Villanova Wildcats Climb Stats Perform FCS Rankings with Dramatic Victory

Each week, throughout the collegiate football season, alumni, fans, media, and teams closely monitor the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll to determine the shifts in national rankings. Among the teams striving for dominance, Villanova University has been making significant strides in the largest conference in FCS history.

Villanova, under the guidance of coach Mark Ferrante, is currently ranked No. 5 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. Their recent come-from-behind victory has further solidified their position. The Wildcats, boasting a 5-1 record, had been consistently placed at either the fifth or sixth spot since the preseason evaluations. Notably, the team had previously struggled when trailing at halftime, losing nine consecutive games in such conditions. This trend reversed in their latest game against Stony Brook, where they overcame a 24-14 halftime deficit by scoring 28 unanswered points in the second half, resulting in a 42-24 victory.

This win elevated Villanova to a 2-0 standing in the CAA Football conference, maintaining a first-place tie with Delaware, Rhode Island, and Richmond, all part of a 16-team standings arrangement. Furthermore, the Wildcats have matched the consistency of the top-ranked teams, such as No. 1 South Dakota State (4-1), No. 2 North Dakota State (5-1), No. 3 Montana State (6-0), and No. 4 South Dakota (4-1). Notably, the only losses among these top contenders have been against FBS opponents.

The Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll is determined by a national media panel, where a first-place vote carries 25 points, a second-place vote is valued at 24 points, diminishing to one point for a 25th-place vote.

South Dakota State remains in the top spot with 1,376 points, having garnered 36 out of 56 first-place votes. North Dakota State follows closely with 1,346 points and 14 first-place votes, with Montana State and South Dakota rounding out the top four positions.

Villanova’s ranking at number five was bolstered by their latest win, with 1,145 points credited to their performance. The upcoming weeks will determine whether their strategic play and resilience will further ascend them in the rankings.

Further down the rankings, UC Davis has also witnessed a rise to the No. 6 position, with other teams such as Idaho and Mercer making notable advances. Meanwhile, some teams, including Southern Illinois and New Hampshire, have been ousted from the rankings following recent performances.