The 2023 College Football season is eight weeks old, and the Coastal Athletic Conference has seen its fair share of nail-biters, blowouts and even upsets.
The heavy favorites are beginning to be more apparent, and teams that are towards the bottom of the standings are running out of time to make a comeback.
The Good Five Cent Cigar sports staff will judge all 15 CAA teams every week to find these frontrunners and provide a power ranking list to show which teams could be featured in December and even in January.
Here are the results going into week nine of the college football season.
15th Place: Stony Brook (0-7) (-)
Stony Brook’s streak of disappointment continued this past weekend when they lost a home matchup with New Hampshire by a score of 45-14.
The Seawolves’ season is out of reach and all they have to fight for is their dignity. With Villanova on the horizon for Stony Brook, their climb will only grow tougher. With time running out in the season, Stony Brook only has a few more contests to find their first victory of the year.
14th Place: North Carolina A&T (1-6) (-)
NC A&T’s 33-10 loss to Richmond was yet another segment of the struggles the Aggies have seen this year.
The loss served as the third in a row for the Aggies and a victory against Hampton next weekend will be necessary for a late season run to a semi-decent record.
13th Place: Maine (2-6) (-)
Despite a decent showing, Maine lost another game against Campbell on Saturday by a score of 34-28.
The Black Bears have struggled mightily this year, but the loss to Campbell was one that was not an awful showing. If Maine can take this loss on the chin and continue moving forward, they still have enough time to turn the season into a respectable one.
12th Place: Hampton (3-4) (-1)
After starting the season at a respectable 3-2, Hampton has completely unraveled in the past two weeks, losing 61-10 to Monmouth a week ago and 47-3 to Delaware on Saturday.
The Pirates need to find their groove again if they want any chance to salvage their season. They host NC A&T on Saturday.
11th Place: Monmouth (3-4) (-2)
Monmouth dropped a close 28-26 game to Elon on Saturday, dropping back below .500. The Hawks went down 14-0 in the first quarter and were never able to fully come back.
The Hawks still have a season to fight for, as they only need one game to get back to an even record. They will travel to William and Mary on Saturday.
10th Place: Towson (3-4) (+2)
Towson’s 34-24 upset win over William and Mary marked the biggest victory of the season for the Tribe, serving as almost a revitalization of the squad.
Now, with #5 Delaware on the horizon, Towson has their toughest challenge yet on their doorstep, and a victory could spell big things for the Tigers.
9th Place: Campbell (4-3) (+1)
Campbell’s 34-28 victory over Maine on Saturday was a pure display of the Fighting Camels playing down to the Black Bears.
This is the second week of lackluster play from Campbell that has resulted in a victory after a 30-27 win over Hampton two weeks ago. The Fighting Camels simply need to clean up their defense for a shot at the postseason.
8th Place: Rhode Island (4-4) (-2)
Rhode Island’s season continued to unravel in week eight with a second straight loss when they fell 35-10 to Albany on Saturday.
The Rams’ high flying offense has seemed to lose its wings, resulting in back-to-back flat outings. With the playoffs seemingly out of reach, the Rams will battle for dignity this weekend at home against New Hampshire.
7th Place: Elon (4-4) (+1)
Elon’s 26-24 win over Monmouth was a terrific bounce-back win from their 21-0 defeat to Villanova in the week prior.
The Phoenix still have work to do on their consistency, and they can channel those efforts into their matchup with Delaware after their bye week this week.
6th Place: New Hampshire (4-3) (-1)
New Hampshire became the latest victor over Stony Brook this past weekend, winning the contest 45-14.
Possessing the top offense in the CAA, the Wildcats have potential to make the postseason if they can finish strong. However, they still have to get through an inconsistent Rhode Island team, and hope they do not catch them on a good day.
5th Place: #22 William and Mary (4-3) (-2)
William and Mary at one point was one of the best teams in the country. However, after three straight losses, the narrative has shifted dramatically.
The 34-24 loss to Towson on Saturday, which seemingly was a winnable game, came as a great shock to the Tribe. They now have to rally their troops and continue this weekend when they host Monmouth.
4th Place: Richmond (5-3) (+3)
Richmond’s three-game win streak, capped by a 33-10 victory over NC A&T, has catapulted the Spiders into playoff contention after a shaky start to the 2023 campaign left fans with doubts about the team’s competence.
Richmond has a chance to play in the postseason in a few weeks, but first they have to get through Campbell this weekend at home.
3rd Place: UAlbany (5-3) (+1)
Despite starting the season 0-2, Albany has compiled a 5-1 record against FCS competition and are another team gearing up for a postseason opportunity.
The Great Danes defeated Rhode Island handily this past weekend 35-10 and now go on the road to take on Maine this weekend.
2nd Place: #19 Villanova (5-2) (-)
Villanova’s bye week has given them plenty of time to reflect on their 21-0 shutout win over Elon two weeks ago.
The Wildcats now host Stony Brook this coming weekend and will look to keep the Seawolves winless.
1st Place: #5 Delaware (6-1) (-)
Delaware’s season in the FCS has been one of perfection, with their only loss coming to Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Penn State.
The Fightin Blue Hens’ 47-3 win over Hampton on Saturday was the latest reminder that Delaware is the best team in the CAA, they will attempt to remain undefeated in the Football Championship Subdivision when they travel to Towson this weekend.