Coastal Athletic Association (CAA)-(FCS)
Overview: Nothing was what it seemed in the newly-rebranded Coastal (formerly Colonial) Athletic Association (CAA) for 2023, as three teams finished the regular season at 7-1 at conference play.
It was an unlikely contender in the University at Albany, or UAlbany, Great Danes that found their way to the CAA's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs last fall. An upset win over then #16 Villanova on September 30, followed by another key win over then #24 William & Mary on November 4, proved to be the difference in the Great Danes advancing to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Once in the playoffs, UAlbany had a run for the ages. The Great Danes opened postseason play with a convincing 41-13 win over fellow CAA foe Richmond in the second round. They followed up that performance by shocking then #4 seed Idaho in front of a national television audience 30-22 in the quarterfinals, before succumbing to eventual national champion South Dakota State in the semifinals to finish their season at 11-4.
In addition to UAlbany's historic performance, two other CAA teams won at least one playoff game last season. Villanova downed Youngstown State in the second round before losing at South Dakota State to finish 10-3.
Elsewhere, Richmond crushed North Carolina Central 49-27 in the first round before falling to UAlbany in the second round, with the Spiders settling for a 9-4 finish, and Delaware rallied from a double-digit deficit down the stretch to stun Lafayette 36-34 in the first round, only to see its season end in Montana in a 49-19 loss. The Blue Hens finished their 2023 campaign at 9-4.
Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, the continuing conference realignment has led to the eventual departures of two longtime CAA mainstays at the end of this season. Delaware has announced that the Blue Hens will move from the FCS to the FBS level in 2025, joining Conference USA. While they will play a full CAA schedule this season, the Blue Hens will be ineligible for postseason play during the two-year transition process.
Another longtime league member who will be bidding farewell to the CAA after this season will be Richmond. The Spiders announced on May 14 that their football program will join the Patriot League starting in 2025. Those moves will leave the league at 14 football teams once Delaware and Richmond leave.
In the meantime, don't be surprised if a different squad wins the CAA crown while also making a surprisingly deep postseason run.
2024 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is unavailable, it still needs to submit its schedule for the 2024 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is unavailable, it still needs to submit its schedule for the 2024 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.
*-Delaware is transitioning from the FCS to the FBS (Group Of Five) level in 2024 and will be ineligible for postseason play.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
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