CAA Football Well-Represented In Two 2024 FCS Preseason Top 25 Polls

CAA Football Well-Represented In Two 2024 FCS Preseason Top 25 Polls

Bookmark and Share

Rob Washburn

RICHMOND, Va. (June 11, 2024) – With the start of the 2024 football season less than three months away, two of the nation’s top media outlets for FCS football coverage are predicting another strong year for CAA Football based on their preseason Top 25 polls.

Craig Haley, FCS Senior Editor for Stats Perform and the Analyst, has five CAA teams in his Top 25. Villanova tops the list at #6, followed by #9 William & Mary, #18 Elon, #20 Richmond and #21 UAlbany. The CAA’s five ranked teams were the second-most of any conference, trailing only the Missouri Valley with six.

HERO Sports also placed five CAA teams in its Top 25 poll. Villanova leads the group at #6, followed by #13 Richmond, #15 UAlbany, #17 William & Mary and #19 Delaware. Elon was among other teams receiving votes. Only the Missouri Valley and Big Sky with six ranked teams had more than the CAA.

Villanova went 10-3 overall last season, earned a share of the CAA title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the second time in the past three seasons.

William & Mary posted its third straight winning season with a 6-5 mark a year ago. The Tribe was 11-2 overall, claimed a share of the CAA championship and reached the FCS quarterfinals in 2022.

UAlbany is coming off the best season in program history that included an 11-4 record, a share of the CAA championship and two playoff wins to reach the FCS semifinals.

Richmond tallied a 9-4 record last season, garnered a share of the CAA championship and reached the second round of the FCS playoffs for the second straight year.

Elon achieved a third consecutive winning campaign a year ago with a 6-5 record. The Phoenix earned an FCS playoff berth in 2022 and has won at least five CAA games for three straight years.

Delaware reached the second round of the FCS playoffs for the second year in a row in 2023 after putting together a 9-4 overall record.
 
CRAIG HALEY/THE ANALYST FCS PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL
  1. North Dakota State
  2. South Dakota State
  3. Montana
  4. South Dakota
  5. Montana State
  6. Villanova
  7. Sacramento State
  8. Idaho
  9. William & Mary
  10. Central Arkansas
  11. Chattanooga
  12. Southern Illinois
  13. UIW
  14. Illinois State
  15. Weber State
  16. Furman
  17. Lafayette
  18. Elon
  19. Tarleton State
  20. Richmond
  21. UAlbany
  22. Nicholls
  23. Western Carolina
  24. Eastern Illinois
  25. UT Martin/Youngstown State
 
HERO SPORTS FCS PRESEASON TOP 25
  1. South Dakota State
  2. North Dakota State
  3. Montana
  4. Montana State
  5. South Dakota
  6. Villanova
  7. Idaho
  8. Sacramento State
  9. Southern Illinois
  10. Chattanooga
  11. Central Arkansas
  12. UIW
  13. Richmond
  14. Furman
  15. UAlbany
  16. Western Carolina
  17. William & Mary
  18. Tarleton State
  19. Delaware
  20. Lafayette
  21. UC Davis
  22. Weber State
  23. Youngstown State
  24. Illinois State
  25. Eastern Illinois
RV: Nicholls, Elon, UT Martin