2025-26 Commonwealth Collegiate Rankings #5-#1: Week 0 (8-21-2025)

By: Joe Dillard Jr.

Headline Photo Credit: Jada Nicholas-LMS Network

Entering the famous Week 0 of the college football season we have no idea of what to expect from the teams this season, however, we will look at some interesting factors that will give us somewhat of a clue but ultimately with no games played anybody can make their case for the best team in the state. We crack into the Top 5 and look at these programs first couple of weeks and who they face.  

Starting at #5 is the Dukes of James Madison which spent most of last season in the top three. However, with this program continuing to be one of the best in the state we look for them to rebound and have a playoff run that will keep them in the top three or even number 1.  The thing is, JMU is becoming a household name, and with that comes opportunities.  They open at home versus Weber State and if things go smoothly then they will have a big match-up against Louisville on the road.  Coming out 2-0 for this could easily put them right back at the top.  Head Coach Bob Chesney is entering his second season after taking over an already established program and continued to allow the purple heart nation to believe capping off the season with a bowl game win.  This season we will see how far they can go looking to crash the party in the playoffs. 

Division III powerhouse Randolph-Macon finished at the #4 spot with a deep playoff run.  It’s hard for Division II and III teams to crack so when they do just know they won the conference and have a playoff run.  So early success will be hard to find with the Yellow Jackets who open with Dickinson College at home.  However, a key Week 2 matchup at Central College in Iowa is a real testament to a team preparing for the playoffs.  Most games are between NC, VA, MD and this one has a playoff travel business approach to it, and I think that will show the hand if they are ready to make a run this year. Pedro Arruza is a staple of RMC football entering his 22nd season and has won 9 or more games dating back to 2018.  There are only two other programs in D-III that have such honors.  

Division II powerhouse Virginia Union finished third in the rankings and continues to build on success year after year.  Well, this season the road starts early with two monstrous games as they open against Miles College in Canton, Ohio.  The second game is at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida but they will get a week off in between and will treat this like a playoff trip as well.  With two early wins, we will have them competing early amongst the best in the state.  Head Coach Alvin Parker has been leading the Panthers of Virginia Union for the past 7 seasons with a 51-15 record.  One of the best win percentages among Division I and II programs.  Ranked number 11 in the nation among Division II, look for the Panthers to be one of the favorites as the best program in the state.  

Coming in at #2 is Liberty who has also had recent success and is looking to make a splash with a possible playoff appearance.  The Flames will host Maine for the season opener looking to catch stride early as they hit the road for a conference road opener against Jacksonville State out of Alabama.  This can be huge for Liberty to get some national recognition if they stay at the top of the conference from the beginning.  Head Coach Jamey Chadwell has been all about business since he arrived in 2022.  Liberty has been the top Group Five program in the country since 2020 with 47 wins.  13-0 in his first regular season has Flame nation believing they will be the first Virginia school in the D-I playoffs. If they can run the table in Conference USA, then they will be in a prime position to make a bid for the playoffs.  

Lonely at the top is the Richmond Spiders, who started slow last season but started piling up consecutive wins mounting up to ten games.  Normally in most sports, you can finish strong and be a contender for the title, but in college football every week counts and you can not afford to lose early games, as the playoff committee will send you half across America to face a town and not a team.  In their last season in the CAA, they left an impression by winning the conference and moving on to the Patriot League.  Holding the crown means the schedule should reflect that and, on the road, going to #14/15 ranked Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania will set the tone for the Spiders as this is a new conference foe, and this result could be the deciding factor in the conference title.   If the Spiders can pull off the upset, then going to Wofford might even be a trap game so they must stay the course early with three road games capping off with North Carolina in Chapel Hill.  Russ Huesman enters his ninth season and has proven that the move was justified posting a 26-3 conference record over the past three seasons.  

Season Openers

JMU vs Weber State August 30

Randolph Macon vs. Dickinson College September 5

VUU vs Miles College (Canton, OH) August 31

Liberty vs. Maine August 30

Richmond at Lehigh August 30