Rhode Island, Monmouth Ranked In Preseason AFCA Coaches FCS Top 25 Poll

Rhode Island, Monmouth Ranked In Preseason AFCA Coaches FCS Top 25 Poll

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Rob Washburn

RICHMOND, Va. (August 17, 2026) – Two CAA Football teams were ranked and three more received votes in the preseason AFCA Coaches Top 25 poll that was released on Monday.

Two-time defending CAA champion Rhode Island enters the 2026 campaign ranked No. 8 in the AFCA poll, while Monmouth begins the year ranked No. 23 by the coaches. Elon, New Hampshire and Stony Brook were among others receiving votes.

Rhode Island is coming off back-to-back 11-3 seasons and was the unanimous pick to capture another CAA title in 2026. The Rams return 15 starters from a year ago, including quarterback Devin Farrell, the CAA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and All-America wide receiver Marquis Buchanan on offense, and linebackers Rohan Davy and Moses Meus defensively.

Monmouth, which begins its first season under head coach Jeff Gallo, welcomes back 14 starters from last year’s 9-3 squad. Quarterback Frankie Weaver and receivers Gavin Nelson and Tra Neal are back from the top offense in FCS football. Eight regulars return defensively, topped by All-America safety Jaeden Jones.

Elon has 12 returning starters from its 6-6 team in 2025. Among the standouts back for the Phoenix are linebacker Brodie Carroll, running back Jimmyll Williams and kicker Luke Barnes.

UNH has seven starters back on offense and six on defense in its first season under head coach Sean Goldrich. Running back Myles Thomason and linebacker Darren Burton II are among the returnees from last year’s 8-5 squad.

Stony Brook welcomes back 12 starters from last year’s 6-6 squad. Seven of those starters are on defense, including defensive lineman Sebastian Regis, linebacker Anthony Ferrelli and cornerback Miles McGoy, who were chosen to the preseason All-CAA team.

2026 PRESEASON AFCA COACHES FCS TOP 25 POLL
  1. Montana State
  2. Montana
  3. South Dakota State
  4. Illinois State
  5. Tarleton State
  6. UC Davis
  7. Villanova
  8. Rhode Island
  9. Youngstown State
  10. North Dakota
  11. Lehigh
  12. South Dakota
  13. Stephen F. Austin
  14. Abilene Christian
  15. Tennessee Tech
  16. Southern Illinois
  17. Mercer
  18. Austin Peay
  19. Yale
  20. Southeastern Louisiana
  21. Lamar
  22. UT Martin
  23. Monmouth
  24. Northern Arizona
  25. South Carolina State
 
RV: Richmond, Southeast Missouri, Valparaiso, Alabama State, ETSU, Western Carolina, Idaho State, Harvard, Central Connecticut State, Furman, Jackson State, Chattanooga, Eastern Kentucky, UIW, UTRGV, Dartmouth, Elon, William & Mary, Holy Cross, Wofford, Prairie View A&M, Northern Colorado, St. Thomas, New Hampshire, Central Arkansas, McNeese State, San Diego, Stony Brook