Tiffany Williams –
The latest Stats Perform and AFCA FCS Top 25 polls delivered no shakeups — just confirmation of dominance. Three CAA powerhouses remain firmly entrenched in the national picture, each tightening its grip on the upper tier of the FCS hierarchy.
Monmouth (7-1) stayed right where it belongs — No. 9 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the Stats Perform rankings — after a 28-10 takedown of Hampton that showcased a physical, balanced attack and another unstoppable day for running back Rodney Nelson. The Hawks have now ripped off five straight wins and remain the most complete team in the Coastal Athletic Association. Kevin Callahan’s squad will take its momentum back on the road to Bryant this week, hunting for win number eight and a perfect 5-0 start in conference play.
Villanova (6-2) continued its home-field stranglehold, flattening UAlbany 29-16 for its 20th consecutive win at Villanova Stadium. The Wildcats didn’t budge in the Stats poll, holding firm at No. 11, while the AFCA nudged them up to No. 11 as well — a small but deserved bump for one of the most disciplined teams in the FCS. The bye week couldn’t come at a better time as Mark Ferrante’s group reloads for the final stretch.
Rhode Island (7-2) made its own quiet statement, climbing to No. 12 in the AFCA and holding steady at No. 13 in the Stats rankings after dismantling Bryant 38-17. The Rams have now won 13 straight at Meade Stadium, the longest active home streak in the CAA and one of the longest in the nation. Jim Fleming’s team is methodical, confident, and unshaken — a clear threat to the conference crown.
New Hampshire (5-4) isn’t ranked yet, but it’s knocking hard. A 34-24 victory over William & Mary caught voters’ attention, earning the Wildcats votes in the Stats poll. They get a breather this week — but the CAA gauntlet isn’t finished.
The top of the national board remains familiar. North Dakota State holds its throne, followed by Tarleton State, Montana, Montana State, and South Dakota State. UC Davis, Lehigh, North Dakota, and Tennessee Tech fill out the top nine before Monmouth makes its mark at No. 10.
Harvard, Rhode Island, and Villanova anchor the middle of the pack, keeping the CAA’s presence loud in both major polls. Mercer, Lamar, and Southern Illinois hover behind — all contenders, but none with the same steady week-to-week firepower as the CAA trio.
For Monmouth, Villanova, and Rhode Island, the message is simple: stay sharp, stay consistent, and keep winning. November will separate the pretenders from the playoff locks, and right now, the CAA looks every bit like a conference that’s sending multiple teams deep into December.