Villanova Tiebreakers: How the ‘Cats Can Lock Up an FCS Autobid

Villanova Football enters the final week of their CAA slate on the cusp of a three-way tie for the division crown. The No. 7/No. 10 Wildcats hold a 6-1 conference record, while the Monmouth Hawks have a game in hand and a 5-1 record. The Rhode Island Rams (No. 9/No. 11) rounds out the trio with a perfect 6-0 conference record and, once again, a game in hand.

With a top ten ranking, the Wildcats will almost certainly earn an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, but an autobid would grant them a first round bye heading into the Round of 16.

CAA Tiebreakers

If all three teams end with one loss, they’ll each get a share of the regular season title. However, the CAA only holds one automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs, so that’s where things get tricky. Monmouth defeated Villanova head to head back in September, but neither the Hawks nor the Wildcats will face Rhode Island this season, making it so that tiebreaker doesn’t apply — a massive break for the Wildcats. As both of Villanova’s opponents have an extra game to play, they could each finish with two losses, giving the Wildcats an outright championship. If not, it goes to tiebreakers.

After the head-to-head tiebreaker is record against common opponents. Currently undefeated, Rhode Island will play their final game of the regular season at home against Hampton, who Villanova beat in October. If the Rams finish with one loss, it’d need to come against the Pirates in order for Villanova to claim the CAA autobid. After that, the final tiebreaker is point differential in conference play: individual games are capped at a 21 point differential, so lopsided blowouts only do so much good.

With that stipulation in mind, Villanova’s point differential sits at +70, Rhode Island’s at +92 and Monmouth’s at +68.

The easiest path to a playoff autobid for Villanova is a win at home against Stony Brook (5-5, 3-3 CAA) and a home loss to Hampton (2-8, 0-6 CAA) from Rhode Island. They’ll need help from some struggling conference compatriots, but it isn’t impossible.