The Hero Sports preseason Top 25 was released on Wednesday, May 27, with the Villanova Wildcats coming in at No. 8.
 
Villanova returns 18 starters, including 10 on the offensive side of the ball, from last season's team that went 9-4 and earned at large bid to the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats finished last year ranked No. 17 in the final poll of the 2019 season.
 
The Wildcats are one of five CAA teams to be ranked in the preseason poll. James Madison leads the way for the league at No. 5, followed by Villanova at No. 8, Delaware at No. 15, New Hampshire at No. 17 and Albany at No. 24. 
 
Villanova is set to return its leading passer, rusher, receiver and tackler from a season ago. Senior quarterback Dan Smith is coming off a year where he led all of FCS Football in points responsible for with 288. Smith completed 236-of-396 for 3,274 yards and 35 touchdowns. Despite playing in only six of the 13 games due to injury, senior running back Justin Covington led the Wildcats with 90 carries for 727 yards and three scores.
 
Senior wideout Changa Hodge is coming off a breakout year in 2019 when he tallied 65 catches for 1,118 yards and 13 touchdowns. Senior linebacker Forrest Rhyne led the Villanova defense last season with 116 tackles to go with 14.5 tackles for loss and six sacks, while senior Jaquan Amos had a team-high four interceptions.
 
Villanova is scheduled to kickoff the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 3, with a home game against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks.