Thanks to their big win over the Richmond Spiders and key losses by Stephen F. Austin and William & Mary, the Villanova Wildcats leapt up two spots to #3 in the latest FCS coaches’ poll.
Villanova did not receive any first place votes, with all but one of those going to #1 Appalachian St. Both the App St. Mountaineers and #2 Jacksonville St Gamecocks are 8-0 compared to Nova at 6-2. So for the Wildcats to have a shot at a second straight FCS title, they’re going to need help. In all likelihood they wont get it next week. While both Mountaineers and the Gamecocks are on the road, they’re facing 4-4 Georgia Southern and 3-5 Eastern Kentucky. Villanova is also on the road next week against the 3-5 Rhode Island Rams.
As for the other locals, Delaware is hot on Nova’s heels at #4 and Penn moved up a few spots to #19. Here is the full top 25.
1. Appalachian St. (27)
2. Jacksonville St. (1)
3. Villanova
4. Delaware
5. William & Mary
6. Eastern Wash.
7. Wofford
8. New Hampshire
9. Stephen F. Austin
10. SE Missouri St.
11. Montana St.
12. Liberty
13. Bethune-Cookman
14. S. Carolina St.
15. Massachusetts
16. Montana
17. Northern Iowa
18. Cal Poly
19. Pennsylvania
20. North Dakota St.
21. Western Ill.
22. Richmond
23. James Madison
24. Grambling St.
25. Jacksonville