The defending national champion Spiders are 8-0 (6-0 in the CAA), while Villanova is 7-1 and 4-1, its only loss 28-24 at seventh-ranked New Hampshire. Saturday's winner will have the inside track to the CAA title and a high seed in the NCAA playoffs.

Villanova coach Andy Talley hasn't downplayed what will be at stake Saturday with his team.

"I have talked about it. Our assistant coaches don't like it, but you really want the players to understand the ramifications of this game," Talley said. "I've been around long enough to know you may never come this way again.

"Very few times do you have a chance to control your own destiny, and this is one of them. What are you going to do with it?"

Both beat Football Bowl Subdivision teams to open the season, wins that have grown in importance. The Spiders beat Duke, now 5-3. The Wildcats beat Temple, winners of six in a row.

"Those were signature victories, but they're not going to help us (Saturday)," Richmond coach Mike London said. "They'll loom larger when you look back at the end of the season."

Richmond owns the best start in school history and a 17-game winning streak. The Spiders received a vote in this week's Associated Press FBS poll of news media to become only the third FCS school so recognized.

Richmond quarterback Eric Ward has thrown for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns and needs 34 yards to become Richmond's career passing leader. Justin Forte is the CAA's leading rusher with a 92-yard average.

Villanova defeated the Spiders 26-20 last season and leads the series 19-9. Quarterback Chris Whitney has produced 13 touchdowns while rushing for 561 yards and passing for 975.

"Whitney can do everything," London said. "He makes good decisions, manages the offense and gives them a dual dimension."

•The Patriot League has three teams in the FCS coaches' top 25 for the first time since 2005, and all will be in critical conference games Saturday.

No. 14 Holy Cross (7-1, 3-0) visits Lehigh (2-6, 2-1), while 20th-ranked Colgate (8-1, 3-1) is at No. 24 Lafayette (7-1, 3-0).

Holy Cross is paced by quarterback Dominic Randolph, who has a touchdown pass in an FCS-record 38 consecutive games. The Crusaders have their best start since going 11-0 in 1991.

Enlarge By Pete Marovich, (Harrisonburg, Va.) Daily News-Record via AP No. 1 Richmond's Tre Gray, right has 29 catches for 381 yards this season. The team hosts No. 4 Villanova this weekend, and the winner will likely have an inside track to the CAA title.