FCS Spring Rankings: Top 25 Power Poll Following Week 8

It's been a rough three weeks of cancellations, postponements and team opt-outs across FCS college football, but here's a calming thought:

The action is about to rev up again, with conference champions and playoff bids to be intact in less than two weeks.

So get your motor running.

Here's the Athlon FCS Power Poll following Week 8 games:

1. North Dakota State

(5-1, 4-1 Missouri Valley)

Previous Ranking: 1

Week 8 Result: Postponed vs. South Dakota State

Next Game: April 10 at No. 13 Northern Iowa

2. James Madison

(4-0, 2-0 CAA)

Previous Ranking: 2

Week 8 Result: Postponed at Richmond

Next Game: TBA

3. South Dakota State

(4-1 Missouri Valley)

Previous Ranking: 3

Week 8 Result: Postponed at North Dakota State

Next Game: April 17 at North Dakota State

4. Weber State

(4-0 Big Sky)

Previous Ranking: 4

Week 8 Result: 19-16 win at Southern Utah

Next Game: April 10 vs. Idaho State

5. North Dakota

(4-1 Missouri Valley)

Previous Ranking: 5

Week 8 Result: Canceled vs. Missouri State

Next Game: April 17 at Youngstown State

6. Sam Houston

(4-0 Southland)

Previous Ranking: 6

Week 8 Result: 24-16 win at Northwestern State

Next Game: April 10 vs. McNeese

7. Delaware

(3-0 CAA)

Previous Ranking: 7

Week 8 Result: Canceled vs. UAlbany

Next Game: April 10 at Delaware State

Team of the Week

8. Eastern Washington

(4-1 Big Sky)

Previous Ranking: 9

Week 8 Result: 32-22 win at UC Davis

The Eagles improved to 9-0 all-time against UC Davis while basically knocking the Aggies out of the playoff picture. Wide receiver Talolo Limu-Jones set career highs with 10 receptions and 154 receiving yards, hauling in two of quarterback Eric Barriere's three touchdown passes.

Next Game: April 10 vs. Idaho

9. Kennesaw State

(4-0, 2-0 Big South)

Previous Ranking: 10

Week 8 Result: 35-0 win over Robert Morris

Next Game: April 10 at No. 14 Monmouth

10. Jacksonville State

(8-2, 5-1 Ohio Valley)

Previous Ranking: 11

Week 8 Result: 44-23 win at Eastern Illinois

Next Game: April 11 at No. 20 Murray State

11. Villanova

(2-1 CAA)

Previous Ranking: 16

Week 8 Result: 44-17 win at Maine

Next Game: April 17 vs. No. 7 Delaware

12. Missouri State

(4-4, 4-1 Missouri Valley)

Previous Ranking: 14

Week 8 Result: Canceled at North Dakota

Next Game: April 10 vs. Youngstown State

13. Northern Iowa

(3-3 Missouri Valley)

Previous Ranking: 15

Week 8 Result: Canceled at South Dakota

Next Game: April 10 vs. No. 1 North Dakota State

14. Monmouth

(2-0 Big South)

Previous Ranking: 18

Week 8 Result: 48-19 win at Gardner-Webb

Next Game: April 10 vs. No. 9 Kennesaw State

15. UC Davis

(3-2 Big Sky)

Previous Ranking: 8

Week 8 Result: 32-22 loss to Eastern Washington

Next Game: Regular season complete

16. Richmond

(3-0 CAA)

Previous Ranking: 19

Week 8 Result: Postponed vs. James Madison

Next Game: April 10 at William & Mary

17. Rhode Island

(2-1 CAA)

Previous Ranking: 20

Week 8 Result: Postponed vs. New Hampshire

Next Game: Regular season complete

18. Southern Illinois

(4-3, 3-3 Missouri Valley)

Previous Ranking: 21

Week 8 Result: Canceled at Illinois State

Next Game: April 17 vs. Southeastern Louisiana

19. VMI

(5-1 Southern)

Previous Ranking: 13

Week 8 Result: 24-20 loss to ETSU

Next Game: April 17 vs. The Citadel

20. Murray State

(5-1 Ohio Valley)

Previous Ranking: 17

Week 8 Result: 34-31 loss at Austin Peay

Next Game: April 11 vs. No. 10 Jacksonville State

21. Nicholls

(4-2, 3-2 Southland)

Previous Ranking: 12

Week 8 Result: 43-31 loss at McNeese

Next Game: April 10 vs. No. 23 Southeastern Louisiana

22. UIW

(3-1 Southland)

Previous Ranking: 14

Week 8 Result: No game

Next Game: April 10 vs. Northwestern State

23. Southeastern Louisiana

(3-2 Southland)

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Week 8 Result: 42-12 win over Lamar

Next Game: April 10 at No. 21 Nicholls

24. Austin Peay

(4-5, 4-2 Ohio Valley)

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Week 8 Result: 34-31 win over Murray State

Next Game: April 11 at Eastern Illinois

25. New Hampshire

(0-1 CAA)

Previous Ranking: 25

Week 8 Result: Postponed at Rhode Island

Next Game: Regular season complete

— Written by Craig Haley, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Haley has covered the FCS level since 1999 and is the national writer for www.fcs.football. He appears frequently on radio shows and podcasts to discuss everything FCS. Follow him on Twitter @CraigHaley.

(Photo courtesy of Eastern Washington University Athletics)