Villanova Football Climbs in Coaches Poll; Ja’briel Mace Earns FCS Honors

Villanova Football running back Ja’briel Mace earned Offensive Player of the Week honors from both the CAA and the FCS as a league for his program record-setting performance against Towson.

This marks Mace’s second weekly award this season, as he also earned CAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors after a kickoff return touchdown against William & Mary in September. The redshirt sophomore ran for 291 yards and four touchdowns on just 28 carries, averaging a first down every time he touched the ball.

Although he’s the No. 3 back on the Wildcats’ depth chart, first and second stringers David Avit and Isaiah Ragland went down with injuries early against the Tigers, and Mace was more than ready to step up. His nine touchdowns this season lead the team.

Villanova Football continued to inch up the FCS Top 25 following their 28-10 win over the Tigers, checking in at No. 7 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, up one spot from last week. They remained at No. 10 in the Stats Perform poll. The Wildcats will play their last-ever CAA game — they’re set to join the Patriot League in 2026 — when they host Stony Brook at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15.

A win combined with conference losses from Monmouth and Rhode Island will propel the Wildcats to a CAA championship.