Villanova Football Remains On Cusp of Top 10

Villanova Football has climbed in the FCS Top 25 poll nearly every week of their five game winning streak, but as they get closer to the top of the poll, forward progress becomes harder: the best of the best rarely drop games to make room for their challengers.

The Wildcats (6-2, 5-1 CAA) climbed one spot in the AFCA Coaches poll after their 29-16 win over a bad UAlbany team, moving from No. 12 to No. 11, while they remained steady at No. 11 in the Stats Perform poll. Villanova’s struggling to put away a 1-7 team also didn’t help their case to climb into the top ten.

Up next, Villanova will hold their bye week before heading to Towson on Saturday, Nov. 8. Of their three remaining games, just one, their out-of-conference matchup with Sacred Heart, comes against a team with a winning record. Currently occupying the No. 3 spot in their conference, the Wildcats trail Rhode Island (7-2, 5-0 CAA) by half a game, while Monmouth (7-1, 4-0 CAA) has two games in hand and a head-to-head win. Villanova will need some help to climb past them with the clock ticking.

That said, the Wildcats rest comfortably within range of an at-large bid, with the NCAA’s Stan Becton predicting them to enter the playoff field as the No. 12 team, missing a first round bye but hosting a home playoff game against Duquesne.