RFC Summer Semester: The Division I Previews--Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)

Editor's Note: With August now here, we here at Real Football Central will switch gears slightly, with "The Division I Previews." 

What are "The Division I Previews"? They're simply a brief outlook on the 18 non-Power 5 conferences that make up the NCAA Division I ranks: 13 at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, as well as the so-called "Group Of Five" conferences: American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Sun Belt.

With that said, what are we waiting for? Let's get started!

Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)

Website

2013 Final Standings 

2014 Media Guide

Looking back: Building on its reputation as one of the premier conferences in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) saw eight of its 11 teams finish the 2013 season with a .500 or better record. Three of those teams: Maine, New Hampshire, and Towson, won at least 10 or more games while advancing to the FCS playoffs.  Out of that trio, Towson (13-3 in 2013) advanced to the FCS title game in January 2014, losing to North Dakota State, 35-7.

New Hampshire and Maine also advanced to the FCS playoffs last season, with the Wildcats pulling off multiple upsets en route to the national semifinals, where they fell to that same NDSU squad, 52-14. As for the Black Bears, despite winning the CAA crown, as well as earning the No. 5 overall national seed for the FCS playoffs, their postseason run was cut short by the Wildcats in a 41-27 upset loss in the second round.

Looking ahead: Expect another competitive race in the CAA from start to finish this fall. Meanwhile, Elon University out of North Carolina will join the league this season from the Southern Conference. That gives the CAA a total of 12 schools for football.

Predicted order of finish (2013 overall record in parentheses):

1. Towson (13-3):  The Tigers are of one six CAA teams to begin the 2014 season ranked in the FCS Preseason Top 25, starting at No. 7 in the Coaches Poll.  Of course, whether or not they can stay on top will depend upon they can get the always-tough conference schedule unscathed.


2. Maine (10-3):  The Black Bears will start off this season as the No. 20 team in the nation in that same FCS Coaches Poll.  They and their faithful are hopeful that 2014 will have a happier ending than 2013. Last season ended with back-to-back losses for the Black Bears, both coming against New Hampshire, in the regular season finale and FCS playoffs, respectively.

3. New Hampshire (10-5):  What's the proper reward for advancing to the national semifinals last year? A No. 4 ranking to start this year, that's what? The return of 23 starters--including seven on special teams--boosts the Wildcats chances considerably.

4. Delaware (7-5):  The Blue Hens hope to right their own ship after ending the 2013 campaign with three straight losses after starting 7-2.

5. William & Mary (7-5):  The Tribe also ended last season on a down note, losing back-to-back games.  Even with the mediocre mark from a year ago, they still managed to garner several preseason rankings from three magazines.

6. Villanova (6-5):  The Wildcats go into 2014 with CAA Preseason Player Of The Year John Robertson starting at quarterback.  But in an always tough CAA, it'll be the performance of the players around him that could decide how far they go this fall.

7. Richmond (6-6):  A season-ending four-game winning streak, as well as 16 returning starters, could help propel the Spiders into contention for the CAA crown in 2014.

8. James Madison (6-6):  The Dukes will look to start over under new head coach Everett Withers.

9. Stony Brook (5-6):  The Seawolves surprising held their own in 2013, losing five of their six games by 14 points or less.  If that wasn't enough, back-to-back wins to close out last season will give them a glimmer of hope going into 2014.

10. Rhode Island (3-9):  The Rams hope to ride their defense to a significant improvement in the standings this season.

11. Elon (2-10):  The Phoenix will have their work cut out for them as they join the CAA from the Southern Conference.

12. Albany (N.Y.)--(1-11):  The Great Danes found themselves in for a rude awakening in their inaugural CAA season, finishing winless in conference play at 0-8.


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