Villanova ranked No. 7 in preseason FCS coaches poll. Montana State at the top.
With Pat McQuaide expected back following a court ruling, the Wildcats look like one of the best teams in their first season in the Patriot League.
The American Football Coaches Association released its preseason Top 25 FCS poll Monday, and Villanova comes in at No. 7.
The Wildcats are coming off a 12-3 season that ended in the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals with a 30-14 loss to Illinois State. Villanova’s 12 wins marked the second most in school history, and included a 7-1 record in the Coastal Athletic Association.
As of July 1, Villanova became part of the Patriot League. In a conference preseason poll, the Wildcats were selected to finish first in their inaugural season in the league. They received seven first-place votes, with Lehigh, which won the Patriot title a year ago but fell to Villanova in the playoffs, receiving the other three.
Quarterback Pat McQuaide, an All-America candidate who passed for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns a year ago, won a court ruling to gain eligibility to return to Villanova this season.
Running back and rising junior Ja’Briel Mace, junior offensive lineman Chris McCullers, and sophomore Braden Reed, a wide receiver, were all named to the preseason All-Patriot League offensive team. Mace also got a nod on the special teams as a return specialist. Senior defensive lineman Capri Martin and sophomore linebacker Omari Bursey were both named to the preseason defensive team.
» READ MORE: Ohio judge rules that Villanova QB Pat McQuaide will be eligible this season
Defending FCS champion Montana State tops the poll with 25 first-place votes, while South Dakota State, which comes in third, was the only other team to receive a vote for the top seed (1).
Villanova’s season starts against William and Mary at home on Aug. 28, at 6 p.m., marking the first game in the Patriot League for both teams.