NEW YORK, N.Y. - In the 2015 preseason STATS FCS Top 25 that was released on Monday, August 10, the Villanova Wildcats were ranked No. 4 with 3,249 votes. North Dakota State was the preseason top ranked team with 3,671 points, including 144 first place votes. Illinois State is ranked second with 3,423 points and three first place votes, while Sam Houston State is third with 3,264 points.

The Wildcats return 14 starters and 32 letterwinners from last year's team that went 11-3 overall and 7-1 in CAA play and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA playoffs.

Villanova finished last season ranked No. 7 in the final national poll. Villanova is one of four CAA teams to be ranked in the preseason poll. New Hampshire is ranked No. 9, James Madison checks in at No. 12 and Richmond is No. 18.

The Wildcats open the 2015 campaign on Thursday, September 3, with a game at Connecticut. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn. The game can be seen on ESPN3 and SNY.

STATS FCS PRESEASON TOP 25