THE WORD

Patriot League Week 1 was a tale of two afternoons. Early blowouts gave way to a dramatic evening slate as Lehigh and Colgate took control atop the standings, William & Mary and Richmond improved to 2-0 and Villanova survived Bucknell.

The FCS Nation Radio 2026 Preseason Top 25 is here. See our complete FCS football rankings, led by Montana State, South Dakota State and Montana.

The Patriot League enters a new era in 2026 with Villanova and William & Mary joining the conference and ten teams battling for supremacy. Here’s a team-by-team look at the preseason rankings, top players, Week 0 matchups and storylines shaping the season.