The 2025 FCS football season is fast approaching, so we’re going inside each conference race. With Rhode Island and Villanova leading the way, here’s our CAA Football preview.
CAA Football continues to undergo change that’s not for the better, but enough good pieces are in place for a solid season in 2025.
After the CAA’s run with an FCS national quarterfinalist in every season since 1995 ended last year, Rhode Island and Villanova have the type of rosters to get there this season. Plus, there are other playoff hopefuls, including Monmouth and Stony Brook with national rankings in the preseason, and the individual talent level remains high on the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team.
This summer, 2024 champ Richmond left the CAA for the Patriot League and Delaware moved up to the FBS. Two other programs, Villanova and William & Mary, also will move to PL football next year, with Sacred Heart coming aboard. This year’s race is 14 teams deep – still the most in the FCS – and it will be 13 next year.
Following is a preview of the upcoming CAA Football season:
Predicted Order of Finish
*-FCS Playoff Qualifier; Ranking from Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll
1. *Rhode Island (11-3, 7-1; Preseason No. 9) – Having ended a 39-year playoff drought and advancing to the quarterfinals last season, the Rams will challenge for something even loftier. Linebacker A.J. Pena (82.5 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks) – the CAA’s preseason defensive player of the year – fuels a unit that also returns defensive lineman Case Mankins and cornerback Ayinde Johnson. The Brock Bethea-anchored offensive line has 57 starts back from last season, so quarterback Devin Farrell will keep targeting wide receiver Marquis Buchanan (82 receptions, 1,124 yards, eight touchdowns). Antwain Littleton had 250+ rushing yards in three different FBS seasons (two at Maryland, last season at Temple) and is part of an influential transfer class.
2. *Villanova (10-4, 6-2; No. 13) – The Wildcats have won 10 or more games in three of the past four seasons. They may want to think run first with OL Jake Picard, Stephane Voltaire and Temi Ajirotutu opening lanes for RBs David Avit (923 yards, nine TDs) and Isaiah Ragland (511, four), but Nicholls transfer QB Pat McQuaide will still look downfield. There’s physical play on defense with LB Shane Hartzell, whose 121 tackles last season rank second among returning FCS players, and defensive tackle Obinna Nwobodo, with CB Zahmir Dawud primed for a breakout. Wide receiver Luke Colella (Princeton) and DB Julian Talley (Penn) are grad transfers from the Ivy League.
3. *Monmouth (6-6, 4-4; No. 22) – Coach Kevin Callahan’s Hawks return a nearly intact offense behind the lead of QB Derek Robertson, who racked up 3,937 passing yards and 31 TD passes last season while WRs Josh Derry (60 receptions, 917 yards, five TDs) and TJ Speight (61-896-7) drove defenses bonkers. Although the Hawks lose RB Sone Ntoh (FCS-high 26 TDs), they return leading rusher Rodney Nelson (133 carries, 809 yards, six TDs). The big questions are on the other side of the ball as the Hawks surrendered 423.1 yards and 33.5 points per game (both ranking 14th out of 16 in the conference). Safety Deuce Lee is the top-returning tackler with 70 stops, but the defense will also feature transfers.
4. Stony Brook (8-4, 5-3; No. 24) – Billy Cosh guided an amazing turnaround in his first season as the Seawolves went 0-10 in 2023. They seek the next step behind Roland Dempster, the FCS’ top returnee in rushing yards (1,332), all-purpose yards per game (138.9), rushing TDs (18) and overall TDs (19). The O-line also remains solid with Niko Papic and Kollin Melendez, and the QB position could go to either 2023 starter Casey Case or Hampton transfer Chris Zellous. The defense is led by a linebackers unit which returns AJ Roberts (team-high 86 tackles), Anthony Ferrelli (84) and Chayce Chalmer (56). Edge rusher Rodney Faulk is the other key returnee in the front seven.
5. Towson (7-5, 5-3) – The CAA dark horse is Towson – in fact, the Opta supercomputer predicts the Tigers with the most overall wins out of the CAA. A retooling defense must jell, however, as some transfers were added up front to a unit that boasts DBs Myle Brodie and Xavier Terry (82 tackles) and LB Rodney Roane Jr. Quarterback Sean Brown finished strong while the Tigers won four of their final five games, and he has top wide receivers, including John Dunmore (42 receptions, 619 yards, five TDs). Former Mercer RB Al Wooten II is a key addition.
Expected win-loss projections for CAA Football teams in the 2025 regular season, according to Opta Analyst advanced data. (Graphic by Graham Bell)6. William & Mary (7-5, 4-4) – Or make that the Tribe are the CAA dark horse, because the talent level remains high. All-America CB Jalen Jones, DL David Dzidzienyo, Cornell transfer LB Luke Banbury, fullback Trey McDonald and punt returner Carson Jenkins were all named to the CAA preseason team, with tight end Sean McElwain, OL Ryan McKenna and DL Ty Gordon earning honorable mention distinction. It won’t be easy to replace QB Darius Wilson, but Tyler Hughes is highly experienced in the Tribe system, needing just 17 carries to rack up 201 yards and three TDs last season.
7. New Hampshire (8-5, 6-2) – UNH has a much-different look coming off its 18th all-time FCS playoff appearance. The Wildcats’ new quarterback – last year’s backup Matt Vezza has competition from Wingate transfer Brooks Bentley – won’t lack for offensive weapons with the return of RBs Myles Thomason and Denzell Gibson and WR Caleb Burke (52 receptions, 711 yards, six TDs), who was UNH’s only CAA preseason selection with honorable mention recognition. The defense and special teams were wiped out by graduation, and key LB Brandon Perkins departed via a transfer.
8. Elon (6-6, 5-3) – A four-game winning streak to end last season serves as a springboard. The Phoenix feature key sophomores, including RB TJ Thomas Jr. (588 rushing yards in eight games with a 6.6-yard average), TE Dylan Magazu and LB Kahmari Brown. Iowa transfer QB Marco Lainez was a big get for the Phoenix, who return Landen Clark at the position. On defense, DBs Ishmel Atkins and Jesse Powell II will emerge out of the long shadow cast for several seasons by Caleb Curtain. And, oh, it doesn’t get much better than punter Jeff Yurk, whose 47.9-yard average last season was fifth-best in FCS history.
9. Maine (5-7, 3-5) – The Black Bears haven’t been above .500 in-conference or overall since their 2018 CAA championship squad. The return of QB Carter Peevy (2,422 passing yards, 18 TDs to just five interceptions) steadies an offense that lost a lot in the skill positions. With 63 tackles in eight tackles, LB Christian Thomas was only nine shy of the team high. In the secondary, Jamaree Gibson and Devon Vaught return and Corey Wilson arrives from Hampton, so the defense should be improved.
10. UAlbany (4-8, 2-6) – Interim coach Jared Ambrose was elevated from offensive coordinator to replace Greg Gattuso in a program that reached the FCS semifinals two seasons ago. Jack Shields (formerly Old Dominion and Buffalo) was named as the season-opening QB, although Van Webber was highly tested as a freshman in last season’s final three games. Jojo Uga also excelled in his rookie campaign, finishing with 422 yards and six TDs on the ground. With Dontae Lunan and his 131 tackles gone, it will be LB Ron Holmes’ responsibility to scoop up the big stops.
11. Campbell (3-9, 1-7) – Year 2 under Braxton Harris figures to go better if the Camels survive a difficult first half of the schedule (last year, they posted their first-ever nationally ranked win against Western Carolina). Mike Chandler III became the starting quarterback later in the season, accounting for 406 yards of total offense and four TD passes against Elon before interceptions became an issue for him. Running back Mark Biggins (406 yards, three TDs) will take some of the pressure off Chandler. Safety JoJo Pace and CB Brandon Guzman will make the secondary a defensive strength.
12. Hampton (5-7, 2-6) – Trenton Boykin was elevated from interim head coach midway through last season, when Hampton ran the ball well (195.8 yards per game) and averaged more than six points per game higher (at 29.6) than in 2023. In Boykin’s second season, the Pirates return four starters on each side of the ball. Leading the way are RB Ja’Quan Snipes (531 yards, six TDs), OL Omari Allen, DB Will Hicks (48 tackles, three TFLs) and LB Michael Mathews-Canty. Finding consistency out of a new starting QB is pivotal.
13. Bryant (2-10, 0-8) – The Bulldogs, who have never qualified for the FCS playoffs, stepped backward in their first CAA season. A breakout this time would include a banner season out of Michael Otty on the D-line and Anthony Perez on the O-line. Defensive back Olatunde Mkparu played the most snaps on the team, while New Hampshire’s loss is Bryant’s gain as LB Brandon Perkins transfers in following a 56-tackle season. But there’s a new look on offense, particularly at QB. The new starter can rely on RB Dylan Kedzior (425 yards, including three games of 80+).
14. North Carolina A&T (1-11, 0-8) – The Aggies have been in a funk since their time as college football’s top HBCU program with four Celebration Bowl titles from 2015-19. New coach Shawn Gibbs served as A&T’s running backs coach from 2011-21, then went 22-9 as Fort Valley State’s head coach from 2022-24. He has 59 letter-winners back, including last year’s season-opening QB Kevin White, leading rusher Shimique Blizzard, WR Jayvonne Dillard and LB Mack David II (team-high 51 tackles in only seven games). Korion Sharpe is the latest in a long line of big, talented O-linemen at A&T.
How CAA Football Predicted the Race
The 2025 @CAAFootball preseason poll. pic.twitter.com/OWjyVcEm5v
— FCS Football (@OptaAnalystFCS) July 23, 2025Five Players to Watch
Roland Dempster, RB, Stony Brook (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – No returning FCS player scored more TDs (19) than Dempster last season. Shane Hartzell, LB, Villanova (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – Three players in ’Nova history had 400 tackles in their career. Hartzell (289) could reach that milestone. Jalen Jones, CB, William & Mary (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – The 2026 NFL Draft prospect was the FCS leader in overall passes defended (22) and per-game average (1.8). A.J. Pena, LB, Rhode Island (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – Pena transferred to Memphis for the spring semester, only to return to URI and be selected the CAA’s preseason defensive player of the year. He has 44.5 TFLs and 27.0 sacks in his career. Derek Robertson, QB, Monmouth (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – The CAA’s preseason offensive player of the year tied for the FCS high with eight games of 300+ passing yards, including 536 against Stony Brook to close the season.Must-See Matchups
CAA: Villanova at Monmouth (Sept. 20) – Surprise, surprise, Monmouth is 3-0 all-time against the Wildcats. In last year’s 40-33 win, Robertson completed 22 of 23 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns. Nonconference: New Hampshire at Dartmouth (Sept. 20) – The Granite Bowl has a bizarre history of results. UNH has won the last two meetings for a 21-19-2 lead, but the series includes Dartmouth winning the first 16 times and UNH having a 13-game winning streak (which extended out to a 20-game unbeaten streak). FBS: Monmouth at Charlotte (Sept. 13) – The Hawks earned their first-ever FBS win at FIU last season. Charlotte has one winning season (7-6 in 2019) since returning to football in 2013.CAA Football Fast Fact
Three of the six returning players from the 2024 Stats Perform FCS All-America first team are in the CAA: William & Mary cornerback Jalen Jones, Rhode Island linebacker A.J. Pena and Elon punter Jeff Yurk. Overall, 12 CAA players were named to the 2025 preseason All-America team.
(Here’s an index page to the 2025 FCS Conference Previews)
Graphic by Matt Sisneros.Top photo, from left, from Monmouth, Rhode Island and Villanova Athletics.
For more FCS football coverage, follow on social media at X, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
CAA Football Predictions: Rhody, Villanova Remain Strong; Who Will Crash the Party? Opta Analyst.
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