With the completion of the playoffs comes the final AGS Poll release of the 2021 FCS season. Not surprisingly a familiar name returned to the #1 spot as North Dakota State took all 41 first place votes after winning their 9th FCS national championship. They were followed by runner-up Montana State who jumped up 6 spots to #2. James Madison stayed at #3 in what might be their last appearance in the AGS Poll as they begin their transition to FBS next season. South Dakota State moved up 7 spots to #4 after a run to the semifinals and Sam Houston fell down to #5 in what may also be their final appearance in the AGS Poll before they begin their own FBS transition.
Tennessee-Martin was amongst other teams on the rise jumping up 7 spots to #13 after upsetting Missouri State in the 1st round of the playoffs before falling at eventual national runner-up Montana State. Southern Illinois also made a 5 spot jump after beating MVFC rival South Dakota in the 1st found before bowing out to eventual national champ NDSU. Harvard moved back into the top 25 for this final poll.
Teams dropping in this final poll were headlined by Eastern Washington who dropped 5 spots to #9 after a 2nd round playoff exit. Missouri State and South Dakota each dropped 5 spots to #15 and #20, respectively, following their aforementioned 1st round losses. Jackson State took a 7 spot tumble barely hanging on at #25 following their surprisingly lopsided Celebration Bowl loss to South Carolina State. Mercer fell out of the top 25.
The MVFC led the way in terms of conference representation placing 6 teams into the top 25. They were followed by the Big Sky with 5, the Ivy League with 3, and the AQ7, CAA, and Southland with 2 teams each in the top 25. 11 conferences were represented by at least one team in the final AGS Top 25 of 2021.
Full results below:
| Rank | Change | Team | Total Points | First Place Votes |
| 1 | 1 | North Dakota State Bison | 1025 | 41 |
| 2 | 6 | Montana State Bobcats | 961 | |
| 3 | – | James Madison Dukes | 960 | |
| 4 | 7 | South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 897 | |
| 5 | -4 | Sam Houston Bearkats | 825 | |
| 6 | – | Montana Grizzlies | 815 | |
| 7 | -2 | Villanova Wildcats | 768 | |
| 8 | -1 | East Tennessee State Buccaneers | 723 | |
| 9 | -5 | Eastern Washington Eagles | 696 | |
| 10 | -1 | Sac State Hornets | 620 | |
| 11 | 1 | Kennesaw State Owls | 601 | |
| 12 | 1 | Incarnate Word Cardinals | 570 | |
| 13 | 7 | Tennesee-Martin Skyhawks | 487 | |
| 14 | 5 | Southern Illinois Salukis | 442 | |
| 15 | -5 | Missouri State Bears | 439 | |
| 16 | 1 | Southeastern Louisiana Lions | 412 | |
| 17 | -1 | Dartmouth Big Green | 302 | |
| 18 | -4 | UC Davis Aggies | 296 | |
| 19 | 3 | Holy Cross Crusaders | 284 | |
| 20 | -5 | South Dakota Coyotes | 253 | |
| 21 | – | Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks | 231 | |
| 22 | 1 | Princeton Tigers | 160 | |
| 23 | 2 | Northern Iowa Panthers | 135 | |
| 24 | 2 | Harvard Crimson | 94 | |
| 25 | -7 | Jackson State Tigers | 85 | |
| ORV: | ||||
| 26 | -2 | Mercer Bears | 75 | |
| 27 | 6 | Sacred Heart Pioneers | 34 | |
| 28 | – | Eastern Kentucky Colonels | 23 | |
| 29T | -2 | Florida A&M Rattlers | 21 | |
| 29T | 8 | North Dakota Fighting Hawks | 21 | |
| 31 | -2 | Weber State Wildcats | 19 | |
| 32 | NR | South Carolina State Bulldogs | 17 | |
| 33 | -1 | Nicholls Colonels | 10 | |
| 34T | -3 | Monmouth Hawks | 7 | |
| 34T | 2 | Davidson Wildcats | 7 | |
| 36 | -7 | Rhode Island Rams | 5 | |
| 37 | -4 | William & Mary Tribe | 2 | |
| 38T | -5 | Chattanooga Mocs | 1 | |
| 38T | – | Maine Black Bears | 1 | |
| 38T | NR | Richmond Spiders | 1 | |
Dropped out of the poll:
None
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