North Dakota State is alone on top of the Gridiron Power Index (GPI), the index ranking for the NCAA Division I FCS and a top indicator of at-large playoff selection. Georgia Southern is ranked second and the media and coach's poll leader Eastern Washington follows in third. According to the unbiased computer rankings NDSU is the unanimous best and GPI #4 Cal Poly is second. The polls have the CP Mustangs in eleventh.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference has seven teams in the top 25; the Big Sky Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association have four teams each; the Southern Conference has three; the Ohio Valley and Southland Conference have two each; the Northeast and Big South Conferences plus the Ivy League each have one. (Games through 10/20/12)
For conference average rankings, the Missouri Valley Football Conference stays ahead with the Southern and Big Sky Conferences at two and three. The Southland Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association are in a virtual tie at fourth and fifth and the Ohio Valley Conference is close behind in sixth.
The Final 2012 GPI will be released once all the college football games have been played, in January 2013.
| Rank | Team | Conf | W/L | Total | ARC | LAZ | SAG | MAS | ASH | KEE | SEL | BRN | FCP | SNW |
| 1 | N Dakota St (7) | MVFC | 6-1 | 1.57 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | Ga Southern | SOCON | 6-1 | 3.71 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | E Washington (2) | BIG SKY | 6-1 | 4.00 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Cal Poly | BIG SKY | 7-0 | 4.86 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 11 |
| 5 | Sam Houston St | SLC | 5-2 | 6.71 | 37 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | Montana St | BIG SKY | 6-1 | 7.71 | 46 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 4 |
| 7 | Northern Arizona | BIG SKY | 6-1 | 8.14 | 31 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| 8 | Indiana St | MVFC | 6-2 | 9.29 | 31 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 15 |
| 9 | Wofford | SOCON | 6-1 | 9.57 | 52 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| 10 | Old Dominion | CAA | 6-1 | 12.14 | 72 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 12 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| 11 | Cent Arkansas | SLC | 6-2 | 13.71 | 68 | 9 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 29 | 14 | 14 |
| 12 | Stony Brook | BSO | 7-1 | 14.86 | 85 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 23 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 10 |
| 13 | S Dakota St | MVFC | 5-2 | 15.57 | 57 | 13 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
| 14 | Appalachian St | SOCON | 5-3 | 17.14 | 89 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 23 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 15T | New Hampshire | CAA | 6-2 | 18.29 | 104 | 22 | 15 | 23 | 27 | 17 | 28 | 15 | 12 | 12 |
| 15T | Illinois St | MVFC | 6-2 | 18.29 | 94 | 11 | 26 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 34 | 17 | 17 |
| 17 | Northern Iowa | MVFC | 2-5 | 19.29 | 83 | 35 | 6 | 13 | 25 | 25 | 14 | 6 | 26 | 26 |
| 18 | E Kentucky | OVC | 6-2 | 19.43 | 100 | 16 | 28 | 18 | 12 | 28 | 13 | 25 | 18 | 18 |
| 19 | S Illinois | MVFC | 5-3 | 20.14 | 89 | 25 | 23 | 12 | 13 | 19 | 12 | 22 | 26 | 26 |
| 20 | Villanova | CAA | 6-2 | 20.57 | 102 | 23 | 13 | 22 | 24 | 16 | 26 | 17 | 23 | 19 |
| 21 | Youngstown St | MVFC | 4-3 | 21.14 | 104 | 27 | 21 | 14 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 31 | 22 | 22 |
| 22T | Albany | NEC | 6-1 | 22.43 | 113 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 36 | 15 | 33 | 20 | 20 | 24 |
| 22T | James Madison | CAA | 5-2 | 22.43 | 138 | 24 | 18 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 19 | 10 | 9 |
| 24 | Harvard | IVY | 5-1 | 22.71 | 109 | 10 | 9 | 29 | 39 | 22 | 40 | 7 | 24 | 26 |
| 25 | Tennessee St | OVC | 7-1 | 22.86 | 118 | 7 | 32 | 33 | 7 | 26 | 20 | 37 | 21 | 21 |
| 26 | TN Martin | OVC | 6-2 | 23.43 | 112 | 18 | 34 | 21 | 10 | 31 | 8 | 32 | 26 | 26 |
| 27 | Chattanooga | SOCON | 4-3 | 24.00 | 116 | 32 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 9 | 26 | 26 |
| 28 | Lehigh | PL | 8-0 | 26.57 | 172 | 19 | 33 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 39 | 53 | 6 | 8 |
| 29 | Richmond | CAA | 5-3 | 26.86 | 137 | 29 | 16 | 28 | 33 | 29 | 30 | 21 | 26 | 25 |
| 30 | Samford | SOCON | 5-3 | 28.29 | 146 | 26 | 31 | 34 | 26 | 27 | 35 | 28 | 26 | 26 |
| 31T | North Dakota | BIG SKY | 4-4 | 29.29 | 153 | 36 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 34 | 24 | 35 | 26 | 26 |
| 31T | SF Austin | SLC | 3-4 | 29.29 | 153 | 39 | 39 | 25 | 40 | 14 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 26 |
| 33 | E Illinois | OVC | 4-3 | 29.43 | 154 | 31 | 37 | 31 | 18 | 36 | 19 | 39 | 26 | 26 |
| 34 | Towson | CAA | 3-4 | 30.86 | 168 | 38 | 27 | 38 | 41 | 24 | 42 | 18 | 25 | 23 |
| 35 | McNeese St | SLC | 4-3 | 32.00 | 172 | 30 | 40 | 27 | 35 | 38 | 29 | 45 | 26 | 26 |
| 36 | Jacksonville St | OVC | 4-3 | 32.29 | 174 | 40 | 42 | 36 | 20 | 35 | 21 | 43 | 26 | 26 |
| 37 | The Citadel | SOCON | 4-3 | 32.43 | 175 | 37 | 44 | 30 | 28 | 33 | 31 | 51 | 26 | 26 |
| 38 | Murray St | OVC | 3-4 | 35.00 | 193 | 42 | 49 | 43 | 34 | 42 | 32 | 30 | 26 | 26 |
| 39T | Bethune-Cookman | MEAC | 5-2 | 35.14 | 194 | 28 | 43 | 56 | 32 | 41 | 45 | 33 | 26 | 26 |
| 39T | Sacramento St | BIG SKY | 5-3 | 35.14 | 195 | 43 | 48 | 37 | 37 | 39 | 38 | 38 | 26 | 25 |
| 41 | Southern Utah | BIG SKY | 3-5 | 36.00 | 200 | 41 | 38 | 39 | 42 | 40 | 44 | 36 | 26 | 26 |
| 42 | Montana | BIG SKY | 3-5 | 36.57 | 204 | 47 | 30 | 41 | 47 | 43 | 43 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| 43 | Missouri St | MVFC | 2-6 | 37.00 | 207 | 54 | 50 | 35 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 46 | 26 | 26 |
| 44 | Delaware | CAA | 5-2 | 37.14 | 224 | 33 | 36 | 45 | 44 | 49 | 53 | 50 | 16 | 20 |
| 45 | Princeton | IVY | 4-2 | 37.43 | 210 | 34 | 25 | 44 | 45 | 48 | 47 | 40 | 26 | 26 |
| 46 | UC Davis | BIG SKY | 3-5 | 38.57 | 218 | 49 | 45 | 42 | 43 | 46 | 37 | 42 | 26 | 26 |
| 47 | Portland St | BIG SKY | 2-5 | 41.71 | 240 | 59 | 46 | 50 | 50 | 45 | 49 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
| 48 | W Illinois | MVFC | 3-4 | 42.57 | 246 | 46 | 70 | 46 | 46 | 50 | 50 | 54 | 26 | 26 |
| 49 | Elon | SOCON | 3-4 | 42.86 | 248 | 58 | 51 | 48 | 48 | 44 | 46 | 55 | 26 | 26 |
| 50 | Colgate | PL | 4-3 | 44.57 | 260 | 56 | 47 | 51 | 62 | 47 | 59 | 47 | 26 | 26 |
| 51 | Maine | CAA | 2-5 | 44.71 | 261 | 71 | 35 | 49 | 65 | 51 | 55 | 41 | 26 | 26 |
| 52 | Coastal Car | BSO | 3-4 | 45.86 | 269 | 55 | 53 | 53 | 52 | 56 | 48 | 58 | 26 | 26 |
| 53 | Weber St | BIG SKY | 1-7 | 46.14 | 271 | 81 | 55 | 52 | 60 | 52 | 52 | 48 | 26 | 26 |
| 54 | Northwestern St | SLC | 3-4 | 46.71 | 275 | 52 | 54 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 56 | 60 | 26 | 26 |
| 55 | SE Louisiana | SLC | 3-4 | 47.29 | 279 | 60 | 79 | 47 | 49 | 54 | 41 | 69 | 26 | 26 |
| 56 | Fordham | PL | 4-3 | 48.29 | 286 | 48 | 57 | 61 | 56 | 58 | 54 | 65 | 26 | 26 |
| 57 | Furman | SOCON | 2-6 | 48.43 | 287 | 74 | 56 | 57 | 63 | 53 | 58 | 44 | 26 | 26 |
| 58 | Brown | IVY | 4-2 | 49.00 | 291 | 51 | 52 | 59 | 64 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 26 | 26 |
| 59 | William & Mary | CAA | 2-5 | 51.57 | 309 | 67 | 41 | 58 | 72 | 67 | 68 | 49 | 26 | 26 |
| 60 | South Dakota | MVFC | 1-6 | 52.14 | 313 | 78 | 64 | 54 | 68 | 68 | 57 | 56 | 26 | 26 |
| 61 | NC Central | MEAC | 5-2 | 52.43 | 315 | 64 | 71 | 65 | 51 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 26 | 26 |
| 62 | Drake | PFL | 6-2 | 52.57 | 316 | 45 | 62 | 60 | 73 | 60 | 61 | 79 | 26 | 26 |
| 63 | Alabama A&M | SWAC | 6-1 | 53.00 | 319 | 44 | 65 | 85 | 53 | 63 | 67 | 71 | 26 | 26 |
| 64 | Delaware St | MEAC | 4-3 | 53.71 | 324 | 53 | 68 | 77 | 57 | 74 | 66 | 59 | 26 | 26 |
| 65 | Ark Pine Bluff | SWAC | 5-2 | 54.00 | 326 | 50 | 69 | 82 | 54 | 66 | 65 | 72 | 26 | 26 |
| 66 | Lafayette | PL | 5-2 | 55.14 | 334 | 62 | 59 | 62 | 69 | 71 | 70 | 77 | 26 | 26 |
| 67 | N Colorado | BIG SKY | 2-5 | 55.71 | 338 | 79 | 76 | 63 | 67 | 69 | 63 | 57 | 26 | 26 |
| 68 | Cornell | IVY | 3-3 | 56.00 | 340 | 65 | 60 | 67 | 75 | 75 | 71 | 62 | 26 | 26 |
| 69 | Liberty | BSO | 3-4 | 57.00 | 347 | 75 | 58 | 73 | 77 | 64 | 77 | 52 | 26 | 26 |
| 70 | SE Missouri St | OVC | 2-5 | 57.29 | 349 | 83 | 78 | 64 | 58 | 88 | 51 | 66 | 26 | 26 |
| 71 | Duquesne | NEC | 5-2 | 58.14 | 355 | 73 | 66 | 68 | 78 | 65 | 73 | 75 | 26 | 26 |
| 72 | San Diego | PFL | 4-3 | 59.29 | 363 | 61 | 61 | 76 | 83 | 70 | 75 | 81 | 26 | 26 |
| 73 | S Carolina St | MEAC | 3-5 | 60.43 | 371 | 70 | 74 | 81 | 61 | 72 | 74 | 82 | 26 | 26 |
| 74T | Howard | MEAC | 5-2 | 60.86 | 374 | 57 | 87 | 95 | 59 | 73 | 79 | 76 | 26 | 26 |
| 74T | Alabama St | SWAC | 4-3 | 60.86 | 374 | 63 | 67 | 101 | 71 | 89 | 83 | 64 | 26 | 26 |
| 76 | Tennessee Tech | OVC | 2-5 | 61.00 | 375 | 90 | 77 | 74 | 70 | 87 | 64 | 67 | 26 | 26 |
| 77 | Monmouth | NEC | 3-4 | 62.14 | 383 | 77 | 63 | 72 | 87 | 82 | 82 | 70 | 26 | 26 |
| 78 | Florida A&M | MEAC | 3-5 | 62.71 | 387 | 68 | 73 | 96 | 66 | 80 | 86 | 80 | 26 | 26 |
| 79 | Wagner | NEC | 4-3 | 63.00 | 389 | 84 | 75 | 66 | 84 | 76 | 80 | 74 | 26 | 26 |
| 80T | Dartmouth | IVY | 4-2 | 63.14 | 390 | 72 | 72 | 78 | 85 | 77 | 88 | 78 | 26 | 26 |
| 80T | Lamar | SLC | 3-5 | 63.14 | 390 | 80 | 90 | 69 | 79 | 86 | 72 | 73 | 26 | 26 |
| 82 | W Carolina | SOCON | 1-7 | 63.57 | 393 | 93 | 83 | 70 | 76 | 81 | 69 | 83 | 26 | 26 |
| 83 | Jacksonville | PFL | 6-2 | 63.86 | 395 | 69 | 81 | 75 | 86 | 57 | 84 | 98 | 26 | 26 |
| 84 | Nicholls St | SLC | 1-5 | 65.43 | 406 | 85 | 103 | 71 | 80 | 62 | 76 | 94 | 26 | 26 |
| 85 | Jackson St | SWAC | 4-4 | 67.57 | 421 | 76 | 86 | 103 | 74 | 79 | 87 | 93 | 26 | 26 |
| 86 | Georgetown | PL | 3-5 | 68.86 | 430 | 91 | 82 | 79 | 90 | 93 | 78 | 88 | 26 | 26 |
| 87 | Butler | PFL | 6-2 | 69.29 | 433 | 66 | 89 | 83 | 91 | 78 | 92 | 99 | 26 | 26 |
| 88 | St Francis | NEC | 3-5 | 69.86 | 437 | 92 | 85 | 80 | 95 | 83 | 91 | 86 | 26 | 26 |
| 89 | Penn | IVY | 2-4 | 70.57 | 442 | 87 | 80 | 84 | 92 | 90 | 93 | 89 | 26 | 26 |
| 90 | NC A&T | MEAC | 3-4 | 71.14 | 446 | 82 | 101 | 100 | 81 | 94 | 89 | 68 | 26 | 26 |
| 91 | Morgan St | MEAC | 3-4 | 71.29 | 447 | 86 | 94 | 90 | 82 | 95 | 85 | 92 | 26 | 26 |
| 92 | Dayton | PFL | 4-4 | 71.43 | 448 | 88 | 84 | 88 | 101 | 85 | 100 | 87 | 26 | 26 |
| 93 | Gardner Webb | BSO | 1-6 | 76.00 | 480 | 100 | 98 | 93 | 99 | 84 | 95 | 95 | 26 | 26 |
| 94 | Georgia St | CAA | 1-7 | 76.14 | 481 | 109 | 93 | 97 | 97 | 92 | 102 | 91 | 26 | 26 |
| 95 | Holy Cross | PL | 1-6 | 76.43 | 483 | 98 | 88 | 89 | 107 | 107 | 99 | 90 | 26 | 26 |
| 96 | Hampton | MEAC | 1-5 | 77.86 | 493 | 102 | 102 | 106 | 94 | 98 | 97 | 84 | 26 | 26 |
| 97T | Southern Univ | SWAC | 3-4 | 78.00 | 494 | 89 | 99 | 110 | 88 | 105 | 94 | 107 | 26 | 26 |
| 97T | Norfolk St | MEAC | 2-6 | 78.00 | 494 | 94 | 105 | 108 | 93 | 97 | 101 | 97 | 26 | 26 |
| 99 | Robert Morris | NEC | 2-5 | 78.00 | 494 | 97 | 97 | 92 | 105 | 91 | 105 | 103 | 26 | 26 |
| 100 | Yale | IVY | 2-4 | 78.14 | 495 | 101 | 95 | 86 | 102 | 102 | 96 | 101 | 26 | 26 |
| 101 | Charleston So | BSO | 3-4 | 78.43 | 497 | 95 | 109 | 98 | 100 | 96 | 98 | 105 | 26 | 26 |
| 102 | Sacred Heart | NEC | 2-5 | 79.29 | 503 | 103 | 96 | 87 | 104 | 101 | 103 | 100 | 26 | 26 |
| 103 | Idaho St | BIG SKY | 1-6 | 79.71 | 506 | 108 | 110 | 91 | 98 | 99 | 90 | 110 | 26 | 26 |
| 104T | Austin Peay | OVC | 0-7 | 80.00 | 508 | 106 | 108 | 105 | 89 | 100 | 81 | 111 | 26 | 26 |
| 104T | Bucknell | PL | 1-6 | 80.00 | 508 | 99 | 92 | 99 | 111 | 109 | 109 | 85 | 26 | 26 |
| 106 | Columbia | IVY | 1-5 | 81.57 | 519 | 96 | 100 | 102 | 109 | 110 | 106 | 102 | 26 | 26 |
| 107 | Bryant | NEC | 2-6 | 82.43 | 525 | 114 | 106 | 94 | 113 | 103 | 107 | 96 | 26 | 26 |
| 108 | Central Conn | NEC | 1-6 | 83.71 | 534 | 112 | 104 | 104 | 110 | 104 | 108 | 108 | 26 | 26 |
| 109 | Marist | PFL | 2-5 | 84.29 | 538 | 105 | 91 | 107 | 116 | 111 | 111 | 104 | 26 | 26 |
| 110 | Alcorn St | SWAC | 3-5 | 85.14 | 544 | 104 | 114 | 114 | 96 | 108 | 104 | 116 | 26 | 26 |
| 111 | Prairie View | SWAC | 2-5 | 85.43 | 546 | 111 | 111 | 115 | 103 | 106 | 112 | 106 | 26 | 26 |
| 112 | VMI | BSO | 2-5 | 86.29 | 552 | 107 | 115 | 109 | 106 | 113 | 110 | 113 | 26 | 26 |
| 113 | MS Valley St | SWAC | 2-5 | 87.57 | 561 | 110 | 112 | 116 | 108 | 112 | 113 | 114 | 26 | 26 |
| 114 | Morehead St | PFL | 1-6 | 88.43 | 567 | 113 | 107 | 111 | 119 | 114 | 114 | 115 | 26 | 26 |
| 115 | Rhode Island | CAA | 0-7 | 88.86 | 570 | 115 | 113 | 112 | 114 | 116 | 117 | 109 | 26 | 26 |
| 116 | Presbyterian | BSO | 2-6 | 89.86 | 577 | 116 | 117 | 113 | 117 | 115 | 116 | 112 | 26 | 26 |
| 117 | TX Southern | SWAC | 1-6 | 91.14 | 586 | 117 | 118 | 118 | 112 | 118 | 115 | 118 | 26 | 26 |
| 118 | Grambling | SWAC | 1-6 | 91.71 | 590 | 118 | 116 | 119 | 118 | 119 | 118 | 117 | 26 | 26 |
| 119 | Savannah St | MEAC | 1-6 | 92.43 | 595 | 119 | 120 | 120 | 115 | 117 | 119 | 120 | 26 | 26 |
| 120 | Davidson | PFL | 1-6 | 92.86 | 598 | 121 | 119 | 117 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 119 | 26 | 26 |
| 121 | Campbell | PFL | 1-6 | 94.14 | 607 | 120 | 122 | 121 | 122 | 121 | 122 | 121 | 26 | 26 |
| 122 | Valparaiso | PFL | 0-7 | 94.29 | 608 | 122 | 121 | 122 | 121 | 122 | 121 | 122 | 26 | 26 |
Column Definitions
Total = (ARC + 2 polls used)/7
ARC (Adjusted Rankings of the Computers) = Sum of 5 computer ranking numbers (removing the max and min number from the 7 used)
Computer rankings:
MAS = Massey, ASH = Ashburn, SAG = Sagarin, LAZ = Laz Index, KEE = Keeper, SEL = Self, BRN = Born.
Polls:
FCP = FCS Coaches,
SNW = Sports Network
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