Commonwealth Collegiate Power Rankings Week 5 (9-25-24)
By: Joe Dillard Jr.
Headline Photo Credit: Maliyah Allen-LMS Network
We are talking all Virginia Football! Let’s see who the top dog by the end of the year will be. With another week comes another new number-one team as we break down teams on the rise and start to fall behind early in the season. We have a new Honorable Mention and because of that, no division I schools were removed for the week entering week 5. Let’s see what we got!!!
Honorable Mention: UVA @ Wise- (2-1) entering the rankings for the first time, UVA @ Wise is coming off a conference win and will look to continue the momentum against Newberry. Anytime you get beat 61-0 and can come back the following week and return the love by handing out a doughnut themselves, winning 28-0. Beating Catawba this past week 31-28 allows for an opportunity to stay hot and win three straight wins. We will see how they respond to winning two in a row.
10. VMI (0-4) Due to Virginia Union losing a game they should have won, that allowed a 0-4 Cadet team to stay in the rankings as they took a loss to Norfolk State 32-10 at home and will need this week off to try and come back the following week with a win. They will travel to Samford the following week to see if they can get their first win of the season.
9. ODU (0-3) Even with a bye week, ODU moves down a spot and will look to get their first victory of the season by traveling to Bowling Green where this could be the turnaround that they are looking for. After a couple of blown win opportunities, the Monarchs are looking to avoid the doghouse with VMI as the only division I without a win. All that’s missing is a dominant Division II team to threaten both of the teams.
8. NSU (2-3) coming off a 32-10 road win against a winless VMI team moved NSU in state record to 2-0 which could be clutch down the stretch but right now it is the only 2 wins on the schedule as they head into conference play against NC Central. A win and playing .500 football might be the push they need heading into MEAC play. Other than Howard and Delaware State, (which have similar Virginia opponents on their schedule) the rest of the schedule will just be based on the conference standings and will need victories from the Spartans to move up.
7. Richmond (2-2) The Spiders of Richmond traveled to Delaware State and handled business like we discussed last week, however since it was not in dominant fashion, they will have to continue that streak for a chance to move up as they stay at 7 for two weeks in a row. They will be on the road again as they travel to Elon and hope to gain a CAA conference win. Wins are all they need as they have two huge games at the end of the year with Hampton and William and Mary so the opportunities are there for the Spiders, but will they be in a position to take advantage of it?
6. Hampton (3-1) From the Battle of the Bay to the battle of “The REAL HU.” The Hampton and Howard game reached ESPN as Stephen A Smith and Shannon Sharpe hosted First Take on the campus of Howard University. Well, when you win consecutive rivalry games and you are looking to make a splash in your conference, what better way than to upset William and Mary at home? This is what is in front of the Pirates as they will be in prime position to return to glory. A win this week would have them claiming to be the next-best team outside the big three.
5. Virginia Tech (2-2) Although Rutgers is trending upward, the Hokies needed this win as they had big plans for the ACC this season, and going 2-2 in the beginning four games could expose the Hokies come ACC play. They travel to Miami, and they are not going to be a favorite as the Hurricanes are ranked 7th in the nation and will look to roll over the Hokies. If they can get the win this could turn their season around as they have dreams of playing in the ACC championship game.
4. William and Mary (3-1) The number 12 ranked Tribe completely rolled after trailing 14-0, beating Furman 34-24. Rushing for 390 yards and going on a 27-0 run, the Tribe looks poised to make another playoff run but will need to continue to get stronger on the defensive end. Quiet as kept this game against Hampton has always been important regarding recruiting and the fact the schools are less than 30 minutes from one another off Interstate 64. Now we add 2 (3-1) teams looking to get a conference win and have great momentum moving into the second half of the schedule. If the Tribe can dominate they will have a chance to move up.
3. Virginia (3-1) UVA went to Coastal Carolina and did what William and Mary could not and that came out with a win on the road. Winning 43-24, they dominated the game from start to finish. Rushing for over 375 yards and allowing Malachi Fields to continue getting touches, this UVA team could be poised for a run. This puts UVA in a must-win situation again to have a chance to be ranked nationally and will have a bye week to focus on this important game against Boston College who is a real threat to contending for an ACC title opportunity. The winner of this game will have massive momentum heading into the second half of the schedule. It will be hard for UVA to upend the Dukes and the Flames if they continue to be undefeated.
2. Liberty (3-0) Trailing 14-0 against East Carolina, Liberty went on a 35-10 run to close out East Carolina who jumped out early. This blemish is the only downfall that moves Liberty to the number 2 spot. Other than that, they have played outstanding football and will be looking to keep that all-important doughnut in the loss column. With a trap game ahead of them traveling to Appalachian State, Liberty will continue to be tested as they are gaining momentum being undefeated. Even Malik Willis had an outstanding game for the Packers relieving injured quarterback Jordan Love. If I were the Flames, I would be ok with this number 2 ranking with all of the success brewing in that town.
1. JMU (3-0) – Most likely the biggest headliner in college football as JMU went to North Carolina and put up 53 in the first half on an ACC opponent. We definitely will have similar opponents for Virginia and Virginia Tech as JMU has made themselves the talk of town. Losing the whole coaching staff and players yet still managing to have more than 5 high major division one athletes. This will give you a chance when the culture is as deep as the Dukes out of Harrisonburg. The only bad thing is they will need to blow out Ball State to keep Liberty off of their tails. We are in the position to say that we have two playoff teams that could go the distance.
