NEC Football Power Rankings: Week 4
1. Central Connecticut State (2-1, 1-0 NEC)
Central Connecticut jumps to the top of the rankings after an impressive 27-20 conference win over Saint Francis U. Their defense continues to shine, with Vincent Thomas' fumble recovery for a touchdown as the highlight. Brady Olson has led the way with 477 passing yards and three touchdowns on the season. With two consecutive wins, CCSU is looking like a serious contender for the NEC title.
2. Wagner (2-1)
Wagner moves up to the second spot after a dominant 30-7 victory over Delaware State. Rickey Spruill powered the offense with 143 rushing yards and a touchdown, while the defense shut down Delaware State, allowing just one score. With the Seahawks' balanced attack and a defense that forces turnovers, they’re looking strong heading into their conference matchup against Robert Morris.
3. Duquesne (1-2)
Duquesne pulls off a shocking 28-25 win over Youngstown State, propelling them to third in the rankings. The Dukes' defense stepped up in a big way, and quarterback Darius Perrantes led them to victory. With their first win of the season coming in dramatic fashion, Duquesne looks to build momentum as they prepare for a game against West Virginia Wesleyan.
4. Saint Francis U (1-2, 0-1 NEC)
Saint Francis drops to fourth after a close 27-20 loss to Central Connecticut, despite a strong performance from their defense. They remain competitive, and with their first-ever FBS win under their belt from Week 2, they’re still in the conversation for NEC contenders. Saint Francis will need to bounce back as they prepare for a tough road game against Eastern Michigan.
5. Robert Morris (1-2)
Robert Morris rebounds from a tough start to the season with an emphatic 55-28 win over Mercyhurst. Quarterback Anthony Chiccitt was outstanding, throwing for 307 yards and five touchdowns. Noah Robinson also had a breakout performance with 116 receiving yards and two touchdowns. RMU’s offense is firing on all cylinders, and they’ll look to carry that momentum into their conference opener against Wagner.
6. LIU (0-3)
LIU narrowly lost 20-17 to Lehigh, putting them just ahead of the bottom two teams in the rankings. The Sharks had chances to win, but a strong showing from Lehigh prevented Long Island from gaining their first win of the season despite playing well enough to win twice on the season already, with the third game being against FBS powerhouse TCU. With key contributions from Michael Love and Ludovick Choquette, LIU has shown they can compete against tough opponents, but they need to start converting those performances into wins.
7. Mercyhurst (1-2)
Mercyhurst continues to slide after a 55-28 loss to Robert Morris. Despite standout performances from Cameron Barmore and Adam Urena (when aren’t these guys having standout performances?!), the Lakers have struggled to put together complete games. Their defense couldn’t contain RMU’s high-powered offense, and they’ll need to make adjustments quickly to avoid a prolonged slump.
8. Stonehill (0-2)
Stonehill remains at the bottom of the rankings after a 45-6 loss to New Hampshire. The Skyhawks have struggled to compete in their first two games and are still searching for their first win of the season. Their offense has been inconsistent, and they’ll need a much-improved performance to challenge Sacred Heart next week. Coach Gardner told us before the season that he had a young team, and so far, they’re learning how to play together the hard way. On the bright side, the hard way tends to work, over time.
Final Thoughts:
Central Connecticut has solidified their spot at the top after an impressive win over Saint Francis U. Wagner continues to look strong, while Duquesne's upset win over Youngstown State has shaken up the middle of the rankings. Robert Morris and Saint Francis remain in the mix, and LIU needs to find a way to convert close games into wins. Mercyhurst and Stonehill are struggling but still have time to turn things around. The season is heating up, and the competition for the NEC title is wide open!
