Four CAA Football Teams Open FCS Playoffs On Saturday
Rob Washburn
CAA Football Weekly Release
CAA Football Coaches Weekly Media Conference
NCAA FCS Playoff Bracket
Four CAA Football teams will host games in the first round of the NCAA FCS playoffs on Saturday afternoon.
Rhode Island (10-2), making its first playoff appearance since 1985, meets Northeast Conference champion Central Connecticut State (7-5) at Noon. The Rams are led offensively by running back Malik Grant (1,167 yards, 13 TD’s) and wide receiver Marquis Buchanan (66 rec., 981 yards, 7 TD’s), while linebacker A.J. Pena (70 tackles, 18.0 TFL, 10.5 sacks) is the top performer on a defense that allows just 22.8 ppg.
At 1 p.m., New Hampshire (8-4) takes on UT Martin (8-4) from the Big South-OVC. The Wildcats, who are making their second playoff appearance in the past three years and 18
th overall, have gotten big seasons from quarterback Seth Morgan (2,311 passing yards, 22 TD’s) and wide receiver Logan Tomlinson (76 rec., 810 yards, 9 TD’s). Defensively, ends Josiah Silver (58 tackles, 11.5 sacks) and Flex Ruiz (35 tackles, 8.5 sacks) and safety Wande Owens (101 tackles) earned first-team All-CAA honors.
Richmond (10-2), making its third straight playoff appearance, brings a 10-game winning streak into its 2 p.m. matchup with Patriot League champion Lehigh (8-3). Quarterback Cam Coleman (1,832 yards, 12 TD’s) and running back Zach Palmer-Smith (1,275 yards, 13 TD’s) top the Spiders’ offensively. UR’s defense, which allows just 17.5 ppg, features defensive end Jeremiah Grant (45 tackles, 12.5 sacks) and linebacker Carter Glassmyer (80 tackles, 7.0 TFL’s).
Villanova (9-3), which advanced to the quarterfinals of the playoffs in 2021 and 2023, hosts Eastern Kentucky (8-4) from the United Athletic Conference at 2 p.m. Quarterback Connor Watkins (1,822 yards, 11 TD’s passing/395 yards, 8 TD’s rushing) and running back David Avit (793 yards, 9 TD’s) lead the Wildcats offensively. VU’s nationally ranked defense features veteran linebackers Brendan Bell (104 tackles, 14.0 TFL’s) and Shane Hartzell (106 tackles, 8.5 TFL).
CAA Football teams are 59-40 all-time in the first round of the playoffs, including 5-1 over the past two seasons. All four games can be seen on ESPN+.