Villanova's 4th quarter victory over William & Mary garnered some attention as Andy Talley's 3-2 squad has jumped to #15 in the newest TSN FCS Top-25 Poll.
Saturday's opponent, Towson Tigers, are the highest-ranked CAA program at #3, with three other CAA teams included for five total.
The other CAA representatives are Maine (14), James Madison (21), and New Hampshire (25).
Overall, North Dakota State remains a hold on the #1 spot as they required a 4th-quarter comeback to defeat Northern Iowa, 24-23.
TSN Media Poll
Team (First-place votes) | Record | Points | Previous Rank |
---|---|---|---|
1. North Dakota State Bison (157) | 5-0 | 3,925 | 1 |
2. Sam Houston State Bearkats | 4-1 | 3,665 | 2 |
3. Towson Tigers | 6-0 | 3,657 | 3 |
4. Northern Iowa Panthers | 4-1 | 3,283 | 4 |
5. Eastern Illinois Panthers | 4-1 | 3,272 | 5 |
6. Eastern Washington Eagles | 3-2 | 3,124 | 6 |
7. Montana State Bobcats | 4-2 | 2,902 | 8 |
8. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 5-0 | 2,653 | 9 |
9. McNeese State Cowboys | 5-1 | 2,475 | 11 |
10. Fordham Rams | 6-0 | 2,451 | 12 |
11. Montana Grizzlies | 4-1 | 2,433 | 10 |
12. Wofford Terriers | 3-2 | 1,738 | 17 |
13. South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 3-3 | 1,660 | 7 |
14. Maine Black Bears | 5-1 | 1,533 | 23 |
15. Villanova Wildcats | 3-2 | 1,490 | 20 |
16. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats | 4-1 | 1,391 | 21 |
17. Lehigh Mountain Hawks | 4-1 | 1,255 | 13 |
18. Youngstown State Penguins | 5-1 | 1,178 | NR |
19. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks | 3-2 | 1,111 | 15 |
20. Central Arkansas Bears | 2-3 | 870 | 14 |
21. James Madison Dukes | 4-2 | 646 | NR |
22. Georgia Southern Eagles | 3-2 | 636 | 16 |
23. Samford Bulldogs | 4-2 | 592 | NR |
24. Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 5-1 | 508 | NR |
25. New Hampshire Wildcats | 1-3 | 424 | 19 |
Coaches' Poll
RANK | SCHOOL (FIRST) | RECORD | POINTS | PREV |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | North Dakota State (25) | 5-0 | 649 | 1 |
2. | Towson (1) | 6-0 | 623 | 2 |
3. | Sam Houston State | 4-1 | 600 | 3 |
4. | Eastern Illinois | 4-1 | 555 | 5 |
5. | Northern Iowa | 4-1 | 530 | 4 |
6. | Coastal Carolina | 5-0 | 521 | 6 |
7. | Montana State | 4-2 | 502 | 7 |
8. | Eastern Washington | 3-2 | 448 | 8 |
9. | Fordham | 6-0 | 418 | 13 |
10. | Montana | 4-1 | 417 | 12 |
11. | McNeese State | 5-1 | 393 | 14 |
12. | Wofford | 3-2 | 319 | 15 |
13. | Bethune-Cookman | 4-1 | 315 | 16 |
14. | Lehigh | 4-1 | 284 | 10 |
15. | Villanova | 3-2 | 248 | 20 |
16. | Youngstown State | 5-1 | 219 | 22 |
17. | Maine | 5-1 | 215 | 23 |
18. | South Dakota State | 3-3 | 211 | 9 |
19. | James Madison | 4-2 | 210 | 21 |
20. | Central Arkansas | 2-3 | 158 | 11 |
21. | Northern Arizona | 3-2 | 107 | 17 |
22. | New Hampshire | 1-3 | 77 | 18 |
23. | Tennessee State | 5-1 | 76 | NR |
24. | Jacksonville State | 5-1 | 66 | NR |
25. | Charleston Southern | 6-0 | 60 | NR |
Villanova's only FCS loss came against the now-Top-10 Fordham Rams, 27-24, in a turnover-plagued away contest in week two of the season. The Wildcats have largely-avoided turning the ball over since that game and will look to continue that trend at Towson.