CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

2023 Villanova

10–⁠3 (6–⁠1 Coastal Athletic Association).

Schedule and results

Villanova in 2023, game by game: won at Lehigh 38–10; won vs. Colgate 42–19; lost at UCF 14–48; won vs. Rhode Island 35–9; lost at UAlbany 10–31; won at North Carolina A&T 37–14; won vs. Elon 21–0; won vs. Stony Brook 48–13; won at New Hampshire 45–33; won vs. Towson 33–10; won at Delaware 35–7; won vs. Youngstown State 45–28; lost at South Dakota State 12–23+35−34Won 38–10 at Lehigh+28LehighWon 42–19 vs. Colgate+23ColgateLost 14–48 at UCF-34UCFWon 35–9 vs. Rhode Island+26Rhode IslandLost 10–31 at UAlbany-21UAlbanyWon 37–14 at North Carolina A&T+23North Carolina …Won 21–0 vs. Elon+21ElonWon 48–13 vs. Stony Brook+35Stony BrookWon 45–33 at New Hampshire+12New HampshireWon 33–10 vs. Towson+23TowsonWon 35–7 at Delaware+28DelawareWon 45–28 vs. Youngstown State+17Youngstown StateLost 12–23 at South Dakota State-11South Dakota St…
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 2atLehighW 38–⁠1063%
Sep 9vsColgateW 42–⁠1976%
Sep 16atUCFL 14–⁠4818%
Sep 23vsRhode IslandW 35–⁠955%
Sep 30atUAlbanyL 10–⁠3157%
Oct 7atNorth Carolina A&TW 37–⁠1453%
Oct 14vsElonW 21–⁠060%
Oct 28vsStony BrookW 48–⁠1389%
Nov 4atNew HampshireW 45–⁠3349%
Nov 11vsTowsonW 33–⁠1076%
Nov 18atDelawareW 35–⁠739%
Dec 2Bowls & playoffvsYoungstown StateFCS Championship – Second RoundW 45–⁠2867%
Dec 9Bowls & playoffatSouth Dakota StateFCS Championship – Quarterfinals, CFP QuarterfinalL 12–⁠2322%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to South Dakota State 23–⁠12 in the FCS Championship – Quarterfinals, CFP Quarterfinal; unranked in the final AP poll; Coastal Athletic Association champions.

In program history: The 27th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 111 on file).

Coastal Athletic Association champions6–⁠1 in the conference, shared with Richmond and UAlbany

Record
10–⁠3
Conference
6–⁠1 3rd in Coastal Athletic Association
AP final
Unranked
Points
415–⁠245
Coach
—
Elo
1508 +172 this season
SP+ rating
—
SRS
−6.0 No. 5 of 128 in FCS
Recruiting class
—
Offensive coordinator
Chris Boden
Defensive coordinator
Ross Pennypacker
Offense
Spread
Defense
Multiple 3–⁠3–⁠5

Leaders

Passing yardsConnor Watkins QB2,682 yds
Passing touchdownsConnor Watkins QB20 TD
Rushing yardsJalen Jackson RB981 yds
Rushing touchdownsConnor Watkins QB10 TD
Receiving yardsRayjoun Pringle WR984 yds
Receiving touchdownsRayjoun Pringle WR8 TD
TacklesBrendan Bell LB9 tkl
SacksChristian Sapp DB1 sacks
InterceptionsIsas Waxter DB3 INT

Top recruits in the 2023 class

Zahmir Dawud S★★★No. 1403
Chris McCullers OL
Jayvont Williams ATH
Isaiah Ragland RB
Kyle Fay OT

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2023 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Defensive backs13.00.850

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

Transfers in 0

The 2023 portal

No transfers in.

Transfers out 2

Bryce Ganious DL★★★to Wake Forest
Jaquan Allen ATH★★★no new school on file

2023 Coastal Athletic Association standings

TeamConf.OverallAP final
UAlbany7–⁠111–⁠4
Richmond7–⁠19–⁠4
Villanova6–⁠110–⁠3
Elon5–⁠26–⁠5
New Hampshire4–⁠36–⁠5
Campbell4–⁠35–⁠6
Towson4–⁠35–⁠6
William & Mary4–⁠46–⁠5
Rhode Island4–⁠46–⁠5
Hampton3–⁠45–⁠6
Monmouth3–⁠54–⁠7
Maine1–⁠72–⁠9
North Carolina A&T0–⁠71–⁠10
Stony Brook0–⁠70–⁠10–⁠1

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.