Commonwealth Collegiate Rankings Week 6 (10-6-2026)
By: Joe Dillard Jr.
Headline Photo Credit: Brynne Smith-LMS Network
Commonwealth Collegiate Rankings
Week 6
Boy oh boy how some things never change as we have a new number one and a familiar one as multiple top 5 teams go down. This is going to show some separation for the rankings as teams look to rebound from a tough defeat while few have multiple game-winning streaks. Let’s take a look and see what we have for this week’s CCR!
Honorable Mention is William and Mary and unfortunately the Tribe took another L falling to 2-4 on the season. Just constant new opponents to get used to, will be a huge challenge for Mike London’s staff and they will have a favorable schedule on the backend but can they recover from this losing streak?
10. Norfolk State (3-2 MEAC) This season Mike Vick has clearly improved the staff and players as they have competed way better than in his first season. On the road down 10 to Robert Morris at the end of three and still the Spartans fought until the end to come up short 31-33. With Virginia Lynchburg coming up, the Spartans will need a blowout win to maintain momentum for this season in the CCR.
9. Roanoke College (4-0 ODAC) Historic runs at the D-III level have come quite often in the great Commonwealth and this looks like we have another brewing with Roanoke posting 52 points in consecutive weeks beating Guilford College on the road 52-24. With Hampton Sydney up next this will be a huge test to see if the Maroons are about their business this season. One of three teams undefeated and looking to continue rolling.
8. Virginia Union University (5-1 CIAA) What we have become used to seeing from the Panthers is not what we are seeing initially right now. Winning 20-7 winners of 5 straight and it just looks like they will have to figure out if they will lean on their strength of the run, which is great but if ever behind might find themselves out of reach due to style of play. A drop in the rankings means the defense will have to pitch first-half shutouts to prevent falling behind. In the past three games, it looks like the defense knows the assignment with a 76-7 scoring difference. One way to win is easy to prepare for so we will see who is up for the challenge as the Panthers travel to Bowie State next week and will look to regain form.
7. Virginia State University (5-1 CIAA) winning 42-32 at Lincoln University is a huge win as the Trojans are firing on all cylinders with sophomore Rahsaan Matthews having a field day throwing for 356 yards and 4 touchdowns with no INTs. A 77-yard bomb to Kevin Galyes who seems to always find the endzone with 2 catches for 93 yards and 2 TDs is just the tip of the iceberg. The ground attack continues to improve every week and that can be a problem for future opponents. Livingstone will be coming to the Land of Troy for homecoming and will be in for a tough matchup with a hot VSU team looking to ascend in the CCR.
6. University of Virginia (3-2 ACC) I knew this was a trap for UVA, but I didn’t expect to see this. Starting out 7-0 against Florida State on the road was what Hoos nation wanted to see. However, after that, a struggling FSU team outscored UVA 38-0 to dominate UVA 38-7. Ashton Daniels of FSU had a field day totaling 351 yards and 5 TDs. With Syracuse up next UVA will need to have a short memory and leave that loss in Tallahassee. Dropping 3 spots after that loss will leave everyone waiting to see how they respond.
5. Virginia Tech (4-1 ACC) Heavy for those that wear the crown as the Hokies turned the ball over 4 times and relied on the passing game to only fall short 33-35 to Pittsburgh. Although Pittsburgh is undefeated, the Hokies shot themselves in the foot too many times and the Panthers had a game plan that they stuck to limiting Jeffrey Overton Jr. to 93 total yards. Ethan Grunkemeyer had the ball in his hand for this one. Going 30-41 with 434 yards and three touchdowns are monster numbers but two interceptions allowed Pittsburgh to take advantage of that and steal a win on the road. Que’Sean Brown had 7 grabs for 147 and a TD. Pittsburgh’s grind-it-out approach ousted the Hokies even with 2 QBs and a running committee. Falling four spots has to do with it being a home loss and others ascending with better resumes.
4. Liberty University (4-1 Con USA) Again we may have to revisit that 20-13 loss to James Madison as the Flames continue to roll 30-14 against Delaware as Liberty led 23-0 after three quarters. If you know like I know that’s a Madden rule and yeah, you may score in the fourth, but you should have kicked the sticks by then. FSU transfer Kam Davis led Liberty’s rushing attack with 151 yards on 17 carries and 2 touchdowns. With Sam Houston up next, Liberty is looking like they have a conference championship in sight and will have to continue winning in all three phases. Jumping up in the rankings can be a trend for them if they can win their fifth straight against Sam Houston.
3. University of Richmond (5-1 Patriot) The Revenge Tour is on and popping with the Spiders of Richmond looking to show the Patriot League why they are all about business going on the road and playing all four quarters to get the win 40-31 against Lafayette. With a balanced attack, the Spiders are poised to make a run and will need to clean up some of the plays as turnovers can cost you late in the season. Traveling to New York to face Fordham will be a huge challenge and will show if the Spiders can clean up and continue rolling as they enter the top 3 in the CCR. One thing for sure is they took last year’s results personally, and you have to love seeing that hard work from adversity paying off.
2. Christopher Newport University (4-0 NJAC) No rust over here after winning a huge matchup against Susquehanna by thrashing William Paterson University 49-3. Brandon Pena is just slinging the rock everywhere as he went 21-for-25 for 245 yards and 3 TDs. The John Champe graduate out of Ashburn Virginia distributed the rock to 9 different Captains receivers and just might be the real deal. Up next for the Captains is Kean University, whom the Captains beat 49-0 last year and will hope to avoid any trap situations here with a trip on the road. It’s safe to say the Captains are here and ready to make a run for some hardware come late November and early December.
1. James Madison University (5-0 Sun Belt) Over the last decade, it has been safe to say that the number one team in the state of Virginia is the Dukes of James Madison as they continue to impose their will on every opponent with a 45-17 cakewalk against Sun Belt opponent Marshall. The Dukes have NFL prospects and not just by name but by production as well. Camden Coleman, a Richmond transfer, had a clean day going 21-for-32 for 263 with 3 TDs, no sacks, and no interceptions. When you have two future NFL players in Corey Scott and George Pettaway it makes life easy for Coleman to distribute. Scott is electric with 5 catches for 104 and 2 TDs as he made it known early off a bubble screen that he is legit eluding 6 defenders with blazing speed to take it to the house. But the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy star from Suffolk Virginia is working himself into the top three rounds of the draft if he continues to put up video game numbers going for 207 yards on ONLY 14 carries with 2 TDs. It’s clear who the number one team is in the state but the Dukes are looking for national recognition and will not stop until they have received it.
