- BEST IN STATE -

FCS Power Rankings: Western Carolina, NC Central duke it out for top spot

Elon also coming on strong, will host top-five foe this weekend

Published

September 25, 2023

NC Central has achieved its highest ever ranking in the AFCA coaches poll, moving up to No. 13 this week. (Photo/graphic courtesy NCCU athletics).

North Carolina Central and Western Carolina football made significant leaps in the major FCS Top 25 polls this week.

The Eagles moved up six places to No. 13 in the latest AFCA coaches rankings following their 45-3 shellacking of Mississippi Valley State in the Circle City Classic, played in Indianapolis. This represents the highest ranking in school history. Central also bumped up three slots to No. 15 in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25.

Western Carolina meanwhile jumped into the AFCA rankings for the first time – at No. 21 – following a 77-point outburst against Charleston Southern. The Catamounts moved up six spots to No. 17 in the Stats Perform rankings.

Not surprisingly, the Eagles and Catamounts lead our latest NC Football News ‘Best In State’ power rankings for the FCS. But we’ve flipped the order. We’ve put Western Carolina on top of the state – for now.

It’s not really about moving Central down as it is about elevating WCU. The resumes between the two schools are pretty similar at first glance. Both took it on the chin about Power Five FBS opponents and both have put up gaudy numbers in three impressive victories outside of that.

We give Western Carolina the slight edge, for now, based on the strength of its wins.

The Catamounts beat what was then a top-10 Samford team decisively, 30-7. They followed that up with a road victory at Eastern Kentucky, a team receiving votes in the FCS polls that had challenged unbeaten Kentucky from the SEC. This past Saturday, WCU worked scoreboard operators to death by notching 11 touchdowns against a Charleston Southern team that went toe-to-toe with Clemson for a half.

It’s hard to overlook those impressive results.

North Carolina Central may still be the top FCS team in our state by season’s end, but the Eagles haven’t faced nearly the quality of competition that Western Carolina has at this juncture. Of course there is still a long way to go in the 2023 season and a lot of precincts still to report.

( For what it’s worth, the latest Massey Ratings concur that Western Carolina has the strongest FCS team in the state. Their computer formula lists WCU at No. 26 overall, with Elon right behind at 27, Campbell 47, Gardner-Webb 53 and NC Central 55).

Here are our (non computer-generated, very fallible) FCS power rankings for the week:

1. Western Carolina (3-1, 1-0 SoCon): The strength of schedule won’t get a boost this week as the Catamounts visit The Citadel, which is winless. A road trip to Chattanooga on the first Saturday in October will show whether this hot start has staying power.

2. North Carolina Central (3-1, 0-0 MEAC): The Eagles turned to Walker Harris at quarterback on Saturday and he shined in an NFL Stadium, throwing five touchdown passes. This week, NCCU will welcome our No. 4 ranked team, Campbell in an intriguing non-conference matchup that should help to sort out our state FCS rankings.

3. Elon (2-2, 2-0 CAA): The Phoenix have righted the ship after losses at Wake Forest and Gardner-Webb. A two-game win streak against NC A&T and Campbell pushes them up to No. 3 in our rankings. William & Mary, ranked in the top five in both FCS polls, visits Saturday. Elon upset the Tribe a season ago and could start to make their case as the top FCS team in the state with another one.

4. Campbell (2-2, 1-2 CAA): The Camels made a valiant comeback against Elon on Saturday but fell by four points. This is one of the most explosive teams in the state thus far, and it will be interesting to see how their weapons fare against NC Central’s stout defense.

5. Gardner-Webb (1-3, 0-1 Big South/OVC): What to make of the Bulldogs? They gave App State all they could handle, then outlasted Elon in their home opener before losing the next two.

We here at NC Football News headquarters have to wonder how much losing at Tennessee State in the conference opener on a last-second field goal took out of this team. While the ‘Dogs were underdogs at East Carolina this past Saturday, we certainly didn’t expect them to get shut out and post virtually no offense (107 yards). A bye week may be just what the doctor ordered.

6. Davidson (2-2, 1-0 Pioneer League): In terms of sheer numbers, the Wildcats outdid Western Carolina on Saturday, scoring 84 points and rolling up more than 700 total yards in win over St. Andrews. The Wildcats simply overwhelmed their NAIA opponent in every phase. This Saturday brings a date with Pioneer League rival San Diego (1-0, 1-3 overall) at home.

7. NC A&T (0-3, 0-1 CAA): There is some rumbling around the program after such a sluggish start. Did the program do the right thing leaving its roots in the MEAC for an FCS super conference? On the field, NC A&T returns from a bye week to face Norfolk State (2-2), a former MEAC rival, in what it hopes will be a get-right game.