The Sports Network has been putting out one of the most respected polls ranking football teams in the Championship Subdivision (former I-AA). Their preseason poll was released earlier today and Villanova's rebuilding program was included at number 14. The 'Cats were one of seven teams from the CAA to make it into the top-25.
Though Villanova was ranked 7th in the CAA's preseason poll, with no first-place votes, the Sports Network voters were a bit more bullish on the Main Line program. Villanova earned 1,262 points in the poll and two first place votes.
The other six CAA teams in the poll were William & Mary (No. 3), Delaware (No. 5), New Hampshire (No. 10), James Madison (No. 15), Richmond (No. 16) and Massachusetts (No. 25). Massachusetts is not eligible for a preseason berth or to win the CAA conference in 2011 because they have filed paperwork to transition to the Bowl Subdivision.
The preseason number-1 is Eastern Washington, who knocked Villanova out, both literally and figuratively, in the national semifinals last December. Appalachian State, who Villanova beat in the quarterfinals in 2010, came in second-place.
- Eastern Washington
- Appalachian State
- William & Mary
- Georgia Southern
- Delaware
- Montana State
- Northern Iowa
- Wofford
- Jacksonville State
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota State
- Montana
- Lehigh
- VILLANOVA
- James Madison
- Richmond
- Stephen F. Austin
- Central Arkansas
- Southern Illinois
- McNeese State
- Chattanooga
- Liberty
- South Carolina State
- Sacramento State
- Massachusetts