FCS Football: Top-15 Offenses In The Past 15 Seasons (2009-23)
To shine a light on the direction and excellence in the modern era of FCS football, I wanted to look at the top individual offenses and defenses during the past 15 seasons (2009-23). There are debates throughout the offseason on how teams compare across different seasons, including plenty of debates surrounding which teams are the best all-time in FCS history.
The question remains. How do we determine which offenses were the best over the past 15 seasons?
We could not create a subjective list of the best FCS offenses over the past 15 seasons. Every individual will have their own criteria and style preferences, but our goal was to create a measure that would make this list as objective as possible and not personal opinion.
Simple statistics, such as points or yards per game, are not enough due to the differences in tempo as the college game continues to evolve. We utilized yards per play (YPP), which allows comparisons to be made about the effectiveness of an offense regardless of offensive style. We also added strength of schedule (SOS) to our model due to the large variations in competition across the country. Some offenses are effective in moving the ball down the field but struggle to score in the red zone, which is why we also included red zone touchdown percentage in the model.
To summarize: For this exercise, I used YPP, SOS, and Redzone TD PCT to create a Total Offensive Rating (TOR). I applied these three factors to all the top FCS offenses of the last 15 seasons (2009 -2023) and then we ranked the top 15 units.
For clarification, being on this list does not mean these were the best overall teams in the last 15 seasons. As you will see from the list, to make deep playoff runs a team needs great offense, defense, coaching, and many other factors to be a true national title contender each season.
* Yards Per Play and Redzone TD Percentage data were compiled from the NCAA
* SOS data is sourced from the Massey Ratings
* The model did include teams that have since transitioned to the FBS
* Yards Per Play was used to determine tiebreakers in the list below
Honorable Mentions
During the study, 70 different teams from 2009-23 made the first cutoff. The following programs had more than 2 seasons that made the Top 70 from the last 15 seasons.
Eastern Washington: 6 teams
North Dakota State: 5 teams
South Dakota State: 4 teams
Incarnate Word: 4 teams
Montana State: 4 teams
Alcorn State: 3 teams
The top Ivy League offensive season was 2018 Princeton with an overall ranking of No. 26. 2022 North Carolina Central had the highest-ranked HBCU season at No. 55, while 2016 James Madison (No. 33) was the highest-ranked team that has since transitioned.
Offenses that just missed the cut are listed below (No. 16-20).
No. 16: 2019 Villanova
No. 17: 2023 Villanova
No. 18: 2016 Eastern Washington
No. 19: 2019 Eastern Washington
No. 20: 2022 Mercer
Below are the Top 15 FCS offenses from the last 15 seasons (2009-23).
No. 15: 2023 Holy Cross (TOR: 10.04)
Holy Cross Crusaders quarterback Matthew Sluka (9) carries the ball against the Army Black Knights during the second half at Michie Stadium.
Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
The 2023 Holy Cross offense averaged over 7.0 yards per play and was led by one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the country. Matthew Sluka was the key to this offense, but a midseason injury eliminated Sluka from consideration for the Walter Payton Award. Despite missing two games, Sluka recorded 1,728 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, 1,247 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns. All-American wide receiver Jalen Coker led the nation with 15 receiving touchdowns, while also finishing the season with over 1,000 receiving yards. Running Jordan Fuller also led the nation with 18 rushing touchdowns, which shows the full versatility of this offense.
Despite the impressive offensive output, Holy Cross missed the FCS Playoffs after a disappointing 7-4 campaign. The Crusaders lost three games by a combined nine points, including two losses to FBS opponents. The offense consistently delivered, but the defense struggled early in the season. Youth, injuries, and turnovers doomed Holy Cross last season, but the offense was still one of the most impressive in the FCS over the past 15 seasons.
No. 14: 2022 Fordham (TOR: 10.04)
Fordham QB Tim DeMorat
Fordham Athletics
Another Patriot League offense makes the list, but this is no surprise due to the elite offensive numbers that the 2022 Fordham offense generated. The Rams scored over 40 points in every game during the 2022 season, while also averaging 7.77 yards per play. Many people will criticize Fordham's schedule, but the Rams scored 52 points against Ohio (10-4 FBS Team). Despite the perception of the Patriot League, Fordham still produced against the toughest opponents on the schedule.
Quarterback Tim DeMorat led the Rams with 4,894 passing yards and 56 passing touchdowns with only 10 interceptions. The Rams produced three receivers with over 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns. All-American Fotis Kokosioulis recorded 1,303 yards and 14 touchdowns. MJ Wright and DeQuece Carter both accounted for 1,168 yards and averaged over 18 yards per reception.
This offense was able to efficiently run the ball, including two running backs surpassing 900 rushing yards. Trey Sneed led the team with 1,175 rushing yards and Julius Loughridge added 940 rushing yards. Despite a close loss, the most impressive performance came against Ohio. DeMorat totaled 503 passing yards and six touchdowns, while Kokosioulis had a career game with 320 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The defense was the downfall for the Rams as Fordham allowed over 36 points and 459 yards per game. Fordham's season ended in a loss to New Hampshire in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.
No. 13: 2022 Northern Iowa (TOR: 10.18)
Northern Iowa RB Dom Williams
UNI Athletics
One of the more unexpected teams on this list, the 2022 Northern Iowa offense put up impressive numbers despite playing one of the toughest strength of schedules in the nation. The Panthers were led by an efficient season from quarterback Theo Day, in which he completed 65% of his passes for over 3,000 yards and 26 passing touchdowns. Seven different players finished the season with at least 200 receiving yards in 11 only games, led by Sam Schnee with 764 receiving yards.
Despite a three-point loss, one of the best offensive performances of the season was against South Dakota State. The Panthers scored more points in competitive play (28) than any other opponent against the Jackrabbits that season and averaged 6.1 YPP, which is another season-high. Close losses were a common theme for the Panthers as Northern Iowa lost three conference games by a combined seven points. Despite the historic efficiency of this offense, it would fall short in the biggest moments. This led to a disappointing 6-5 record, which kept the Panthers out of the postseason.
No. 12: 2021 Southeastern Louisiana (TOR: 10.23)
Southeastern Louisiana QB Cole Kelley
Randy Bergeron (Southeastern Louisiana Athletics)
The 2021 Southeastern Louisiana offense averaged 45 points per game, over 550 yards per game, and 7.1 YPP. Quarterback Cole Kelley led the Lions with 5,124 passing yards, 44 passing touchdowns, and also completed 74% of his passes for the Lions. He was also dominant on the ground with 491 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Kelley had a strong argument to win the Walter Payton Award in back-to-back seasons but finished second behind Eastern Washington's Eric Barriere. Regardless of the Walter Payton Award, Kelley's 2021 season is still one of the most impressive seasons in FCS history. Wide receiver Austin Mitchell led the Lions with 1,184 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
The peak of this offense came in an offensive battle against Nicholls State late in the season. The Lions defeated No. 25 Nicholls behind 406 passing yards and five total touchdowns from Kelley. Southeastern Louisiana defeated Florida A&M, 38-14, in the first round of the FCS Playoffs. The playoff run ended against James Madison as the defensive struggles limited the potential of this team despite an elite offense.
No. 11: 2023 North Dakota State (TOR: 10.34)
North Dakota State QB Cam Miller
Bruce Stidham / USA TODAY NETWORK
While some may view the 2023 season as a disappointment for the Bison, it was not due to the offensive efficiency. The 2023 North Dakota State offense averaged 6.99 YPP, 38 points per game, and 436 yards per game. The rushing attack was the bright spot for this offense as the Bison averaged almost 6.0 yards per carry. Two of the Bison’s top rushers were quarterbacks Cam Miller and Cole Payton, the two combined for 1,244 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. Payton averaged an explosive 7.3 yards per carry, while TaMerik Williams led the Bison with 767 rushing yards.
Cam Miller also had one of the most efficient seasons in the country, completing 72% of his passes with only four interceptions. He finished the season with 2,688 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns.
The Bison delivered one of their best performances of the season late in the season against Southern Illinois. North Dakota State averaged 7.0 YPP and only punted three times against a tough Southern Illinois defense. Miller completed 15-of-19 passes for 232 passing yards, while the Bison also had four players that surpassed 45 rushing yards. The Bison made a run to the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs but lost to Montana in an overtime thriller.
No. 10: 2022 Montana State (TOR: 10.36)
Montana State QB Sean Chambers
Garrett Becker (Montana State Athletics)
The 2022 Montana State offense comes in at No. 10 as the Bobcats made a run to the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs. This offense averaged over 42 points per game and 495 yards per game, but the rushing attack made this team special. The Bobcats averaged 311 rushing yards per game, which was led by a two-quarterback system that featured Tommy Mellott and Sean Chambers. The quarterbacks combined for over 1,800 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns. South Dakota State, who won the FCS National Title, was the only team that successfully slowed down the explosive rushing attack in 2022.
The Bobcats were dominant in the Brawl of the Wild against Montana, which was a 55-21 win over the Grizzlies. Montana State ran the ball 66 times for 439 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Mellott ran for 141 yards and Chambers added 94 yards on the ground. The lack of a downfield passing attack was the downfall of the Bobcats in the postseason, but the rushing attack carried this team to the Big Sky title in 2022.
No. 9: 2021 Eastern Washington (TOR: 10.45)
Eastern Washington Eagles quarterback Eric Barriere (3) looks to pass against the Montana Grizzlies in the second half at Roos Field.
© James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
The Eastern Washington run begins at No. 9 as the Eagles had five teams that ranked Top-20 in offensive TOR since 2009. The 2021 Eastern Washington offense averaged 44 points per game, over 550 yards per game, and 6.8 YPP. Walter Payton Award winner Eric Barriere led an offense that averaged 400 yards per game through the air. Barriere finished the season with 5,070 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, while four receivers recorded over 700 receiving yards for the season. Wide receiver Talolo Limu-Jones led the Eagles with 1,122 receiving yards.
During a road victory over No. 6 UC Davis, Eastern Washington recorded 625 total yards and averaged over 6.0 yards per play. Barriere exploded for 411 passing yards and three touchdowns, while four different receivers recorded at least six receptions for 50 receiving yards. The balanced passing attack could be devastating, but the Eagles lost to Montana in the second round of the FCS playoffs. In the loss, the Eagles recorded over 600 total yards but struggled to stop the Grizzlies defensively.
No. 8: 2013 Eastern Washington (TOR: 10.49)
Eastern Washington Eagles quarterback Vernon Adams (3) drops back for a pass against the Towson Tigers during the first half at Roos Field.
© James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Eastern Washington makes another appearance on this list. The 2013 Eastern Washington offense averaged 7.72 YPP and 534 yards per game. The Eagles scored over 40 points in eight games and scored over 31 points against every FCS opponent on the schedule. The Eagles also upset Oregon State, in which Eastern Washington scored 49 points. The Eagles made a run to the semifinals in the FCS Playoffs but were eliminated in a loss to Towson.
Quarterback Vernon Adams led the Eagles offense with 4,994 passing yards and 55 passing touchdowns. Future Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp had another electric season with 1,691 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. Wide receiver Ashton Clarke added 1,233 receiving yards, but the Eagles thrived on the ground behind running back Quincy Forte, who added 1,208 rushing yards.
The offense had its best performance during a quarterfinal win against Jacksonville State. The offense averaged 8.0 YPP while rushing for over 200 yards and 300 passing yards. Forte accounted for 190 rushing yards on 7.9 yards per carry and two touchdowns.
No. 7: 2023 South Dakota State (TOR: 10.81)
South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski
Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK
At No. 7, we have the most recent FCS national champions and the first championship team to make the list. This South Dakota State team is one of only two teams that will have both their offense and defense on both lists. This offense was led by Walter Payton Award winner, quarterback Mark Gronowski, as the Jackrabbits averaged 7.64 YPP and 450 yards per game. The Jackrabbits had one of the most experienced offensive lines in the nation, which helped this offense control games throughout the season.
Gronowski led the offense with 3,058 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, and only five interceptions. All-American running back Isaiah Davis continued to shine with 1,578 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. The Janke (Jadon, Jaxon) Twins led the Jackrabbits at wide receiver and combined for over 1,700 receiving yards.
The Jackrabbit offense had their best performance in a semifinal win over UAlbany. South Dakota State averaged 10.5 YPP against a defense that was one of the best defenses in the nation entering this matchup. In the victory, Gronowski passed for 265 yards and three touchdowns on only 19 attempts. Davis rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns on only 15 carries. The Jackrabbits would complete an undefeated 15-0 season with another dominant performance against Montana.
No. 6: 2019 North Dakota State (TOR: 10.83)
North Dakota State Bison quarterback Trey Lance (5) runs the ball in the first quarter against the James Madison Dukes at Toyota Stadium.
© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Another North Dakota State offense makes the list as the 2019 offense averaged 37 points per game and 470 yards per game. The Bison offense was led by Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback Trey Lance. Lance was a dynamic quarterback who recorded 2,786 passing yards and ran for another 1,100 yards with 42 total touchdowns. Running back Ty Brooks added 968 rushing yards with 7.3 yards per carry and Adam Cofield contributed 813 rushing yards. Wide receivers Christian Watson and Phoenix Sproles led the Bison receiving corps, combining for almost 1,300 receiving yards.
This offense had a dominant performance in a 42-14 semifinal victory over Montana State. Trey Lance recorded 287 total yards and five touchdowns, which led the Bison offense that finished with 541 total yards. Wide receiver Christian Watson also added a 70-yard touchdown run, which clinched the Bison's spot in the national title game. North Dakota State made history with a 16-0 undefeated season after defeating James Madison in the FCS National Championship game.
No. 5: 2018 Eastern Washington (TOR: 10.83)
Eastern Washington Eagles quarterback Eric Barriere (3) rolls out in the first quarter against the North Dakota State Bison in the Division I Football Championship at Toyota Stadium.
© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Eastern Washington makes another appearance as the 2018 Eastern Washington offense guided the Eagles on a run to the FCS National Championship game. This offense is one of the most balanced offenses on this list, averaging 256 rushing yards and 272 passing yards per game. The Eagles averaged 7.4 YPP and over 40 points per game, then quarterback Eric Barriere established himself as the starter during the season. He finished the year with 2,450 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns. Running back Sam McPherson led the Eagles with 1,549 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 7.4 yards per carry. Wide receiver Nsimba Webster had 1,379 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
The 2018 Eastern Washington offense reached its peak during a semifinal win over Maine. The Eagles finished with 568 total yards and averaged 8.6 YPP. Barriere ended the game with 352 passing yards and seven touchdowns, while Webster had nine receptions for 188 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The Eagles recorded an impressive 216 rushing yards on 6.0 yards per carry. Eastern Washington lost the national title game after three crucial turnovers created too many opportunities for the Bison.
No. 4: 2018 North Dakota State (TOR: 10.85)
North Dakota State Bison running back Ty Brooks (28) runs the ball in the first quarter against the Eastern Washington Eagles in the Division I Football Championship at Toyota Stadium.
© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The 2018 North Dakota State offense averaged 7.37 YPP, but the most impressive statistic is that the Bison scored a touchdown on almost 80% of their red zone possessions. The 2018 Bison leaned on a rushing attack that averaged 286 yards per game and was complemented by efficient quarterback play from Easton Stick, who recorded 2,752 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. Wide receiver Darrius Shepherd led the Bison with 1,065 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Five players finished the season with over 500 rushing yards and combined for 49 rushing touchdowns. Bruce Anderson and Lance Dunn led the group as Anderson recorded 924 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while Dunn finished with 880 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Stick also added 677 yards on the ground and 17 touchdowns.
The Bison had their best performance during a semifinal win over South Dakota State in the FCS Playoffs. North Dakota State averaged an incredible 9.0 yards per carry and rolled up 439 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Easton Stick shredded the Jackrabbit defense with 147 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 9.2 yards per carry. Bruce Anderson added 79 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. The Bison would complete an undefeated 15-0 season with the 38-24 championship victory over Easter Washington.
No. 3: 2022 Incarnate Word (TOR: 10.93)
Incarnate Word QB Lindsey Scott Jr.
Incarnate Word Athletics
The 2022 Incarnate Word offense averaged the second most YPP since 2009 at 7.86 YPP. Incarnate Word averaged 52 points per game and 581 yards per game, but the strength of schedule prevented the Cardinals from the No. 1 spot on this list. The Cardinals were led by quarterback Lindsey Scott, who won the 2022 Walter Payton Award. Scott had a historic season with 4,686 passing yards, 60 passing touchdowns, and 11 rushing touchdowns. This offense also had two receivers (Darion Chafin & Taylor Grimes) that surpassed the 1,000-yard mark. Incarnate Word could also run the ball behind Marcus Cooper, who finished the season with 1,436 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
This offense had its best performance in a historic 66-63 quarterfinal road victory over Sacramento State. Incarnate Word finished with almost 600 total yards and averaged 7.9 YPP. Lindsey Scott totaled 219 passing yards and four passing touchdowns but also recorded 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Marcus Cooper added 176 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Incarnate Word would fall just short of the FCS championship game after a three-point loss to North Dakota State in the semifinals.
No. 2: 2018 South Dakota State (TOR: 11.26)
South Dakota State QB Taryn Christion
© Briana Sanchez / Argus Leader
The 2018 South Dakota State offense was the most complicated offense to evaluate in this project. The Jackrabbits scored 90 points with over 920 yards of total offense and averaged 16 yards per play against Arkansas Pine-Bluff. It should be noted that this was such an outlier that if that game was removed, the Jackrabbits would drop to No. 8 on this list. However, every team on this list played an easy opponent at one time, and the SOS is factored into the calculation.
The Jackrabbits averaged 7.65 YPP and 43 points per game with 481 yards per game. South Dakota State was led by All-American running back Pierre Strong who finished the season with 1,149 rushing yards (9.5 YPC) and 11 touchdowns. Quarterback Taryn Christion recorded 3,020 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, while wide receiver Cade Johnson totaled 1,332 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on 19.9 yards per reception.
The 2018 South Dakota State offense had an impressive performance against No. 9 Illinois State. Running back Mikey Daniel finished the game with two touchdowns and Taryn Christion passed for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Cade Johnson had eight receptions for 131 receiving yards and one touchdown. South Dakota State made a run to the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs but lost to North Dakota State.
No. 1: 2023 Montana State (TOR: 11.26)
Montana State RB Julius Davis
Garrett Becker (Montana State Athletics)
The 2023 Montana State offense is the highest-rated FCS offense of the past 15 seasons. Montana State averaged a historic 7.88 YPP and 473 yards per game last season. The rushing attack was the identity of this offense, led by quarterbacks Tommy Mellott and Sean Chambers, while Julius Davis emerged as the top running back. All three players ran for over 650 yards and combined for 25 rushing touchdowns. The Montana State rushing attack averaged 7.3 yards per carry behind an offensive line that had multiple All-American selections. Despite losing the game, the Bobcats had their most efficient offensive game against North Dakota State in the FCS Playoffs. The Bobcats averaged 8.8 YPP against the Bison, including almost 300 yards rushing and over 7.0 yards per carry. The Bobcats also had success through the air as Tommy Mellott finished the game with 209 passing yards. Running back Scottre Humphrey added 85 rushing yards and another touchdown.
Despite having the best statistical offense in the FCS, Montana State finished the season 8-4 with an early playoff loss at home to the Bison. This is just another example of why last season was a massive disappointment for the Bobcats. Special teams were a major issue throughout the season, while questionable coaching decisions prevented the Bobcats from living up to the lofty preseason expectations.
