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After starting the season unranked with low expectations, the CAA Champion Villanova Wildcats landed finished the 2012 season ranked 15th in the Sports Network's final poll. The Wildcats went from 2 wins in 2011 to eight wins, a share of the CAA title and a playoff berth in 2012.
Six CAA football members were ranked. Old Dominion led the way at number-6 and New Hampshire also finished ahead of Villanova at number-13. Also ranked were Towson (No. 17), Richmond (No. 18) and James Madison (No. 19); future member Stony Brook finished at number-11.
The Sports Network FCS Top-25 College Football Poll
| Rank | Team | 2012 Record | Points | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota State Bison (142) | 14-1 | 3550 | 1 |
| 2 | Sam Houston State Bearkats | 11-4 | 3386 | 5 |
| 3 | Georgia Southern Eagles | 10-4 | 3183 | 6 |
| 4 | Eastern Washington Eagles | 11-3 | 3143 | 4 |
| 5 | Montana State Bobcats | 11-2 | 2949 | 2 |
| 6 | Old Dominion Monarchs | 11-2 | 2859 | 3 |
| 7 | Wofford Terriers | 9-4 | 2673 | 9 |
| 8 | Illinois State Redbirds | 9-4 | 2289 | 16 |
| 9 | Appalachian State Mountaineers | 8-4 | 2229 | 7 |
| 10 | Central Arkansas Bears | 9-3 | 2166 | 8 |
| 11 | Stony Brook Seawolves | 10-3 | 2158 | 10 |
| 12 | Cal Poly Mustangs | 9-3 | 1930 | 12 |
| 13 | New Hampshire Wildcats | 8-4 | 1839 | 11 |
| 14 | South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 9-4 | 1537 | 19 |
| 15 | Villanova Wildcats | 8-4 | 1354 | 14 |
| 16 | Lehigh Mountain Hawks | 10-1 | 1346 | 13 |
| 17 | Towson Tigers | 7-4 | 1147 | 15 |
| 18 | Richmond Spiders | 8-3 | 938 | 18 |
| 19 | James Madison Dukes | 7-4 | 894 | 17 |
| 20 | Northern Arizona Lumberjacks | 8-3 | 736 | 20 |
| 21 | Wagner Seahawks | 9-4 | 603 | NR |
| 22 | Bethune-Cookman Wildcats | 9-3 | 523 | 22 |
| 23 | Eastern Kentucky Colonels | 8-3 | 515 | 21 |
| 24 | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 8-5 | 495 | NR |
| 25 | Colgate Raiders | 8-4 | 383 | 24 |