By Tiffany Williams –
The CAA just kicked the door down. Three of its teams muscled their way into the national Top 10 — and the rest of the FCS better take notice. Monmouth, Villanova, and Rhode Island are all surging, leaving wreckage in their wake and proving the league isn’t just back — it’s built different.
Monmouth (8-1) is the new bully on the block. The Hawks crushed Bryant 35-7, their sixth straight win, and rocketed to No. 6 in the AFCA poll and No. 7 in the Stats Perform rankings. They didn’t just win — they steamrolled. This team runs the ball like it’s personal, plays defense like it’s war, and now they’ve got New Hampshire coming to their turf. Good luck with that.
Villanova (6-2) didn’t even play last week — and still climbed. That’s power. No. 8 in the AFCA, No. 10 in the Stats poll, the Wildcats are riding a five-game tear and heading to Towson with blood in the water. They’ve rediscovered that old-school Villanova grit: hard hits, clutch plays, and zero apologies. You don’t want to see them right now.
Rhode Island (7-2) just keeps climbing. The Rams didn’t touch the field last weekend and still jumped to No. 10 in the AFCA and No. 14 in the Stats poll. They’ve won three straight and head to Elon with one goal — keep rising. The program that used to be overlooked is now kicking down the door to the national spotlight.
New Hampshire (5-4) isn’t ranked yet — but they’re coming. Getting votes for the second week in a row, the Wildcats head to Monmouth with everything on the line. Win, and they’re back in the fight. Lose, and the climb gets steeper. Either way, the CAA will be center stage again.
Bottom line: The CAA’s not chasing the rest of the country anymore. It’s leading the pack, throwing punches, and making headlines. The Northeast is running the FCS — and it’s not even close.