:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/36518986/20130831_jla_ad7_125.0.jpg)
Villanova finished the 2013 season unranked. Despite some big wins over the likes of Towson, an FCS Championship game runner-up, and a winning record, the 'Cats were eliminated from contention by the end of the season. Starting the season with consecutive losses at Boston College and Fordham was too big a pill to swallow for the team.
This season, the combination of a BCS conference power and Fordham are again atop the Wildcats schedule, but feelings about the season are more optimistic. This season, the Wildcats will play a slate of 12 games, including six at home, which should help their chances of punching a ticket to the playoffs.
The FCS Coaches Poll, recognized that optimism by giving the 'Cats a number-13 ranking heading into the season. The poll is based on the votes of a panel of FCS head coaches and is administered by the Southern Conference. Coaches voted six CAA Football schools into their top-25 this Summer, including New Hampshire (4), Towson (7), Maine (20), William & Mary (22), and Richmond (24).
The full poll results follow.
| Team (No. 1 Votes) | 2013 Record | Points | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. North Dakota State (18) | 15-0 | 636 | 1 |
| 2. Eastern Washington (6) | 12-3 | 615 | 3 |
| 3. Southeast Louisiana (1) | 11-3 | 542 | 6 |
| 4. New Hampshire | 10-5 | 510 | 5 |
| 5. Montana | 10-3 | 505 | 8 |
| 6. Coastal Carolina | 12-3 | 447 | 7 |
| 7. Towson (1) | 13-3 | 438 | 2 |
| 8. Jacksonville State | 12-2 | 425 | 12 |
| 9. McNeese State | 10-3 | 424 | 9 |
| 10. South Dakota State | 9-5 | 332 | 14 |
| 11. Eastern Illinois | 12-2 | 314 | 4 |
| 12. Fordham | 12-2 | 305 | 10 |
| 13. Villanova | 6-5 | 287 | NR |
| 14. Sam Houston State | 9-5 | 277 | 13 |
| 15. Northern Iowa | 7-5 | 263 | NR |
| 16. Chattanooga | 8-4 | 238 | 25 |
| 17. Tennessee State | 10-4 | 237 | 17 |
| 18. Furman | 8-6 | 188 | 21 |
| 19. Montana State | 7-5 | 170 | 20 |
| 20. Maine | 10-3 | 169 | 11 |
| 21. Youngtown State | 8-4 | 162 | 19 |
| 22. William & Mary | 7-5 | 159 | NR |
| 23. Bethune-Cookman | 10-3 | 136 | 16 |
| 24. Richmond | 6-6 | 118 | NR |
| 25. Northern Arizona | 9-3 | 116 | 15 |
Others receiving votes: Samford 95, Southern Illinois 59, Harvard 42, Charleston Southern 39, James Madison 30, Princeton 24, Southern Utah 20, Alcorn State 16, Liberty 16, Delaware 15, South Carolina State 15, Cal Poly 14, Missouri State 12, Sacred Heart 10, Wofford 8, Central Arkansas 7, Alabama State 6, Lehigh 6, Eastern Kentucky 4, Holy Cross 1, Illinois State 1, Jacksonville 1