FRISCO, Texas — The FCS Playoff Committee released it's first Top 10 Rankings of the season Wednesday with current Southland leader SFA earning a placement at No. 4. This is the first of two initial rankings from the committee released to the public with the second list to be revealed on Thursday, Nov. 5 during College Football Live at 1 p.m. on ESPN 2.

The undefeated Lumberjacks followed Montana State, Tarleton and Youngstown State in the rankings. The No. 4 ranking is the highest for an SLC team in the midseason Top 10 rankings since Sam Houston slotted in to No. 4 in the second reveal of the 2021 season. 

SFA has started the 2026 campaign 7-0, most recently shutting out Nicholls 56-0 in Week 7 to match its best start since the 1995 season. The 'Jacks are one of three remaining undefeateds in FCS (Tarleton, Harvard) and boast the nation's longest regular season winning streak at 17 games. Colby Carthel's team has climbed to No. 2 in both the Stats Perform and AFCA Coaches Poll. 

This year in selecting at-large teams, the FCS championship committee will consider each team's won-lost record, their strength of schedule, Regional Advisory Committee rankings/feedback and games reviewed by the committee on video. A secondary tool are four metrics that may be considered, all including only games from the current season (KPI, Massey Ratings and ESPN's two Football Power Indexes).

The 2026 championship field will consist of 11 automatic qualifiers and 13 at-large selections with the FCS Selection Show airing Sunday, November 22 at Noon ET on ESPNU.