College Football Rankings: Villanova Maintains Top Spot In FCS Top 25, JMU No. 3

Villanova, the defending FCS National Champion, maintained its position as the top team in the Sports Network Top 25 for the second week in a row, picking up more first-place votes (87 of a possible 139) after their dominating 43-7 win over lowly CAA opponent Towson this past weekend.

Appalachian State (national champions in 2005, ‘06 and ‘07) is No. 2 in the country with 22 first-place votes, just edging out James Madison, who comes in at No. 3, even though the Dukes earned more first-place recognition (25 votes). JMU, the ‘04 title winner, was idle over the weekend, while the Mountaineers beat-up on N.C. Central, 44-16.

Jacksonville State, riding their upset of Ole Miss to a perfect 3-0 mark, and Richmond, the 2008 national champion, round our the top five.

With Villanova, JMU and Richmond, the Colonial Athletics Association (CAA) has three of the top-five teams, five of the top-ten (No. 7 Delaware and No. 8 William & Mary) six of the top-11 (No. 11 UMass) and seven of the top-16 (No. 16 New Hampshire).

Full rankings of The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top-25 College Football Poll for Week 4 (as voted on by the sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters and writers) are as follows:

1. Villanova Wildcats
2. Appalachian State Mountaineers
3. James Madison Dukes
4. Jacksonville State Gamecocks
5. Richmond Spiders
6. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
7. Delaware Blue Henn
8. William & Mary Tribe
9. Eastern Washington Eagles
10. Elon Phoenix
11. Massachusetts Minutemen
12. South Carolina State Bulldogs
13. Southern Illinois Salukis
14. Montana Grizzlies
15. Northern Iowa Panthers
16. New Hampshire Wildcats
17. Montana State Bobcats
18. North Dakota State Bison
19. McNeese State Cowboys
20. Cal Poly Mustangs
21. South Dakota Coyotes
22. Liberty Flames
23. Furman Paladins
24. Penn Quakers
25. Central Arkansas Bears

Meanwhile, in the FCS Coaches’ Poll, Appalachian St. is No. 1, with Villanova in the No. 2.

Week 4’s matchups to watch include No. 9 Eastern Washington at No. 17 Montana State, No. 7 Delaware at No. 5 Richmond and No. 22 Liberty at No. 3 JMU.