The 2023 College Football season is nine weeks old, and the Coastal Athletic Conference has seen its fair share of nail-biters, blowouts and even upsets.
The top teams are beginning to gear up for the playoffs and the bottom organizations are starting to look forward to 2024.
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 10 of the college football season.
15th Place: Stony Brook (0-8) (-)
Still looking for their first win of the season, Stony Brook dropped another contest to Villanova on Saturday by a score of 48-13.
The Seawolves this season have been incapable of stopping offenses, only allowing less than 30 points on two occasions. Now, with only two games left in the season, Stony Brook will more than likely be shifting their focus towards the future of the program.
14th Place: North Carolina A&T (1-7) (-)
After three consecutive losses, North Carolina A&T inched closer to getting back into the win column this past Saturday, but eventually fell to Hampton 26-24.
The Aggies tallied more than 20 points for the first time in October, but they faltered in the third quarter, allowing 14 points, which was enough for Hampton to hold on.
13th Place: Maine (2-7) (-)
Maine’s 37-21 loss to UAlbany was the latest addition to a catalog of losses for the Black Bears in 2023.
Maine has simply been mediocre this year, with their only wins coming against Stony Brook and Long Island University. The Black Bears only have two remaining contests, and will play for a sense of dignity down the stretch.
12th Place: Monmouth (3-5) (-1)
Monmouth’s 31-28 loss to William and Mary was a terrific showing for the Hawks that simply didn’t fall in their favor.
Granted, William and Mary has been on a bit of a skid as of late, but Monmouth has resided in the middle of the standings for the entirety of the season. A loss of such a slim differential is not something to hang their heads on, and although the playoffs are now out of reach, Monmouth should operate in week 10 with a sense of dignity.
11th Place: Towson (3-5) (-1)
Towson’s massive 51-13 loss marked the largest of the 2023 season, when they fell to Delaware on Saturday.
The one property of this loss preventing the Tigers from falling more than one spot is that the loss came to the fifth-best team in the country. Towson was also eliminated from playoff contention with that loss and they now play only for pride.
10th Place: Hampton (4-4) (+2)
Hampton’s 26-24 win over NC A&T was certainly not a performance to write home about, but given the other losses, the Pirates still moved up two spots in this week’s rankings.
Hampton is on the outside of the playoff window looking in. A bid is not impossible, they just need a load of help.
9th Place: Campbell (4-4) (-)
Campbell is another team whose future is uncertain after a 44-13 week nine loss to Richmond.
The loss was the first time the Fighting Camels scored less than 20 points in a game this year. The defeat was a crucial one – looking down Campbell’s schedule in the next two weeks, the Fighting Camels take on North Carolina Chapel Hill and Delaware. Campbell’s postseason hopes are very dim at this point.
8th Place: New Hampshire (4-4) (-2)
New Hampshire was unable to capitalize on a sliding Rhode Island team when they fell in overtime, 34-28.
This was the second overtime loss of the season for the Wildcats, and New Hampshire’s extracurricular play this season just may have cost themselves a postseason appearance.
7th Place: Rhode Island (5-4) (+1)
Rhode Island’s exhilarating 34-28 win over New Hampshire in overtime was one that showcased their offense coming back from their two-week hiatus.
After the Wildcats knocked the Rams out of playoff contention in 2022, Rhode Island played with a chip on their shoulder and it contributed to a gritty victory.
6th Place: Elon (4-4) (+1)
Elon possessed the lone bye week in the CAA in week nine, which is why they remain in the six slot, where they resided last week.
The Phoenix go back on the road this weekend when they travel to Delaware.
5th Place: #24 William and Mary (5-3) (-)
William and Mary was able to stop their three-game skid this past weekend against Monmouth with a 31-28 win. However, it is becoming apparent that the Tribe is not the same team they were in September.
Ranking as high as fourth in the country, the Tribe has been playing a whole new brand of football. William and Mary will need to flip their season around now if they want a chance at the postseason.
4th Place: #23 UAlbany (6-3) (-1)
The University of Albany’s Football Championship Subdivision record of 4-1 is one of the best in the CAA, and it is a major reason that they now reside in the top-25 teams in the nation.
The Great Danes topped Maine 37-21 last week, and now have a chance to solidify themselves as a playoff contender against William and Mary.
3rd Place: #17 Villanova (6-2) (-1)
Villanova’s 48-13 victory over Stony Brook was certainly not a blockbuster win, but one that places them one step closer to a playoff spot.
The Wildcats have now won three straight, and if they can pass New Hampshire, Towson and Delaware with only one loss, they are likely to see football in late November.
2nd Place: Richmond (6-3) (+2)
Richmond’s 44-13 route of Campbell on Saturday is the latest addition to the renaissance of the Spiders in October, finishing the month 4-0.
With only two games left on their slate, if Richmond can top Elon and William and Mary, they will be a shoo-in for the playoffs.
1st Place: #5 Delaware (7-1) (-)
Delaware has continued on their stretch of perfection in the FCS, increasing their subdivision record to 7-0 with a 51-13 win over Towson.
The Fightin’ Blue Hens will have a few tough tests in the last three weeks of the season, facing Elon, Campbell and Villanova. As long as Delaware can win one of those three, they will almost surely see the postseason.