Rhode Island Rises In FCS Top 25 Polls, Five Other CAA Football Teams Receiving Votes

Rhode Island Rises In FCS Top 25 Polls, Five Other CAA Football Teams Receiving Votes

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Rob Washburn

RICHMOND, Va. (August 31, 2026) – Rhode Island remained in the top 10 of the latest FCS Top 25 polls, with five other CAA Football teams receiving votes in either the Stats Perform or AFCA Coaches rankings.

Rhode Island (1-0) moved up to No. 6 in the Stats poll and is ranked No. 8 in the AFCA poll after rolling to a 34-7 victory at Merrimack last Friday. The Rams visit Temple on Saturday afternoon.

Elon (1-0) and Monmouth (0-1) received in both the Stats and AFCA polls. The Phoenix, who defeated Glenville State, 31-7, last Thursday, makes the short trip to Davidson on Saturday. The Hawks, who dropped a 38-14 decision to nationally ranked Tennessee Tech, host Sacred Heart on Saturday in their CAA opener.

UAlbany (1-0) picked up votes in the Stats Top 25 following its 28-14 triumph over UNH last Friday. The Great Danes travel to Buffalo on Thursday night. Maine (1-0) and Campbell (1-0) garnered votes in the AFCA Top 25. The Black Bears opened CAA play with a 21-18 road win at Towson last Thursday and will head to Appalachian State this week. The Camels went on the road and topped ETSU, 49-37, last Saturday and come home to face Western Carolina on Saturday.

2026 STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 POLL – AUG. 31
  1. Montana State
  2. South Dakota State
  3. Montana
  4. Illinois State
  5. Tarleton State
  6. Rhode Island
  7. UC Davis
  8. North Dakota
  9. Youngstown State
  10. Lehigh
  11. South Dakota
  12. Tennessee Tech
  13. Stephen F. Austin
  14. Lamar
  15. Austin Peay
  16. Yale
  17. William & Mary
  18. Villanova
  19. Mercer
  20. Abilene Christian
  21. South Carolina State
  22. Northern Arizona
  23. Idaho State
  24. Western Carolina
  25. West Florida
 
RV: Southern Illinois, Alabama State, Harvard, Central Arkansas, Southern Utah, UTRGV, Houston Christian, Cal Poly, Delaware State, Jackson State, Elon, Southeast Missouri, Southeastern Louisiana, Richmond, Monmouth, Chattanooga, UAlbany, Prairie View A&M, UT Martin

2026 AFCA COACHES FCS TOP 25 POLL – AUG. 31
  1. Montana State
  2. South Dakota State
  3. Montana
  4. Illinois State
  5. Tarleton State
  6. UC Davis
  7. Youngstown State
  8. Rhode Island
  9. North Dakota
  10. Lehigh
  11. Stephen F. Austin
  12. South Dakota
  13. Tennessee Tech
  14. Austin Peay
  15. Mercer
  16. Lamar
  17. Villanova
  18. Yale
  19. William & Mary
  20. Northern Arizona
  21. Abilene Christian
  22. South Carolina State
  23. Richmond
  24. Central Arkansas
  25. Southern Illinois
 
RV: Western Carolina, UT Martin, Idaho State, Wofford, Southeast Missouri, Alabama State, Maine, Southeastern Louisiana, Monmouth, Furman, Harvard, Prairie View A&M, Southern Utah, Chattanooga, UTRGV, West Florida, Cal Poly, Elon, Houston Christian, UIW, Delaware State, Dartmouth, Idaho, Jackson State, Campbell, ETSU