarterback Keon Howard tossed 3 touchdowns in the victory and firmly planted himself into the conversation for Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year.
Now that UT-Martin has entered the rankings, can it stay there? The chance to defend its honor as a top-25 team arrives this week with Murray State coming to town for a homecoming matchup.
Holy Cross also seems to have gotten its proverbial groove back after dismantling Monmouth 45-15 in Week 4. The Hawks and Crusaders were matched up in a pivotal game for both sides, and as a result, Monmouth has dropped out of the rankings for Week 5. But has Holy Cross reentered? Let's find out!
1. Sam Houston (3-0): The Bearkats were able to outgun Central Arkansas 45-35 in a back-and-forth affair.
2. South Dakota State (3-0): The Jackrabbits blanked Indiana State 44-0. The defense has allowed just one score since giving up 23 points in Week 1 against Colorado State.
3. James Madison (3-0): Coming off of an open week, the Dukes are back in action as they head up to New Hampshire to take on the Wildcats.
4. Montana (3-0): The Grizzlies took control early against Cal Poly and cruised 39-7, looking dominant at the point of attack.
5. North Dakota State (3-0): The Bison begin conference play coming off an open week. We'll see if their offense can keep humming against their in-state rival, and now Missouri Valley Conference foe, North Dakota.
6. Montana State (3-1): In what was a breakout passing performance for quarterback Matthew McKay, the Bobcats were able to get the 30-17 win against a scrappy Portland State squad.
7. UC Davis (4-0): UC Davis wasn't clicking on offense, but kudos to that Aggies defense for picking off Weber State quarterback Kylen Weisser twice in a 17-14 rock fight.
8. Southern Illinois (3-1): Coming back from a 17-0 deficit against Illinois State to win 35-17 shows you the grit and talent of the Salukis. Hopefully, they don't become the Cardiac Salukis every week.
9. Eastern Washington (4-0): The Eagles have the top scoring offense in the FCS, averaging just over 52 points per game. Quarterback Eric Barriere is averaging four touchdown passes per game.
10. East Tennessee State (4-0): ETSU's secondary got its biggest test so far against Samford, needing overtime for a 55-48 win. The good news for the Bucs is the always-ready running back Quay Holmes scored the winning touchdown.
11. Villanova (3-1): Villanova put up a good fight against Penn State, but just kept giving up too many chunk plays in the 38-17 loss.
12. North Dakota (2-1): The Fighting Hawks play North Dakota State for the Nickel Trophy. North Dakota leads the all-time series 62-47-3.
13. Missouri State (2-1): The Bears avoided the upset by fighting off a pesky South Dakota squad 31-23. As a result, they remain serious contenders in the Missouri Valley.
14. Northern Iowa (2-1): As the sixth Missouri Valley team in the Top 25, the Panthers finally begin their conference slate this weekend as they host Youngstown State.
15. Southeastern Louisiana (2-1): The Lions have an in-state matchup this week against McNeese State. I'm interested to see what their defense looks like coming off of an open week following a dominating performance against Central Connecticut State two weeks ago.
16. Rhode Island (3-0): Coming off of an open week, the Rams play Stony Brook in an upset alert game. Rhode Island must be sharp from start to finish to avoid getting knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten.
17. VMI (3-1): The Keydets keep finding different ways to win every week. FCS Coach of the Year Scott Wachenheim has done a great job turning around this program.
18. UT-Martin (3-1): Skyhawks coach Jason Simmons has seen a lot in his 15 years at the helm, but I'm willing to bet that he's more excited about the potential of this squad than others.
19. Incarnate Word (3-1): As long as quarterback Cameron Ward keeps slinging it around, the Cardinals will always have a chance to win. This is a team that no one wants to face.
20. Alabama A&M (3-0): Quarterback Aqeel Glass and receiver Dee Anderson make a fantastic duo. Anderson leads the team with four touchdown receptions on the season.
21. Richmond (2-2): The Spiders played hard against Virginia Tech in a 21-10 loss. Moral victories aren't a thing that any coach would subscribe to, but this team has shown that its success is legit and not just cosmetic.
22. New Hampshire (3-1): I am still trying to find out what did the Wildcats do to make Pitt that mad. I expect UNH left the game film of its 77-7 beatdown at Heinz Field. There's no need to carry that toxicity back home across state lines with you.
23. Jacksonville State (2-2): The Gamecocks rollercoaster never stops, but at least they are highly entertaining. I'm sure coach John Grass just wants his team to find a level of consistency moving forward.
24. Jackson State (3-1): Delta State made the Tigers work harder than they wanted to in a 24-17 win. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders had his best statistical day of the season, going 25-of-36 passing for 251 yards and three touchdowns.
25. Kennesaw State (2-1): The Owls got an impressive win against Wofford two weeks ago, and will look to rack up another one against Jacksonville State. The last time these two teams played, they needed five overtimes in a 60-52 thriller back in 2018.
Just Missed the Cut: Delaware, Princeton, Holy Cross, Merrimack, William & Mary
The Czar's Game of the Week
Montana at Eastern Washington: Talk about a perfect clash of styles. Montana's stingy defense, which has not allowed more than seven points in a game, meets Eastern Washington's potent offense. This is a top-10 battle that also happens to be a Big Sky Conference matchup as well. The Grizzlies are led defensively by redshirt junior linebacker Patrick O'Connell, who leads the team in tackles (28), TFLs (9.5) and sacks (5.5). Montana thrives off pressure, forcing quick decisions in the passing game.
Eastern Washington's passing attack is led by Barriere, a Walter Payton Award Candidate, but don't forget about running back Dennis Merritt. The redshirt senior is having himself a season, averaging 6.6 YPC and over 130 yards of total offense per game with nine touchdowns.
This will be a game about possessions, and if there is one weakness the Grizzlies have shown this year, it is being able to sustain drives consistently. Look for EWU's offense to take full advantage of having multiple opportunities with the ball against Montana. Pick: Eastern Washington 21, Montana 17
The Czar's Upset Alert
Tarleton State at Eastern Kentucky: Teams that can score will always have a puncher's chance and Tarleton State can flat-out score. The Texans are led by their ground game, and the dual-headed attack of running backs Jayy McDonald and Daniel Wright Jr. can hit the home run on any given play. The Colonels have given more than 148 yards per game on the ground. Better get your running shoes ready! Pick: Tarleton State 31, EKU 20
The Czar's SportsLine Lock of the Week
Sam Houston vs Stephen F. Austin: The Battle of the Piney Woods is one of the more underrated rivalries in college football. This game has been played at NRG Stadium in Houston since 2010. The Bearkats have won the last nine matchups and 17 of the last 20. Can the Lumberjacks buck the trend? And if so, can they keep it under the total? Check out my pick plus every Week 5 pick on SportsLine.
