WACO, Texas - North Dakota State, coming off its sixth national title in seven seasons, will begin the 2018 football season ranked No. 1 in the first-ever American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches Poll released Monday, Aug. 13.

The AFCA is beginning administration of the FCS Coaches Poll for the first time in addition to its polls for NCAA Division II and Division III. The FCS poll was previously administered by the Southern Conference.

Last season's national runner-up, James Madison, starts the season at No. 2 followed by South Dakota State third, Sam Houston State fourth and Kennesaw State rounding out the top five.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference has five teams ranked in the preseason coaches poll. Northern Iowa is 12th, Illinois State 20th and Youngstown State 24th.
 

2018 AFCA FCS Coaches Preseason Poll
	Team (First-Place Votes)	W-L	Pts	Prev
1.	North Dakota St. (23)	14-1	647	1
2.	James Madison (3)	14-1	623	2
3.	South Dakota St.	11-3	579	4
4.	Sam Houston St.	12-2	557	3
5.	Kennesaw St.	12-2	543	9
6.	Jacksonville St.	10-3	530	10
7.	Eastern Washington	7-4	454	22
8.	Weber St.	11-3	446	5
9.	New Hampshire	9-5	430	15
10.	Samford	8-4	393	17
11.	Wofford	10-3	340	7
12.	Northern Iowa	8-5	338	19
13.	Elon	8-4	319	21
14.	North Carolina A&T	12-0	292	6
15.	Central Arkansas	10-2	269	8
16.	Delaware	7-4	257	NR
17.	Nicholls St.	8-4	241	23
18.	McNeese St.	9-2	187	18
19.	Villanova	5-6	165	NR
20.	Illinois St.	6-5	144	NR
21.	Furman	8-5	128	20
22.	Stony Brook	10-3	120	11
23.	Austin Peay	8-4	119	NR
24.	Youngstown St.	6-5	88	NR
25.	Montana	7-4	67	NR

Others receiving votes: Idaho, 41; Northern Arizona, 36; Yale, 22; Grambling St., 14; Monmouth (N.J.), 12; Southern Utah, 11; Sacramento St., 9; Colgate, 8; South Dakota, 6; San Diego, 5; Richmond, 4; Western Illinois, 3; Western Carolina, 2; Lehigh, 1.