Nearly no more nonconference matchups remain for the 14 members of the Coastal Athletic Association, meaning the remaining schedule is crucial from here on out.
Each week, The Good Five Cent Cigar Sports Staff comes up with its cumulative ranking of CAA football teams.
Here is how the CAA has shifted after week six:
14th Place: University at Albany Great Danes (1-5, 0-2) (-)
UAlbany’s back-to-back losses leave us no choice but to move the Great Danes into the cellar of the CAA. 17 points per game won’t cut it in any conference and is amplified when you’re allowing 30+ points per game.
The Great Danes will take the week off; hopefully, the time away from game action can help them turn the page before taking on the University of Rhode Island.
13th Place: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Aggies (1-5, 1-2) (-1)
NC A&T drops a spot after a second-half collapse cost the Aggies against the College of William & Mary. Now with a third straight loss, their one conference win is nearly all that is keeping them from last place.
The Aggies play their last nonconference matchup of the season on Saturday, taking on South Carolina State University.
12th Place: Campbell University Camels (1-5, 1-1) (-2)
Campbell couldn’t do much against its Football Bowl Subdivision opponent on Saturday. North Carolina State University took a 56-10 win over the Camels, with just three incompletions and over 600 yards of offense.
The Camels return to a matchup more their speed on Saturday, going up against a Hampton University team searching for its first conference win.
11th Place: Hampton University Pirates (2-4, 0-2) (+2)
Hampton had a hard-fought nonconference win against Norfolk State University on Saturday, taking down its rival for the first time under Spartans new Head Coach Michael Vick, 41-34.
The Pirates defended a shrinking lead in the fourth, closing out the game with an 11-play drive and three first downs. Hampton will have to try to keep its winning ways going against Campbell on Saturday.
10th Place: Bryant University Bulldogs (2-4, 0-3) (-1)
Bryant had been consistently losing but keeping it close, but not this time against the University of Maine. The Bulldogs took a 34-14 beatdown on Saturday against a surging Black Bears team, allowing all points in the first half and being held scoreless until the fourth.
Now on a three-game skid, Bryant is tasked with a short turnaround before facing Brown University, which is fresh off its first top-10 win since 1981.
9th Place: University of New Hampshire Wildcats (3-3, 1-1) (-4)
New Hampshire is no longer receiving any votes for either FCS poll; the team failed to build on its win over UAlbany against a tougher opponent in Villanova.
The war of the Wildcats was a massacre for the final three quarters as Villanova took home a 37-7 win. UNH is playing like a middle-of-the-pack team; it’s not the worst place to be, but it’s far from what the Wildcats were hoping for this season.
8th Place: University of Maine Black Bears (2-4, 2-1) (+3)
A four-game losing streak is far in the rearview for Maine, and adding a second straight conference win has put the Black Bears on the map as a competitor.
Don’t run from Black Bears, or against them. Behind the third-best rushing defense in the CAA, Maine took down Bryant 34-14. The win streak is back on the line this weekend against nonconference foe Merrimack College.
7th Place: Towson University Tigers (3-3, 1-1) (-4)
Towson ties UNH for the furthest fall this week; it’s a dog-eat-dog world for the former third-place pick just a week prior.
The Tigers didn’t show up on Saturday against Elon University, only mustering a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter in front of their home crowd. That same crowd is sure to see a show this week with Monmouth University coming to town; it will be a test for the top-five conference defense to determine if the show will be one that Towson fans will want to cheer for.
6th Place: Stony Brook University Seawolves (3-3, 1-1) (+2)
After moving up three spots last week, the Seawolves climb two more spots with another decisive win. This one is sweeter for Stony Brook, being that it came against an in-conference opponent.
The 47-12 win over UAlbany marked the largest margin of victory in the team’s Golden Apple rivalry history. Stony Brook will take its bye week before trying to defend the CAA’s top offense against Monmouth.
5th Place: College of William and Mary Tribe (3-3, 2-1) (+2)
William & Mary flipped the script from last week’s loss, building a 24-point second half to take down NC A&T after trailing 24-14 at the half. With the lone score of the fourth, the Tribe held on to be on the right side of .500 in conference play.
The Tribe will take next week off before traveling to face UNH on Oct. 25.
4th Place: No. 18/17 Villanova University Wildcats (3-2, 2-1) (+2)
Villanova picked up a second straight win as the Wildcats continue to climb in the polls. Villanova secured a decisive 37-7 win over UNH, led by third-year back Ja’Briel Mace’s three-touchdown day.
The Wildcats will play their fourth road game in five weeks when they travel to face Elon University. The Phoenix should be a strong test as they look to stay undefeated in conference play.
3rd Place: No. 17/18 University of Rhode Island Rams (4-2, 2-0) (-2)
An FBS loss is forgivable, but not being able to bounce back against your in-state rival, Brown, has consequences.
For a second week in a row, the Rams committed four turnovers. Crucial mistakes that can’t continue for a team hoping to repeat as conference champions. A statement win would go a long way to re-climb the ranks, but UNH has always been a tough test for Rhode Island.
2nd Place: Elon University Phoenix (4-2, 2-0) (+2)
Elon earned a two-spot promotion after a sound 17-3 win over Towson, making the Phoenix the only other team 2-0 in the conference alongside Rhode Island.
The team rushed for 247 yards and sits second in the CAA in rushing yards per game. Elon also has been a turnover magnet on defense, forcing a turnover in nine straight games and leading the conference with seven interceptions.
1st Place: No. 12/11 Monmouth University Hawks (4-1, 1-0) (+1)
Monmouth’s offense has led the way to the top of our rankings, picking up a 48-39 win over Delaware State on Saturday. It marks the 14th win in a row for the Hawks with over 40 points scored, and the third game this season with over 600 total yards of offense.
The Hawks are the only team with just one conference game played, but that will change on Saturday against Towson.
The post CAA Power Rankings – Week 6 first appeared on The Good 5¢ Cigar.
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