By Tiffany Williams –
The CAA once again showed its muscle in the FCS ranks this week, planting four teams in the Top 25 while three more lurked just outside the cut.
Rhode Island kept its undefeated start rolling and climbed to No. 6 in the AFCA poll and No. 7 in the Stats Perform rankings after grinding out a 9-7 win over Holy Cross. The Rams, now 3-0, will try to keep the streak alive when they host LIU on Saturday.
Villanova, still licking its wounds after a 52-6 beatdown at Penn State, didn’t budge much in the polls. The Wildcats held at No. 11 in the Stats list and No. 12 in the AFCA, and now face a massive league opener at Monmouth, which is ranked in both polls.
Monmouth nearly pulled the FBS upset last week but fell short in a 42-35 shootout at Charlotte. The Hawks stayed steady at No. 18 in the coaches’ poll and No. 21 in Stats. They now welcome Villanova in a showdown that could shake up the CAA race before October.
New Hampshire, also coming off an FBS nail-biter in a 34-29 loss to Ball State, held on to spots in both polls at No. 23 (AFCA) and No. 25 (Stats). The Wildcats renew their in-state rivalry this weekend against Dartmouth.
Outside the Top 25, Bryant and Elon both received votes in each poll, while Stony Brook earned some coaches’ love after a 1-2 start.
The CAA’s presence is part of a national picture still dominated by North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Tarleton State, who held down the top three slots in both polls. But with Rhode Island knocking on the door of the Top 5 and Villanova, Monmouth and UNH all in the mix, the league once again looks like a force ready to rumble deep into November.