AFCA Coaches Preseason FCS Top 25 Poll Features Four CAA Football Teams
Rob Washburn
RICHMOND, Va. (August 11, 2025) – Four CAA Football teams were ranked and a fifth squad received votes in the 2025 AFCA Coaches FCS preseason Top 25 poll that was released on Monday.
Rhode Island topped the group of ranked CAA teams at #10, followed by
Villanova at #13,
Monmouth at #21, and
Stony Brook at #25.
New Hampshire was among other teams receiving votes.
Rhode Island returns 11 starters from last year’s 11-3 team that set a program record for wins, earned a share of the CAA Football championship and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs. Eight regulars are back on offense, including quarterback Devin Farrell, All-America wide receiver Marquis Buchanan and an experienced offensive line. All-America linebacker A.J. Pena spearheads the Rams’ defense.
Villanova reached the FCS playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons after posting an 11-4 record a year ago. All-America linebacker Shane Hartzell is the top returnee on a Wildcats’ defense that gave up just 18.6 ppg in 2024. The offense features running backs David Avit and Isaiah Ragland rushing behind a line that includes All-America pick Jake Picard.
Monmouth featured one of the most explosive offenses in FCS football last season, averaging 489.9 yards and 39.0 points per game. All-America quarterback Derek Robertson is back at the controls of an attack that includes receivers Josh Derry and TJ Speight and running back Rodney Nelson. Safety Deuce Lee is back for the Hawks’ defense.
Stony Brook posted the biggest turnaround in FCS football last season with an 8-4 record. The Seawolves’ offense is led by All-America running back Roland Dempster, who ranked in the top six nationally in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2024. Defensively, Stony Brook returns its top two tacklers with linebackers AJ Roberts and Anthony Ferrelli.
UNH went 8-5 and earned a berth in the FCS playoffs last season. The Wildcats have wide receiver Caleb Burke returning on offense and safety Duncan Moreland back on defense.
CAA Football’s four ranked teams trailed only the Missouri Valley and Big Sky Conferences.
2025 AFCA COACHES FCS PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL
- North Dakota State
- Montana State
- South Dakota State
- UIW
- South Dakota
- Illinois State
- UC Davis
- Tarleton State
- Montana
- Rhode Island
- Mercer
- Idaho
- Villanova
- Sacramento State
- Lehigh
- Abilene Christian
- Jackson State
- Northern Arizona
- Western Carolina
- Southern Illinois
- Monmouth
- Richmond
- Tennessee Tech
- Stephen F. Austin
- Stony Brook
RV: UT Martin, Harvard, Southeastern Louisiana, South Carolina State, Southeast Missouri, ETSU,
New Hampshire, Eastern Kentucky, North Dakota, Youngstown State, Chattanooga, Tennessee State, Dartmouth, North Carolina Central, Central Connecticut St., Southern Utah, Lafayette, Central Arkansas, Northern Iowa, San Diego, Indiana State, Lindenwood, Lamar, Holy Cross, Southern, Yale, Bucknell, Eastern Washington, Samford