Which FBS team is the best in Virginia?

It’s a question that comes without an obvious answer, at least three weeks into the 2025 college football season. The JMU Sports News team of myself, Jack Fitzpatrick, and contributor Evan Worrell compiled a Week 3 Power Ranking of Virginia’s FBS teams. Here’s what we came up with:

Our team-wide rankings:
1. ODU
2. UVA
3. JMU
4. Liberty
5. VT

My personal rankings have JMU over UVA. Here’s my explanation for my personal ballot — I think Jack and Evan gave too much love to UVA.

For what it’s worth, our poll only ranks the program’s this season. This doesn’t factor in JMU’s 2023 win over UVA or the Dukes’ recent wins over ODU. Instead, it’s a power ranking of the 2025 teams and how they’ve looked in the first three weeks of the year.

1. ODU, 2-1

Colton Joseph is a monster. ODU’s young quarterback runs the Monarchs’ unique offensive system beautifully, as his 291 rushing yards rank second in the FBS among quarterbacks. He’s also 30th nationally in passing efficiency.

The Monarchs blew out Virginia Tech, 45-26, last week. They’re 2-1 with a competitive loss to Indiana in Bloomington. ODU is a sneaky College Football Playoff contender in the Sun Belt.

2. JMU, 1-1

The Dukes are 1-1 on the season, but the upside is obvious. JMU’s defense held Louisville to under 300 yards in Week 2, losing 28-14 because of quarterback woes. The Dukes’ two-quarterback system makes their spot atop the poll shaky, but it’s hard to argue against the team’s defense and running backs.

George Pettaway and Wayne Knight are both averaging over 8 yards per carry, making it all the more confusing why they weren’t featured against the Cardinals.

If the Dukes stay relatively healthy, they have a chance to be favored in their remaining 10 games. Going 12-1 with a Sun Belt Championship is possible. More realistically, the Dukes should flirt with 10 wins.

I put ODU over JMU because of the Monarchs’ strong body of work through three weeks. It’s hard to put JMU atop this power poll before the Dukes get an FBS win.

3. UVA, 2-1

The Cavaliers let an opportunity slip against NC State in Week 2, losing 35-31 despite having a 100-yard edge in total yards. They dominated Coastal Carolina and W&M, and they should be in the mix to make a bowl game because of a weak schedule, but it’s hard to see this team finishing much better than 7-5. If UVA misses a bowl game, which is possible, it’s likely Tony Elliott loses his job.

UVA has potential, but beating up on Coastal and W&M is less impressive than JMU’s close call against Louisville.

4. Liberty, 1-2

The Flames have been doomed by turnovers in their 1-2 start, having a minus-6 differential in losses to Jacksonville State and Bowling Green. If they can figure that out, they can get back on track and compete for a CUSA title. If they can’t, Jamey Chadwell’s seat might heat up after a sluggish 8-4 season in 2024.

5. VT, 0-3

If you fire your coach the week of the power poll, you finish at the bottom of the ranking. Sorry, those are the rules.

The Hokies let go of Brent Pry after an 0-3 start that included embarrassing home losses to Vanderbilt and ODU. In fairness to Bry, the Hokies’ opening schedule of South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and ODU did him no favors. Each of those teams look like top-50 football teams, with Vanderbilt and South Carolina playing like top-25 squads.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications